GENERAL: Treasury submission. The TUC published its pitch to the Treasury ahead of next week’s Budget, setting out a range of measures it would like to see, including helping working people with the cost of living, supporting young people into paid work, implementing the employment rights bill and investing in public services.
Economic Forecast. The EU published its Autumn 2025 Economic Forecast indicating that growth had outperformed expectations for the first three quarters of the year at 1.4%, that inflation looked set to stabilise and unemployment to fall slightly but with risks to future growth remaining high.
Social Mobility. The House of Lords Social Mobility Policy Committee published its Report into issues around social mobility highlighting the importance of education as a factor, pointing specifically to concerns around NEETs, functional skills and alternatives to university, and making a number of recommendations including strengthening careers guidance, setting targets for NEETs, retaining qualifications like BTECs until alternatives are proven, and increasing the maintenance loan for university students.
Global Perceptions. The British Council published its latest Global Perceptions Report based on survey evidence from 20,000+ 18-34 yr olds across 18 G20 countries, showing a notable decline in perceived attractiveness of liberal Western democracies albeit with the UK remaining second choice for international students but with its overall influence looking ‘fragile.’ SCHOOLS: NFF 2026/27. The government confirmed no changes to the structure of the National Funding Formula (NFF) for schools for 2026/27, albeit with an increase in factor values as it set out the formulae for schools and central education services for 2026/27 in a new publication.
Teacher Wellbeing. The charity Education Support called for dedicated staff retention strategies and a full review of the accountability system as it published its latest Teacher Wellbeing Index showing staff wellbeing at its lowest level since 2019.
Free breakfast clubs. The government heralded the national roll out of free breakfast clubs from next April by updating its guidance with lessons learnt from its early adopter scheme and inviting schools to apply to join the full programme. FE/SKILLS: LSIP guidance. The government with Skills England set out new guidance for the development of the second round of Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs,) highlighting the importance of local partners and providers working together to meet local and national skill needs.
AI in FE. JISC launched a new strategic framework to help colleges move towards AI maturity, setting out a series of checklists under the three principles of skills, knowledge and culture, technology, and governance, designed to help college leaders build such maturity.
Apprenticeship reform. The TUC called for urgent reform of the apprenticeship system, arguing in a new briefing that the original Levy had failed to deliver and urging the government to extend the Growth and Skills Levy and invest in the skills system generally.
Who’s up for V-levels? Education Datalab took an early look at the potential for V-levels, suggesting that they’re more likely to be offered in colleges than schools, typically covering current BTEC and other L3 VTQs subjects and as a result likely to be taken by those who currently take BTEC and other L3 VTQs.
Choosing the ‘best’ qualification. The Education Policy Institute examined the impact of qualification choice on an individual’s future job and earnings, indicating that those with strong GCSEs and L3 qualifications tend to earn more on average leaving those with lower prior attainment often at a disadvantage in the labour market. AI polling. The AoC published survey evidence showing mixed views from adult learners about the impact of AI and green transition issues on future work places, with many such groups, particularly the lower paid, failing to recognise the need for training as a result.
Higher tech skills. The Gatsby Foundation examined how employers and employees make decisions about higher technical skills in a report commissioned by the Learning and Work Institute, highlighting from regional research that many employers tend to focus on their existing workforce, that information can often be difficult to find, and that provision doesn’t always match need. HE:
New visa route. The government announced a new Protection ‘Work and Study’ visa route, which would see new arrivals ‘able to earn settlement sooner’ if they gained employment or undertook a course of study, as part of proposed new asylum plans.
Financial update. The OfS issued a financial update for the sector, factoring in this autumn’s recruitment data and concluding on the basis of modelling, a likely increase in the number of providers expected to report a deficit next year.
Capital funding. The OfS announced the allocation of capital funding for 2025/26 following the recent bidding process with most of it (£80m) going to specific providers supporting some 60 projects.
Know your rights. The OfS published commissioned research undertaken by the consultancy Public First looking into how far students know their rights as consumers when it comes to HE, finding that while most were happy that their learning experience matched what was promised, many not fully aware of their rights and not convinced it was worth complaining if necessary anyway.
Working and studying. HEPI and the University of Lancashire reported on the growing number of students having to combine study with p/t work, with time pressures and the quality of the p/t work issues for many, calling as a result for better support, both financial and practical, from all sides.
Reform views on HE. Public First reported on views about HE from likely Reform voters with focus groups, suggesting that such voters were unconvinced about the value of HE although ready to welcome income from international students.
UK/Germany collaboration. The Russell Group called for stronger links with Germany following a recent high-level visit, arguing that exchanges, short-term placements and joint PhDs could all help ‘unlock the full potential of R/D links between the two countries.’
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