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: Chancellor’s ‘growth’ speech. Rachel Reeves, the new Chancellor, set out her stall in an initial Treasury address confirming new ‘golden’ planning rules, the lifting of the onshore wind ban and a range of growth mechanisms intended to ‘help kickstart economic growth’ ahead of a planned Budget later this year. National Wealth Fund. The government began the process of establishing the promised £7.3bn National Wealth Fund, bringing together the UK Infrastructure Bank and British Business Bank with a new taskforce of key players who will help unlock investment for future industries and growth generally. DSIT expansion. Peter Kyle, the new secretary of state for the Dept for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) announced plans to expand the role and remit of the dept, bringing in experts in data, digital and AI as part of a move ‘towards building a modern digital government.’
SCHOOLS: Dear All. Bridget Phillipson, the new education secretary, described her commitment to the education and children’s services sector as ‘deeply personal’ as she introduced herself and set out her initial thoughts in an open letter to the workforce. Teacher recruitment. The education secretary beefed up the ‘Every Lesson Shapes a Life’ recruitment campaign and began the process of re-establishing relationships with the teaching profession as a first step towards meeting the government’s target of recruiting 6,500 new teachers. Education background of the new government. The Sutton Trust carried out its regular analysis of the educational background of MPs in the new House of Commons, reporting that not only had there been ‘a sea change’ in the number of Labour MPs attending comprehensives but also across the House as a whole.
FE/SKILLS: Youth Guarantee. Liz Kendall, the new Work and Pensions Secretary, confirmed plans to create a Youth Guarantee of an apprenticeship and support for 18–21-year-olds as part of a package of reforms to support more people back into work. Skills agenda. Stephen Evans, Chief Executive of the Learning and Work Institute, set out six steps that the government should take to improve performance around employment and skills, including pausing the current programme of qualification reform, setting up the Skills England body and developing a full employment plan. Social value. The Education and Training Foundation launched a call for evidence from across the sector on the theme of social value and how this can be understood in the context of FE and Skills as part of a project to develop the concept for future policy recommendations.
HE: NSS data. The Office for Students (OfS) published the results from this year’s National Student Survey showing most students who responded (85.4%) happy with their course and academic support but slightly lower rankings on assessment (78.3%) and course organisation (75.3%.) London calling. London Higher, the group representing London HE institutions, published a new report highlighting the significant role such institutions play in boosting the UK economy and global influence whether through forging networks, driving innovation or tackling global issues, calling on the mayoral team and new government to champion the sector and its work. Franchising. The QAA’s latest Quality Compass briefing looked into franchising – what it is, how it works, how to assure quality, and some of the risks involved -concluding that it continues to operate in an uncertain climate and that the risks need balancing.
Education Policy Institute Conference ‘Enrichment for all’ (Monday 15 July). Education secretary hosts an open event with the sector (Tuesday 16 July). State opening of the new Parliament and King’s Speech (Wednesday 17 July). Wonkhe online event on ‘What a new government means for HE’ (Wednesday 17 July).
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MONDAY 15 JULY On this day in 1099 City of Jerusalem was captured and plundered by Christian forces during the First Crusade. On this day in 1869 margarine was patented by Hippolye Méga-Mouriès for use by the French Navy. On this day in 1955 eighteen Nobel laureates signed the Mainau Declaration against nuclear weapons.
TUESDAY 16 JULY On this day in 1661 the first banknotes in Europe were issued by the Bank of Stockholm, Sweden. On this day in 1918 1782 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's opera ‘Die Entführung aus dem Serail’ premiered in Vienna. On this day in 1951 JD Salinger's only full-length novel 'The Catcher in the Rye' was first published.
WEDNESDAY 17 JULY On this day in 1203 the siege of Constantinople began when Roman Catholic crusaders attacked the city. On this day in 1918 Czar Nicholas II and his family were executed by the Bolsheviks in Russia, ending the 300-year Romanov dynasty. On this day in 1955 the Disneyland theme park in California first opened its doors.
THURSDAY 18 JULY On this day in 1870 the first Vatican Council decreed the doctrine of Papal infallibility claiming that the Pope cannot err when speaking on issues of morality or faith. On this day in 1936 the Spanish Civil War broke out in Spanish Morocco and spread to mainland Spain. On this day in 1968 the world's largest semiconductor chip manufacturer Intel was founded in California.
FRIDAY 19 JULY On this day in 1553 Mary I replaced Lady Jane Grey as Queen of England. On this day in 1799 the Rosetta Stone containing fragments of three different ancient scripts was found in Egypt. On this day in 1941 Tom and Jerry first appeared under their own names in the cartoon ‘The Midnight Snack’.
Awareness days from around the world
JULY IS UK: National Picnic Month, Plastic Free July, Good Care Month. WORLDWIDE: Group B Strep Support (GBSS) Awareness Month, Sarcoma Awareness Month, Global Enterprise Agility Month, Independent Retailer Month, SPANA’s World Tea Party, National Fragile X Awareness Month, National Hemp Month, National Contract Sewing Month, National Anti-Boredom Month, National Grilling Month, World Watercolor Month, National Peach Month, National Blueberry Month, National Ice Cream Month, National Hot Dog Month, National Horseradish Month, National Culinary Arts Month, National Cell Phone Courtesy Month, National Baked Bean Month, Lasagna Awareness Month, Wild About Wildlife Month, National Hemp Month, National Powersports Month, Bank Account Bonus Month, World Watercolor Month.
THIS WEEK IS UK: Festival Of British Archaeology. WORLDWIDE: Parenting Gifted Children Week, Captive Nations Week, Everybody Deserves a Massage Week.
MONDAY 15 JULY WORLDWIDE: World Youth Skills Day, National Get Out Of The Doghouse Day, National Respect Canada Day, Global Hug Your Kids Day, National Clean Beauty Day, Blackcurrant Day, Social Media Giving Day, National Tapioca Pudding Day, National Pet Fire Safety Day, International Stamp Out Spiking Day, National Orange Chicken Day, National Gummi Worm Day, National Be a Dork Day, National I Love Horses Day, National Give Something Away Day.
TUESDAY 16 JULY WORLDWIDE: National Personal Chef Day, Fresh Spinach Day, National Atomic Veterans Day, Rural Transit Day, World Snake Day, National Corn Fritter Day, Guinea Pig Appreciation Day, National Cherry Day.
WEDNESDAY 17 JULY WORLDWIDE: National Hot Dog Day, World Day for International Justice, World Emoji Day, Black Leaders Awareness Day, National Wrong Way Corrigan Day, Send an Electronic Greeting Card Day, Glioblastoma Awareness Day, National Lottery Day, National Peach Ice Cream Day, National Yellow Pig Day, National Tattoo Day.
THURSDAY 18 JULY WORLDWIDE: National Tropical Fruit Day, National Dole Whip® Day, Insurance Nerd Day, Nelson Mandela International Day, National Caviar Day, Get to Know Your Customers Day, National Sour Candy Day, World Listening Day.
FRIDAY 19 JULY WORLDWIDE: National Daiquiri Day, National Play Day, International Retainer Day, National Words With Friends Day, National Urban Beekeeping Day, Stick Out Your Tongue Day, National Football Day, International Karaoke Day.
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