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: PM’s ‘crossroads’ speech. Rishi Sunak argued in a major speech that the country was ‘standing at the crossroads’ as it faced down global dangers, financial insecurity and the unknown impact of new technology on the one hand while ready to channel its inner strength, innovation and skills for a better future on the other, calling on the country to trust him to deliver ‘a more secure future.’ Labour pitch. Sir Keir Starmer reinforced Labour’s five core missions and set out six first steps an incoming Labour government would take to help deliver the missions such as recruiting 6,500 new teachers. Graduate Route. Leading employers called on the PM not to make changes to the graduate visa routes without a full review given the importance of international talent and the UK’s leading position in global research.
SCHOOLS: Sex education. The government published updated guidance and consultation on Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) setting out what pupils should be expected to know by the end of primary and secondary education, making sure there was no teaching of ‘the contested theory of gender identity,’ confirming sex education should not start before Year 5 and encouraging the sharing of resources and close working with parents generally. Pay and recruitment. The National Foundation for Educational research (NFER) examined the importance of pay on teacher recruitment and retention, applying various scenarios but concluding that ‘increasing teacher pay above that of average earnings would help’ but would come at a cost and could still leave shortages in some subjects. Curriculum reform. The EDSK think tank examined the case for and against curriculum reform in a new, detailed report, arguing for a staged approach over a 10-year period leading to a reformulated primary, lower and upper secondary education system with a rebalanced curriculum and adaptive testing leading to a Baccalaureate to round things off.
FE/SKILLS: Funding rules. The government issued its summary of changes to the funding rules for apprenticeships for 2024/25, all intended to make the system easier to operate and including extending the English and maths flexibilities for apprentices with leaning difficulties and reducing the admin requirements for learning support. L3 qualifications. The government published a listing of technical and non-technical L3 qualifications approved under cycle 1 for funding in England from 2025 along with those not approved as part of its long-term simplification process. Learning at Work. The Campaign for Learning reported on the hosting of its latest annual Learning at Work Week showing how many companies are using the Week to focus on skills gaps with digital skills and leadership development among the top areas for development.
HE: University finances. The Office for Students (OfS) reported on the financial sustainability of HE providers in England finding a ‘deteriorating’ situation in the short to medium term with concerns about a decline in the real value of fees, a drop in international students as well as domestic applications and general cost-of-living pressures, pointing to ways in which some institutions were navigating the challenges but with a sense of concern evident. Graduate Route. The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) published the results of its rapid review into the Graduate Route commissioned by the Home Secretary, finding ‘no evidence of significant abuse’ of the Route and recommending that it remains in place but with some changes to data monitoring and collection, and to the system of recruitment agents. International students context. Public First’s Jonathan Simons put the debate around international students in a wider policy context ahead of the MAC report, arguing that the sector needs to make the case for quality provision and skills returns as much as revenues.
Education Committee witness session on Music Hubs (Tuesday 21 May). Lords Industry and Regulators Committee witness session on apprenticeships and skills for the future (Tuesday 21 May). HEPI Webinar on non-continuation in UK universities (Tuesday 21 May). National Numeracy Day (Wednesday 22 May).
Running an education-related event that you'd like to see included in our calendar? Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with details and a link to the booking info.
MONDAY 20 MAY On this day in 1498 Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama arrived at Calicut becoming the first European to reach India by sea. On this day in 1927 Charles Lindbergh took off from Long Island headed for Paris on the first solo non-stop transatlantic flight. On this day in 1990 the Hubble Space Telescope sent its first photographs from space.
TUESDAY 21 MAY On this day in 1792 Mount Unzen on Japan's Shimabara Peninsula erupted creating a tsunami and killing an estimated 15,000 people. On this day in 1904 the world governing body of association football, FIFA, was founded. On this day in 1991 the former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi, was assassinated in a suicide bombing.
WEDNESDAY 22 MAY On this day in 1455 the War of the Roses began at St Albans, twenty miles northwest of London. On this day in 1859 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of master sleuth Sherlock Holmes, was born. On this day in 1933 the first modern sighting of the Loch Ness Monster occurred when Aldie and John Mackay saw 'something resembling a whale'.
THURSDAY 23 MAY On this day in 1785 Benjamin Franklin announced his invention of bifocals. On this day in 1934 police shot and killed famous outlaws Bonnie and Clyde in an ambush along a country road in Louisiana. On this day in 1951 delegates of the Dalai Lama signed the Seventeen Point Agreement affirming Chinese sovereignty over Tibet.
FRIDAY 24 MAY On this day in 1844 Samuel Morse tapped out 'What hath God wrought' in the world's first telegraph message. On this day in 1956 the first Eurovision Song Contest was held with Lys Assia winning for Switzerland. On this day in 1978 the term 'glass ceiling' was first coined to describe invisible career barriers for women.
Awareness days from around the world
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, National Smile Month. 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: Walk To School Week, Water Saving Week, Children's Hospice Week, Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Week, Knife Crime Awareness Week. WORLDWIDE: Foster Care Fortnight, National Doughnut Week, World Salt Awareness Week, Action For Brain Injury Awareness Week, National Emsculpt Week, National PEO Week, National EMS Week, Learning at Work Week, Be Nice to Nettles Week, National Safe Sun Week, Epilepsy Awareness Week, International Heritage Breeds Week, Italian Beef Week.
MONDAY 20 MAY WORLDWIDE: National Quiche Lorraine Day, National Sugarbee Apple Day, National Streaming Day, National Rescue Dog Day, National Pick Strawberries Day, National Be A Millionaire Day, Weights & Measures Day, International Clinical Trials Day, International Red Sneakers Day, National Band Director’s Day, International Academic Freedom Day, Whit Monday, Victoria Day, World Bee Day, National Be a Millionaire Day.
TUESDAY 21 MAY UK: Idling Awareness Day. WORLDWIDE: World Meditation Day, World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, National Memo Day, National Strawberries And Cream Day, National Waitstaff Day, National American Red Cross Founder's Day, National Eat More Fruits and Vegetables Day, International Tea Day, End of the World, National Talk Like Yoda Day, I Need A Patch For That Day, Rapture Party Day.
WEDNESDAY 22 MAY UK: National Numeracy Day. WORLDWIDE: National Maritime Day, World HMV (Home Mechanical Ventilation) Day, World Goth Day, National Share Scheme Day, National Craft Distillery Day, National Solitaire Day, Emergency Medical Services For Children Day, National Vanilla Pudding Day, National Buy A Musical Instrument Day, Harvey Milk Day, National Boss Babe Day, Buy a Musical Instrument Day, Bitcoin Pizza Day, National Solitaire Day, Sherlock Holmes Day, International Day for Biological Diversity.
THURSDAY 23 MAY WORLDWIDE: National Taffy Day, World Turtle Day, National Lucky Penny Day, Chardonnay Day, Buddha Day, National Title Track Day.
FRIDAY 24 MAY UK: Hats For Headway. WORLDWIDE: European Neighbours' Day, National Yucatan Shrimp Day, National Road Trip Day, National Cooler Day, National Wyoming Day, Brother's Day, Aviation Maintenance Technician Day, National Escargot Day, National Scavenger Hunt Day, National Don’t Fry Day, International Tiara Day.
Not already an EdCentral member? If you're interested in sharing ideas and collaborating with your peers we provide a safe secure environment where that can happen. You can register here
If you would like to receive an email copy of this weekly round-up you can opt in here
