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LOOKING BACK AT THE WEEK THAT WAS
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The main stories from the papers
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The latest announcements and policy news
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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, and all the not-to-be-missed statistics.
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GENERAL: Parental leave. The government announced a detailed review of parental leave and pay which will run for 18 months, look at the various types of leave available and provide a ‘roadmap for a better system for the future.’
Employment Rights. The government set out a roadmap for implementing the Employment Rights Bill with a staggered series of consultations on for example protections from unfair dismissal from day 1 running through from this summer to early next year and with likely implementation of this and other measures, including on flexible working, running through to 2027.
Jobcentres. The Public Accounts Committee raised concerns about poor claimant support and a reduction in the number of work coaches as it published the results of its Inquiry into jobcentres, calling among other things for the DWP to publish an impact assessment of its reforms to the employment support system within six months as it looks to achieve an 80% employment rate.
Economic Outlook. The ONS published its assessment of the UK economy for the first three months of this year, pointing to a slight improvement on the previous quarter in terms of growth but a ‘cooling’ of the labour market and a widening of the deficit.
Another Economic Survey. The Institute of Directors (IoD) published its latest Economic Confidence Index indicating falls in confidence across most measures including headcount, investment intentions and revenue expectations.
Bare necessities. The Resolution Foundation examined the gap between rich and poor when it comes to spending on essentials such as food, energy and transport, noting that the poorest working-age households now spend around a half of their budgets after housing on such essentials while richer households spend just under 40%, calling for more to be done to help poorer households with energy costs.
Low wellbeing. Pro Bono Economics published the second in its ‘state of the nation’ reports, looking on this occasion at what comprises a decent life and finding some 5% of adults falling into ‘wellbeing poverty’ driven by poor mental health, loneliness and issues with renting, calling for such issues to become government priorities. SCHOOLS: Exam grading. Ofqual published its regular reminder, complete now with a toolkit and video explainer, of how the current exam grading system operates with results days now six weeks away.
SEND reform. The FT outlined some of the issues around SEND reform including in particular the role of EHCPs, the range of pupils likely to be included and the cost and extent of support, as the government prepares to work up its plans in the wake of the collapsed welfare reforms.
Strengthening the workforce. The Teaching Commission reported on the results of its inquiry into the teaching profession and its vision for the future, setting out a long list of recommendations including developing the role of ‘expert’ teacher, supporting more flexible working and re-thinking the role of Ofsted.
Language Trends. The British Council published its latest major survey report into language trends in schools in England pointing to Spanish now becoming the most popular language GCSE but with concerns that pupils from more deprived areas miss out generally on taking up language GCSEs despite many speaking different languages at home.
SEND transport. The Local Government Association (LGA) published details from its commissioned research into the costs to councils in England of SEND home – school transport, suggesting this could reach £1.97bn next year in the face of a 40% increase in demand over the last five years.
Disadvantaged white pupils. FFT Education Datalab examined some of the data around disadvantaged white pupils, noting the range of different disadvantaged groups out there and indicating that while there are concerns about the outcomes for white pupils they need to be seen within a wider set of societal factors.
Early Years. The NFER announced a major new project looking into the challenges facing the early years workforce in England, taking in among other things pay, recruitment and work practices and reporting later this year.
Tackling youth violence. The Youth Endowment Fund published a new digital tool to help school leaders assess best ‘evidence-informed guidance’ for tackling youth violence, ranging from providing children with trusted adults to targeting efforts at places and times where violence occurs.
Free breakfast clubs. The government published estimates suggesting that some 2m meals had been served during this first term of the free breakfast clubs, with cereal and toast among the top food choices made. FE/SKILLS: Local skills planning. The government published the annual progress reports from the various local skills improvement plans across the nine regions of the country, highlighting impact, benefits, achievements and further action where necessary.
Post-16 choices. The Education Policy Institute published some initial findings from its sponsored research into student choices and curriculum transition at age 16, suggesting a potential increased interest in a wider choice of options, the continuing importance of English and maths, and residual concerns about choices for lower attaining students.
English and maths resits. The Education Policy Institute also examined many of the challenges facing learners, many from disadvantaged backgrounds, resitting GCSE English and maths, citing maintaining motivation as a key factor and calling for a 16-19 premium to help improve support.
Foundation apprenticeships. The Gatsby Foundation reported on what’s involved in making for a successful foundation apprenticeship programme, pointing among other things to the need to learn from the past, to the importance of creating an evidence-based offer and to ensuring all partners were on board.
Construction skills. City and Guilds reported ‘critical’ skills shortages in the construction sector which could hamper the government’s home building ambitions, calling in a new report for a three-pronged attack focused on attracting new talent, helping career changers and upskilling existing workers. HE:
Student lives. The UPP Foundation published the latest in its series looking into the impact of the cost of living on the student experience, finding many facing a difficult balancing act between study, the need for p/t work and engaging in the wider student experience, with money worries a constant factor.
International students. The Policy Exchange think tank raised concerns about the UK’s current international student regime, suggesting its profit-ratio in some cases was poor and the danger of ‘crowding out’ some UK students was real, calling for the graduate visa route to be restricted to postgrads and a levy imposed on foreign students.
Digital challenges. JISC highlighted some of the digital challenges, including licensing restrictions and connectivity issues, facing students and staff involved in transnational education in the first of two planned reports on the matter.
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Research, reports and studies published this week
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COMING UP IN THE NEXT WEEK
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Important reports, deadlines and government events
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Youth Employment Week (Monday 7 – Friday 11 July)
KS2 SATs results released (Tuesday 8 July)
Education Committee witness session with Becky Francis on the Curriculum and Assessment Review (Tuesday 8 July)
Westminster Hall debate on the use of generative AI in schools (Tuesday 8 July)
HEPI/Unite webinar launching the latest Unite Students’ Applicant Index (Tuesday 8 July)
National Governance Conference (Thursday 10 July)
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Conferences and CPD opportunities
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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. If we believe it's relevant to our readers we will consider publishing it.
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MONDAY 07 JULY
On this day in 1930 Arthur Conan Doyle, Scottish physician, author and creator of the character Sherlock Holmes, died at his home in Sussex.
TUESDAY 08 JULY
On this day in 1497 Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama departed on his first voyage from Lisbon.
WEDNESDAY 09 JULY
On this day in 1877 the first ever Wimbledon tennis championship began with a men's singles lawn tennis tournament.
THURSDAY 10 JULY
On this day in 1985 Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior sank when it was bombed by French government operatives in New Zealand's Auckland Harbour.
FRIDAY 11 JULY
On this day in 1533 Pope Clement VII excommunicated England's King Henry VIII over his divorce from Catherine of Aragon.
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