Follow this link to view the full version of Steve Besley's popular policy round-up - including an overview of all the important stories, his top headlines of the week, tweets and posts of note, the most memorable quotes, not-to-be-missed statistics and what to look out for next week. As your starter for ten, we've chosen three items from each phase below ...
GENERAL: Committee Inquiry. The Education Committee announced a new Inquiry to examine why boys consistently underperform compared with girls when it comes to education performance, looking at why this might be so and what could be done to remedy things, calling for evidence to be submitted by 17 May. DSIT developments. The Dept for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) announced the appointment of a number of leading figures to its leadership team and Dept Board as it part of its plans ‘to transform the UK into a science and technology superpower.’ Recruitment. The British Chambers of Commerce reported that recruitment had eased for many businesses in its latest quarterly outlook although production, manufacturing and hospitality still faced difficulties and finding people with the right skills remained an issue for many.
SCHOOLS: Government response. The government issued its response to the Education Committee’s recent report into the work of Ofsted with schools, acknowledging some of the issues but provoking criticism by committing to stick with single-word judgements and refusing to reduce the frequency of inspections. Covid impact. Researchers in a new Nuffield funded study highlighted what they called ‘the devastating damage’ wrought by the Covid pandemic on the educational and social prospects of young people affected, suggesting many will struggle to attain five good GCSEs and attainment gaps will widen, calling among other things for an enrichment guarantee and national programme of support. Ofqual’s approach to AI. Ofqual set out its approach to regulating the use of AI in the qualifications industry, taking what it called a ‘precautionary’ approach of working closely with awarding organisations to guard against malpractice while remaining open to compliant innovation as the technology develops.
FE/SKILLS: T levels. The government published an updated T Level Action Plan spelling out the latest and planned developments around industry placements, recruitment and promotion and teacher support, and coupling the Plan with an analytical annexe setting out current data on learner characteristics, pathways and outcomes. First T Level cohort. The government published a commissioned report looking into how the first T Level cohort of some 1,250 learners who started in September 2020 fared, finding most positive about the experience and able to progress as hoped for, with the industry placement the most popular aspect of the course. Incentive payments. The government announced the arrangements for the expansion of ‘incentive’ premium payments for eligible FE teachers from this autumn, where up to £6,000 will be available for teachers working in areas such as building, early years, maths and physics.
HE: Franchised provision. The Public Accounts Committee called on the DfE and OfS to establish clearer requirements and oversight of franchised agreements in areas like fee retention and quality provision, as it published a report highlighting vulnerabilities in such provision. Drop-out rates. Nick Hillman, director of the HE Policy Institute (HEPI) examined university drop-out rates in a new briefing arguing that although we have one of the lowest rates among developed countries with much depending on an individual’s characteristics, it’s an area that politicians often return to, calling as a result for better use of data, student matching and use of staging posts. Graduate employment. The Institute of Student Employers published (members only) its latest annual report into graduate employment covering hiring and progression trends, AI, skill matching and apprenticeships and showing pay and flexi working as key factors as graduates weigh up options.
MPs’ Education Questions (Monday 29 April). QAA’s Assessment Festival (Monday 29 April – Friday 3 May). Education Committee evidence session on children’s social care (Tuesday 30 April). Policy Exchange event on the Launch of ‘The Anxious Generation’ (Tuesday 30 April). Policy Connect and HE Commission report on ‘Digitally Enhanced Blended Learning in HE’ (Tuesday 30 April). Schools Attendance (Duties of Local Authorities and Proprietors of Schools) Bill debate (Wednesday 1 May). Schools and Academies Show (Wednesday 1 May). Mayoral and local elections (Thursday 2 May).
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MONDAY 29 APRIL On this day in 1852 the first edition of Peter Roget's Thesaurus was published in Great Britain. On this day in 1990 wrecking cranes began tearing down the Berlin Wall at the Brandenburg Gate. On this day in 1992 deadly riots erupted in Los Angeles following the acquittal of four police officers accused of the brutal beating of Rodney King.
TUESDAY 30 APRIL On this day in 1897 British physicist JJ Thomson announced his discovery of 'corpuscles', more commonly known today as 'electrons'. On this day in 1945 Adolf Hitler committed suicide in his underground bunker in Berlin. On this day in 1989 the world wide web was first launched in the public domain by CERN scientist Tim Berners-Lee.
WEDNESDAY 01 MAY On this day in 1707 the Acts of Union came into force uniting England and Scotland to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain. On this day in 1840 the world's first adhesive postage stamp, the 'Penny Black', was issued in the UK. On this day in 1931 US President Herbert Hoover officially opened the Empire State Building in New York City.
THURSDAY 02 MAY On this day in 1933 the modern legend of the Loch Ness Monster was born when a local couple claimed to have seen 'an enormous animal rolling and plunging on the surface'. On this day in 1949 Arthur Miller's 'Death of a Salesman' won the Pulitzer Prize for the best American play of the 1948-49 season. On this day in 2018 new research showed plants talk to each other through their roots and the soil in a study on corn published in the journal 'Plos One'.
FRIDAY 03 MAY On this day in 1898 Golda Meir, Israeli educator, politician, and fourth Prime Minister of Israel was born. On this day in 1926 Britain's Trade Union Congress called for the country's first ever general strike in support of striking coal miners. On this day in 1978 the world's first spam email was sent by the Digital Equipment Corporation.
Awareness days from around the world
APRIL IS UK: Stress Awareness Month, Active for April, National Pet Month. WORLDWIDE: Jazz Appreciation Month, Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month, Move More Month, IBS Awareness Month, Parkinson’s Awareness Month, International Cesarean Awareness Month, National Pickleball Month, Limb Loss And Limb Difference Awareness Month, National Afternoon Tea Month, Esophageal Cancer Awareness Month, National Brunch Month, National Tar Syndrome Awareness Month, Sarcoidosis Awareness Month, National Financial Literacy Month, National Alcohol Awareness Month, English Language Month, National Month Of Hope, National Volunteer Month, Distracted Driving Awareness Month, National Landscape Architecture Month, Scottish-American Heritage Month, Canine Fitness Month, Occupational Therapy Month, National Internship Awareness Month, Month Of The Military Child, National Donate Life Awareness Month, National Fair Housing Month, National Child Abuse Prevention Month, National Cannabis Awareness Month, National Safe Digging Month, National Welding Month, National Pecan Month, National Poetry Month, Straw Hat Month, National Soy Foods Month, National Soft Pretzel Month, National Humor Month, National Garden Month, National Fresh Celery Month, National Decorating Month, National Couple Appreciation Month, Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Records And Information Management Month, National Lawn And Garden Month, Keep America Beautiful Month, International Guitar Month, National Autism Awareness Month, FOP Awareness Month.
MAY IS UK: Time For A Cuppa, Make May Purple/Action On Stroke Month, National Walking Month, National Share A Story Month, Local And Community History Month, Big Asthma Bake Sale, The Big Paddle Cleanup. WORLDWIDE: National Teen Self Esteem Month, Zombie Awareness Month, National Clean Air Month, Maternal Mental Health Month, May Measure Month, Skin Cancer Awareness Month, Tourettes Awareness Month, National Returning Youth Month, National Miniature Garden Month, Jewish American Heritage Month, Global Employee Health And Fitness Month, Better Speech And Language Month, Als Awareness Month, National Preservation Month, National Wildfire Awareness Month, National Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month, National Foster Care Month, Correct Your Posture Month, International Drum Month, National Dental Care Month, Coeliac Disease Awareness Month, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Awareness Month, National Asparagus Month, National Stroke Awareness Month, National Moving Month, National Brain Tumor Awareness Month, National Mental Health Awareness Month, Sturge-weber Syndrome Awareness Month, Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, National Military Appreciation Month, Melanoma Awareness Month, National Water Safety Month, National Chamber Music Month, Asian American And Pacific Islander Heritage Month, National Mediterranean Diet Month, National Strawberry Month, National Salsa Month, National Salad Month, National Recommitment Month, National Photography Month, National Lyme Disease Awareness Month, National Hamburger Month, Get Caught Reading Month, National Egg Month, National Blood Education Pressure Month, National Bike Month, National Barbeque Month, Older Americans Month, Date Your Mate Month, National Inventors Month, American Cheese Month. THIS WEEK IS UK: National Gardening Week, National Stationery Week. WORLDWIDE: Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week, Every Kid Healthy Week, Preservation Week, National Infant Immunization Week, Intergenerational Week, National Small Business Week, American Camp Week, National Physical Education and Sport Week.
MONDAY 29 APRIL WORLDWIDE: International Dance Day, National Shrimp Scampi Day, National Zipper Day, National Peace Rose Day, We Jump The World Day, World Wish Day.
TUESDAY 30 APRIL WORLDWIDE: International Jazz Day, AMKD Awareness Day, National Bubble Tea Day, National Prepareathon! Day, National Military Brats Day, National Adopt A Shelter Pet Day, National Sarcoidosis Day, National Raisin Day, National Oatmeal Cookie Day, National Hairstylist Appreciation Day, National Bugs Bunny Day, National Honesty Day, National Tie Dye Day, National Honesty Day, Spank Out Day, National Mr Potato Head Day, National Mahjong Day, Day of the Child.
WEDNESDAY 01 MAY UK: May Day. WORLDWIDE: Lei Day, Loyalty Day, Law Day, World Maternal Mental Health Day, National Interpreter Appreciation Day, National Skilled Trades Day, School Principals' Day, Silver Star Service Banner Day, National Chocolate Parfait Day, National Mother Goose Day, Calan Mai, National Black Barber Shop Appreciation Day, Learn to Ride a Bike Day, World Carnivorous Plant Day, Global Travel Advisor Day, National Purebred Dog Day, International Workers’ Day, School Principals’ Day, Global Love Day, School Bus Drivers Day, Therapeutic Massage Awareness Day, National Executive Coaching Day, New Home Owners Day.
THURSDAY 02 MAY WORLDWIDE: National Life Insurance Day, National Truffle Day, National Day Of Reason, National Day Of Prayer, World Tuna Day, International Harry Potter Day, Baby Day, Baby Day, World Password Day.
FRIDAY 03 MAY WORLDWIDE: National SAN Architect Day, National Montana Day, School Lunch Hero Day, National Textiles Day, National Raspberry Popover Day, National Chocolate Custard Day, National Paranormal Day, National Two Different Colored Shoes Day, National Specially-Abled Pets Day, National Garden Meditation Day, National Lumpy Rug Day, National Space Day, Sun Day, World Press Freedom Day, Write a Review Day, National No Pants Day, International Tuba Day.
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