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LOOKING BACK AT THE WEEK THAT WAS
Three of the week's headlines ...
Tackling misogyny as vital as maths, London mayor tells primary schools
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Number of 'severely absent' school children 160% higher than pre-pandemic
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Funding open for primary schools to deliver nursery place
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Visit EdNews to filter all the education news by phase or topic
Three pieces of policy news - by phase
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 Investment Summit address. The PM addressed the government’s International Investment Summit where he highlighted the importance of growth and investment for the UK and set out four reasons why investors might want to invest in the UK including the existence of a new stable environment, evidence of strong strategic planning, enhanced global standing and reduced red tape.
Chancellor’s Summit announcements. Rachel Reeves announced the reformatting of the UK Infrastructure Bank into the National Wealth Fund along with the development of a new British Growth Partnership as part of the British Business Bank as she rounded off the government’s Investment Summit.
Industrial Strategy. The government published its Industrial Strategy Green Paper, describing its as a 10-year plan to drive growth with a focus on eight growth driving sectors such as Clean Energy and Life Sciences, inviting comments and views ahead of a planned publication next spring.

SCHOOLS:
Mobile phones. Labour MP Josh MacAlister presented his Private Members’ Bill which could see schools legally required to become mobile phone free zones, stronger regulation on the use design and supply of mobile phones for under 16-year-olds and greater powers for Ofcom over protection for children generally.
Appliance of science. The DfE announced the creation of a new Science Advisory Council of 12 ‘experts’ who will advise the dept on science-related matters like SEND, mental health, online safety and the use of AI.
Parent Survey. The national parent body, Parentkind, published the results of its 2024 National Parent Survey focusing particularly this year on some of the challenges parents face, listing coping with the cost of living, helping children with their schoolwork and their ‘enjoyment’ of school, concerns over social media, mental health and basically the whole ‘managing the balance of work and family life,’ as among the top pressures.

FE/SKILLS:
FE as the poor relation. The Education Policy Institute examined how FE fared against HE on a number of financial metrics, concluding that when it comes to debt, deficits and financing generally, FE gets a raw deal compared with HE and would need equitable funding if as the government hoped, a tertiary system were to be created.
Transitioning to employment. The Social Market Foundation highlighted the challenges faced by many disadvantaged young people who often lack assumed knowledge of ‘how the system works’ when seeking to progress to employment or higher ed, calling as a result for formal two-weeks work experience, extended careers guidance and further embedding of necessary skills to help.
Skills system. Charity and skills body NOCN argued for education and skills to be treated differently as it put forward proposals for a more collaborative skills system based around three ‘core linked change pillars’ of education and foundation skills, productivity and growth skills, and collaboration and devolution.

HE:
Budget submission. The Russell Group reinforced its call to the Chancellor, set out in its Budget Submission last month, to invest in university-led R/D and to support university-business collaboration, particularly in light of the new Industrial Strategy’s focus on growth.
More Budget thoughts. Universities UK called on the government to use the Budget to increase the tuition fee cap in line with inflation, improve the maintenance package for disadvantaged students and introduce ’an ambitious GDP-based R/D intensity target’ as it reiterated the value of universities to both government and wider society.
Graduate jobs. The Institute of Student Employers published its latest annual report on the graduate recruitment market, pointing to a competitive scenario with more applicants per job, widening job criteria, the growing, and not always popular, use of AI in the recruitment process, and in the case of international students, visa restrictions.
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COMING UP IN THE NEXT WEEK
Events and CPD opportunities
Tuesday 22 October: Online Safety Conference 2024: Safeguarding Children in a Digital World | Government Events (online event)
Tuesday 22 October: Introducing A Religion And Worldviews Approach | NATRE (online event)
Tuesday 22 October: Statutory Non-examined Sixth Form RE | NATRE (online event)
Saturday 26 October: researchED Milton Keynes | researchED (in-person event)
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.
See all events
Three interesting daily facts
MONDAY 21 OCTOBER
On this day in 1854 Florence Nightingale was sent with a staff of thirty-eight nurses to the Crimean War to care for British soldiers.
On this day in 1948 the United Nations rejected a Russian proposal to destroy atomic weapons.
On this day in 1959 the Guggenheim Museum was opened in New York City.
 
TUESDAY 22 OCTOBER
On this day in 1797 French balloonist André-Jacques Garnerin became the first person to make a parachute jump.
On this day in 1879 Thomas Edison perfected the carbonized cotton filament light bulb, the first commercially practical incandescent light bulb.
On this day in 2012 cyclist Lance Armstrong was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles.
 
WEDNESDAY 23 OCTOBER
On this day in 1977 palaeontologist Elso Barghoorn announced the discovery of a 3.4-billion year old one-celled fossil, one of the earliest life forms on Earth.
On this day in 1981 the US gross national debt crossed the $1 trillion mark for the first time.
On this day in 2001 the Provisional Irish Republican Army of Northern Ireland commenced disarmament after peace talks.
 
THURSDAY 24 OCTOBER
On this day in 1593 Spanish soldier Gil Perez alleged that he had teleported from the Philippines to Mexico.
On this day in 1931 gangster Al Capone was sentenced to eleven years in jail for tax evasion.
On this day in 2003 the Concorde made its last commercial passenger flight from New York to London’s Heathrow Airport.
 
FRIDAY 25 OCTOBER
On this day in 1881 Pablo Picasso, one of the greatest and most influential artists of the twentieth century, was born in Malaga, Spain.
On this day in 1944 the Japanese deployed 'divine wind' bombers against American warships during the first kamikaze attack of World War II.
On this day in 1971 the United Nations voted to expel the Chinese Nationalist ruled Taiwan and admit the Communist People's Republic of China.
Awareness days from around the world
OCTOBER IS
UK:
The Big Draw.
WORLDWIDE:
Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Dysautonomia Awareness Month, Eye Injury Prevention Month, Filipino American History Month, I'm Just Me Because Month, Menopause Awareness Month, National ADD/ADHD Awareness Month, National Chili Month, National Cryptocurrency Month, National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, National Disability Employment Awareness Month, National Dropout Prevention Month, National Dwarfism Awareness Month, National Economic Education Month, National Fire Prevention Month, National Learning And Development Month, National Non-GMO Month, National Pet CBD Month, National Physical Therapy Month, National Principals Month, National RSV Awareness Month, National Sarcastic Awareness Month, National Sausage Month, National Seafood Month, National Sensory Processing Awareness Month, National Spina Bifida Awareness Month, National Stamp Collecting Month, National Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month, National Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Awareness Month, National Toilet Tank Repair Month, National Window Covering Safety Month, National Women In AI Month, National Women's Small Business Month, National Work And Family Month, Organize Your Medical Information Month, Pear And Pineapple Month, Photographer Appreciation Month, Polish American Heritage Month, Positive Attitude Month, Raptor Month, Rett Syndrome Awareness Month, Rhizomes And Persimmons Month, Rhubarb Month, Right Brainers Rule Month, Self-Promotion Month, Spinach Lovers Month, Squirrel Month, Tackling Hunger Month, Talk About Prescriptions Month, Vegetarian Month, Wishbones for Pets Month, Workplace Politics Awareness Month, World Blindness Awareness Month, World Menopause Month, Truffle Days in Croatia, Hispanic Heritage Month.
 
THIS WEEK IS
UK:
Epilepsy Action Virtual Tea and Cake Break, Family Learning Festival, Recycle Week, National Adoption Week.
WORLDWIDE:
Ace Week, Baku Jazz Festival, Digital Parenting Week, Disarmament Week, Free Speech Week, International Fraud Awareness Week, Medical Assistants Recognition Week, National Adoption Week, National Business Women's Week, National Chemistry Week, National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week, National Friends of Libraries Week, National Health Education Week, National Healthcare Quality Week, National Kraut Sandwich Week, National Massage Therapy Awareness Week, National Metric Week, National Parenting Week, National Pharmacy Week, National Retirement Security Week, National School Bus Safety Week, National Teen Driver Safety Week, National Temperature Check Week, Nuclear Science Week, YWCA Week Without Violence.
 
MONDAY 21 OCTOBER
UK:
Apple Day, Trafalgar Day.
WORLDWIDE:
Back To The Future Day, Count Your Buttons Day, Everyone Writes Day, International Day of the Nacho, National Apple Day, National Check Your Meds Day, National Clean Your Virtual Desktop Day, National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day, National Reptile Awareness Day, National Witch Hazel Day.
 
TUESDAY 22 OCTOBER
UK:
Post Polio Syndrome Day.
WORLDWIDE:
International Caps Lock Day, International Stammering/Stuttering Awareness Day, Leave a Review Day, National Color Day, National Make A Dog's Day, National Nut Day, National Tavern-Style Pizza Day, Smart is Cool Day, Wombat Day.
 
WEDNESDAY 23 OCTOBER
WORLDWIDE:
Event Organizers Day, Geelong Cup Day, International Snow Leopard Day, Medical Assistants Recognition Day, National Boston Cream Pie Day, National Croc Day, National Horror Movie Day, National iPod Day, National Mole Day, National Paralegal Day, National TV Talk Show Host Day, SUDEP Action Day, Swallows Depart From San Juan Capistrano Day.
 
THURSDAY 24 OCTOBER
WORLDWIDE:
National Bandana Day, National Food Day, National Jamaican ***** Day, National Kangaroo Awareness Day, United Nations Day, World Kangaroo Day, World Tripe Day.
 
FRIDAY 25 OCTOBER
WORLDWIDE:
Chucky The Notorious Killer Day, Crisp Sandwich Day, Global Champagne Day, International Artist Day, National Breadstick Day, National Frankenstein Friday, National Greasy Foods Day, National I Care About You Day, National Merri Music Day, National Pharmacy Buyer Week, National Sourest Day, Nevada Day, Punk for a Day, Sourest Day, World Lemur Day, World Opera Day, World Pasta Day.
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