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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: Chancellor’s options. The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IfS) examined the various options facing the Chancellor ahead of next month’s Budget, arguing that most, be they a wealth tax or an increase in fuel duty, are likely to have downsides, proposing instead reform of the tax system to help build more vital headroom.
World Economic Outlook. The IMF published its latest World Economic Outllok pointing to continued uncertainty with global growth remaining ‘subdued including for the UK,’ inflation predicted to decline while still remaining high notably in the UK, and policy makers urged to restore confidence through “credible, predictable, and sustainable policy actions.”
Labour Market Outlook. The ONS published its latest estimates on the UK labour market for the June-August period showing little change to recent months with average earnings at 4.7% continuing above inflation but also with unemployment up, NEETs numbers unchanged, and little improvement in the economic inactivity rate.
Helping left behind regions. The Social Mobility Commission’s Economic Growth and Investment Group looked at ways of encouraging growth and innovation in some of the UK’s most disadvantaged areas, calling among other things for more entrepreneurial education in schools, free bus passes for young people, more flexible apprenticeships, and the creation of Opportunity Zones across the UK.
Cyber security. The National Cyber Security Centre published its latest Annual Report showing a ‘sharp’ rise in the number of cyber threats faced by the UK over the past year, leading the government to write to leading companies reminding them of the need to make cyber security a Board-level issue.
Regulating AI. The Social Market Foundation examined approaches to regulating AI in a new publication looking at both quantitative and qualitative approaches and suggesting that a cautious approach was needed to allow for continuing flexibilities in development.
Lift the cap. The Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) called for the benefit cap to be scrapped as part of the forthcoming child poverty strategy, arguing that ‘it would reduce the depth of poverty for 300,000 children at a cost of £300m.’
Gentle parenting. The government launched a new ‘Best Start in Life’ campaign aimed at helping parents cut through the mass of information and guidance posted about bringing up children, by providing trusted sources of guidance and support. SCHOOLS: Reading test. The Education Secretary confirmed that the government was going ahead with plans to introduce a mandatory reading test for 13 yr olds in England along with a 90% ‘expected standard for the Yr1 phonics screening check by the end of this parliament.
Ofsted inspections. ASCL announced that it was considering legal action over Ofsted’s new inspection framework as it published survey evidence highlighting concerns from members about the impact of the new system on their wellbeing and a lack of transparency over the summary of consultation responses.
Supply agencies. The NEU called in a new report for commercial teacher supply agencies to be phased out, arguing that some make excessive profits and often exploit those they should be seeking to help, proposing instead a system of local authority pools or MAT systems.
SEND challenges. The Sutton Trust called for a more equitable system of support and identification for families trying to support a child with SEND as it reported on SEND children from poorer socio-economic backgrounds having some of the poorest outcomes and facing some of the biggest barriers to support.
FSM. The Education Policy Institute examined issues around free school meals (FSM) looking in a new report at how far it remains a useful measure of social disadvantage and putting the case for auto-enrolment and its wider use among early years children. AI in schools. The Oxford University Press (OUP) reported on the emergence of AI in the classrooms and students’ views about it all, finding 80% of young people surveyed saying they used AI tools in their school work but with many concerned about its impact and conscious of some of the drawbacks on their learning.
Future workforce. The NFER blogged about how best to prepare young people with the skills needed for the future workforce, pointing to the importance of six core skills and the need for a balanced curriculum as it prepared to launch its major report on future skill needs next month.
Assessment dates. The government added KS assessment dates for the 2027/28 academic year which will begin that year on Monday 8 May 2028. FE/SKILLS: FE Budget. The AoC highlighted the importance of skills provision to both individuals and the economy in its submission to the Treasury ahead of next month’s Budget, arguing that the system wasn’t working as well as it should at present and calling for action in a number of areas including creating more places for 16-18 yr olds, reviewing the costs of exams and assessments, and developing a funded workforce plan.
City and Guilds. City and Guilds announced changes to its organisation with its commercial awarding functions being sold off to PeopleCert while still operating under the CG brand and with the City and Guilds London Institute continuing to operate as a charitable body. Annual report. The government published the latest annual report for the National Careers service based on evidence collated earlier this year and showing overall satisfaction remaining ‘high and unchanged’ albeit with regional differences and with a decline in employment progression, and with some concern about advisers’ lack of knowledge of local jobs and learning opportunities.
Digital badging. The RSA in partnership with UfI Voc Tech Trust published the final report from its Digital Badging Commission looking into ways in which a range of skills, including life skills, could be better recognised, calling for a national skills wallet that could be embedded into post-16 learning.
Unpaid internships. The TUC called for unpaid internships and work trials by young people to be incorporated within the scope of the National Minimum Wage as it responded to government consultation on preventing employment exploitation of young people.
Youth-led commissioning. The NIESR blogged about the potential of youth-led commissioning which enables more young people to be involved in local priority and resource decision making and which had been trialled effectively in the East Midlands. HE:
Treasury submission. Universities UK published its submission to the Treasury ahead of next month’s Budget, highlighting the important role that the sector plays in ‘powering growth and opportunity’ and calling particular for the scrapping of the proposed international fee levy and strengthened funding streams generally.
Student recruitment. The Institute of Student Employers published its 2025 survey of the graduate recruitment market, suggesting a market in transition with graduate recruitment remaining significant but with a steady rise in apprenticeship recruitment and with competition for roles fiercer than ever.
Subcontracted outcomes. The Office for Students (OfS) published new data indicating that at a sector level students on subcontracted provision tend to have ‘weaker’ outcomes than students as a whole, reinforcing its call for institutions to do more to ensure high-quality provision.
AI and HE. The HE Policy Institute published a collection of essays, including one written by AI itself (ChatGPT) looking into the impact of AI on the future of universities notably in areas like assessment and the workforce, bringing together differing views on the pace and content of change but ultimately recognising ‘a call to redefine and and enhance human intelligence in the age of AI.’
University mergers. The Times Higher invited six experts to offer their thoughts on university mergers in light of the recent Kent/Greenwich super university with most acknowledging that they’re not a panacea and that they can be challenging but recognising that they could be a way forward for some.
Strike ballot. The UCU announced that its ballot of members for strike action on issues such as a national agreement to counter redundancies and a fair pay offer, will open on Monday 20 October and run to Friday 28 November.
Fair Admissions. Universities UK and Guild HE updated their fair admissions code of practice, reinforcing the principles of transparency, the prioritisation of applicants’ interests, and the validity of assessment, among others.
Call for Evidence. The HE Commission and APPG for Parliamentary Health launched a call for evidence from providers, trusts and other involved in healthcare training for views on how ‘education and training systems can best support the recruitment, retention and development of NHS staff.’
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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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MPs Education Questions (Monday 20 October)
Education Committee Evidence Session on HE Funding and Finances (Tuesday 21 October)
5% Club Skills Summit: Employer Audit (Thursday 23 October)
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Conferences and CPD opportunities
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Tuesday 21 October: Next steps for degree apprenticeships in England | Westminster Forum (online event)
Tuesday 21 October: Teacher Development Trust National Conference 2025 | TDT (in-person event)
Wednesday 22 October: Next steps for university spin-outs and commercialisation in the UK | Westminster Forum (online event)
Thursday 23 October: EdExec LIVE 2025: Yorks & Humber | Education Executive (in-person event)
Thursday 23 October: Next steps for raising attainment in England’s schools and early years settings | Westminster Forum (online event)
Saturday 25 October: researchED Cambridge | researchED (in-person event) |
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MONDAY 20 OCTOBER
On this day in 1097 Crusader knights arrived in Antioch during the First Crusade in the Holy Land.
TUESDAY 21 OCTOBER
On this day in 1854 Florence Nightingale and a staff of thirty-eight nurses were sent to the Crimean War to care for British soldiers.
WEDNESDAY 22 OCTOBER
On this day in 1797 French balloonist André-Jacques Garnerin became the first person to make a parachute jump.
THURSDAY 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.
FRIDAY 24 OCTOBER
On this day in 2003 Concorde made its last commercial passenger flight from New York to London’s Heathrow Airport.
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