Steve Besley's Education Eye: week ending 05 April 2024

Welcome to Education Eye, a regular update detailing the policies and stories happening in UK education, compiled by Steve Besley.

What's happened this week?

Important stories across the board:

Two weeks of education news this week covering the main stories from over the Easter break.

Let’s start with this week’s news, where two stories have been making the headlines – the first stage of the rollout of the government’s childcare scheme, and the traditional Easter teacher conferences.

The launch of the government’s expanded childcare scheme first, where this week’s rollout came amid claim and counter claim about costs, sufficiency of places and long-term sustainability. The education secretary heralded the launch as “a landmark moment”, but the big question has been whether there are enough places for those that need them? As one mother explained in an article in the i newspaper: “I put my baby up for ten nurseries before he was even born – it’s so competitive”.

The PM, pictured jacketless in a nursery as the scheme got under way, claimed they were on track to deliver on their promises, with the education secretary adding that they should hit the target of places required "within days". But staffing remains an issue. An extra 40,000 staff appears to be what’s needed.
Labour, which is conducting its own review of childcare, remained sceptical, suggesting the number of childcare places had actually fallen by a thousand, that many families would be disappointed and that the whole thing was ‘in chaos'.

It was left to the CEO of the Early Years Alliance to conclude: "Ministers have made a big promise to parents. Only by providing the support that the sector needs will they be able to keep it". The next big moment comes in September when the scheme is extended to 15 hours of care for 9-month-olds for eligible working parents.

Next the teacher Annual Conferences. The NASUWT concluded its conference last weekend, the NEU has been holding its event this week. Pay has of course been one of the major themes in both, but also workloads, pupil behaviour, Ofsted, and general feelings of stress. “Teachers in the UK are experiencing dystopian levels of workload and work-related stress. They can’t go on much longer without reform to their pay, their workloads, their working hours, and their rights at work”, as the General Secretary of the NASUWT explained.

More worryingly as the union also heard, was that it was all leaving some teachers feeling suicidal. The union included a call for more welfare support for teachers among its many Conference recommendations.
A similar picture has been emerging from the NEU Annual Conference this week. The survey of members published at the start of the Conference revealed high levels of stress, ‘unmanageable’ workloads and poor work-life balance. “Staff have so little time to deal with their workload, that they cannot support each other, so wellbeing has become a big issue, too”.

The union is currently waiting to hear what pay deal it’s likely to get this year before deciding on future action.

Next, some important updates from last week where at least three items have stood out:

First, the Khan Review, commissioned three years ago by the government to look into ‘social cohesion and resilience in England’ and which published its final report last week. The Review noted that ‘there’ve been twenty years of reports, recommendations, and strategies on social cohesion, yet the outcomes have been mixed’. And it highlighted a number of disturbing current challenges including notably the phenomena of ‘freedom-restricting harassment’.

It called, among other things, for the creation of an independent Office for Social Cohesion and Democratic Resilience, and went on to make a number of recommendations for the police, education, local authorities, and social media companies generally. For schools in particular, where it singled out the Batley Grammar School case, it called for a 150m buffer zone around schools to help prevent harassment outside schools, along with the creation of a Cohesion and Conflict Unit to provide guidance and support for teachers where necessary. Labour is said to be supportive of the idea, while unions called for more detail. “More detail would therefore be needed on this proposal to understand how it would operate in practice and how it would be enforced”, was the view from ASCL.

Second from last week, a major new survey published by the children’s commissioner, outlining children’s views on such topics as family, education, health, online safety, and asylum children. The commissioner described the report as potentially ‘the world’s biggest survey evidence base from children’ , and there’s certainly a lot to take in. On education for instance: 60% agreed they enjoyed school or college, although 75% reckoned they had great teachers. While on health, only 49% said they were happy with the way they look – with girls particularly less happy.

The core message coming out of the survey was that children and young people were keen to tackle issues where they could and wanted their views heard. “The government should listen to children’s ideas more, and children shouldn’t have to pass their idea to an adult to make it happen. Children should be able to change the world too”, as one 11-year-old put it.

The Big Ambition, as the survey report was called, builds on the 2021 Big Ask survey instigated by the commissioner, and as the name suggests, provides a major set of ambitions for the future work of the commissioner – 32 in all, covering each of the survey topics.

And third from last week and especially for those keenly following AI and its potential impact on jobs, a major report from the think tank the IPPR. In a telling summary, the report authors argued that we are at ‘a sliding doors’ moment when it comes to the impact of AI on the labour market, 'with possibilities for huge job disruption in future or significant GDP gains, depending on government policy'.

The report modelled three scenarios, ‘best, worst and medium’, both for where we are now on AI, and where we might be in the future, depending on policy choices. On where we are now, for instance, a best scenario would mean no job losses and GDP gains of 4% while a worst-case scenario would mean 1.5m jobs lost and no GDP gain. The core message appears to be that ‘a job apocalypse’ is not inevitable, but coordinated action and careful steering from government and leading employers is needed.

And before we leave the big reports from last week, a quick mention of a special report from the government’s Public Accounts Committee. It looked at the range of funding ‘nasties’, from health to defence, facing an incoming government – ‘essential funding which cannot be put off’. It included three for education: school buildings, SEND and skills. Not the easiest ‘bank’ statement of modern times.

Finally, some specific sector stories from the last two weeks:

Schools first, where with many teachers in conference this week, most of the news has come from last week. It included the promise of more money for special needs places, deemed a high priority by most. The education secretary claimed in the announcement that the government has a plan to 'deliver 60,000 more places that meet the needs of these pupils and their families'. The NAHT remained unimpressed. 'We are in the middle of a full-blown crisis when it comes to SEND'.

Also, for schools last week, Ofqual published its annual qualifications market report for last year, with lots of facts and figures on the exam business, while the National Literacy Trust set out a new three-year strategy with a new focus on early years literacy.

In FE, the main talking point from over the last couple of weeks has been the rather sudden resignation of the skills minister Rob Halfon. Famed for his ‘ladder of opportunity’ and his unbending support for skills and apprenticeships generally, the response from the sector has been heartfelt, with the feeling that it has lost a true advocate. “A passionate champion for further education, skills and apprenticeships throughout his tenure”, as the AoC’s David Hughes put it.

And finally HE, where the government this week listed its priorities for grant-funded provision in its annual letter to the Office for Students (OfS), which included a cut for the Uni Connect scheme, but support for alternative routes such as degree apprenticeships.

OFS launched a consultation on guidance re responsibilities around free speech last week, and the QAA published a new policy briefing and Toolkit on Degree Apprenticeships. And further afield, the EU announced the next steps towards creating an EU degree, with the publication of a blueprint which apparently 'builds on the results of six Erasmus+ pilot projects that have involved more than 140 higher education institutions from all EU countries'. Given the logistics, the Commission points to ‘a gradual approach’, with work on securing overall quality assurance systems and staffing arrangements to follow next.

Links to most of these stories below starting with the headlines.

The top headlines of the week:

‘Teachers back call for suicide prevention training’ (Monday).
‘4 out of 5 teachers say new inspection system needed’ (Tuesday).
‘10k payment for non-UK trainees cut for next year’ (Wednesday).
‘Teachers could strike in September, union says’ (Thursday).
‘Creative arts courses at English universities face funding cut’ (Friday).

General:

Childcare. The government heralded the rollout of the first stage of its promised childcare scheme, arguing that it was on track to deliver funded places for over 150,000 two-year olds despite providers and families in many areas claiming issues over staffing and costs.
AI MoU. The government announced a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the UK and US Safety Institutes, which would work together on AI safety, sharing expertise and research and generally building a common approach to AI safety.
AI strategy. The Tony Blair Institute called for a new industrial strategy for an era of AI based around putting science and technology at the heart of government decision making and ensuring that AI is used to accelerate innovation and competitiveness in wealth generating sectors
Living Wage. The Living Wage Foundation welcomed the rise in the National Living Wage which kicked in this week for workers aged 21 and over but noted that it still fell short of the voluntary real Living Wage which fully reflects the cost of living.

And from last week ...

Khan Review. Dame Sara Khan, the government’s independent Adviser for Social Coherence and Resilience, published the results of her major review into social cohesion in the UK pointing to a growing worries about ‘freedom-restricting harassment,’ citing the Batley Grammer School case as an example, and calling for an impartial Office for Social Cohesion and Resilience with a long-term action plan.
The ‘Big Nasties.’The Public Accounts Committee published a list of what it called ‘Big Nasties’ or major funding challenges facing an incoming government, which included for education money needed for school buildings (£8.4m,) for SEND (£9.4bn) and for covering skills gaps (£980m).
Pay and rations. The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IfS) reported on latest trends in public sector pay pointing to the poor performance of both public and private sector pay over the last decade or so with some high-profile professions like doctors and senior teachers facing particularly poor levels of pay growth and suggesting that the issue of industrial action had not gone away.
Global Britain. The British Chambers of Commerce launched its Global Britain Challenge report aimed at boosting exports and inward investment and proposing a dedicated Team and Brand to help with this.
AI effect. The IPPR think tank examined the development of AI on the labour market, suggesting two waves of development, one currently and a second as companies integrate AI more deeply, modelling three scenarios in each case with varying impacts on job losses and on GDP.
Big ambition. The children’s commissioner published the results of her recent major survey of young people, bringing together views on matters such as families, education, wellbeing and social care, creating as a result a set of ambitions intended to guide the commissioner’s strategy over the next three-years.
Digital skills of DWP customers. The DWP published commissioned research into the levels of digital skills expertise of its customers finding it better among some groups than others with the phone generally seen as the preferred medium.

More specifically ...

Schools:

Teachers’ pay. The NASUWT rounded off its latest annual conference by calling for the government to set up a National Commission on Teacher’s Pay which it was hoped would help strengthen pay and conditions and raise the status of the profession generally.
Survey report. The NEU highlighted workloads, pay, inspections and a lack of resources as among the factor causing high levels of stress among teachers as it reported on its latest survey of members.
Multiplication tables. The standards and testing agency published guidance for the admin of the multiplication tables check (MTC) which is scheduled for the first two weeks of June for Year 4 pupils.

And from last week ...

Special needs. The government outlined the funding going into provision for those with special needs and disabilities as it confirmed ‘a record annual investment of £850m’ as part of a major investment programme up to 2025.
Specialist taskforce. The government issued guidelines for organisations interested in developing an Alternative Provision Specialist Taskforce, based on lessons from an ongoing pilot and showing how these can improve partnership working and embed good practice when adopted.
Qualifications market. Ofqual published its latest market report on qualifications covering last year and showing that 11.3m certificates had been issued with AQA and Pearson having the largest market share.
Assessment report 2023. Ofqual issued its report on the national assessments carried out in 2023 with particular reference to the reading test and to the views of KS2 markers, issuing a clean bill of health generally with the reading test proving effective albeit with some markers expressing concern about their workloads and pay.
New strategy. The National Literacy Trust launched a new 3-year strategy pointing to four ways in which over the next three years it will work to support people develop their literacy skills, based around a vision of Literacy to Grow, to Learn and to Thrive.

FE/Skills:

Skills funding. The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) set out Version 1 of the funding rates and details for adult skills funding (ASF) for 2024/25, reflecting the rates announced last year along with some technical changes including for example to non-regulated earning.

And from last week ...

T levels. The government issued guidance for providers wishing to offer T levels from 2026/27 for the first time, calling for applications to be in by midnight 21 March 2025.
Destination data. The Gatsby Foundation published commissioned data on the destinations of the first wave of T level students, some 531 in all, with sample evidence from just over half showing 46% having progressed on to HE, 27% into employment and 9% into an apprenticeship.
PSE. The government launched consultation on proposed new standards for personal, social and employability (PSE) qualifications for 16–18-year-olds, built around three themes (employability, personal and social development, independent living) and potentially for first teaching from 2027.
Impact report. The Education and Training Foundation published its Impact Report for 2021/22 -2022/23 highlighting through data and summary evidence its work in training and supporting the sector over the last two years.
Halfon resignation. Organisations across the FE sector paid tribute to the commitment and enthusiasm shown towards the skills agenda by Robert Halfon MP as he announced his ‘surprise’ resignation.

HE:

2024/25 grant. The government set out its funded priorities for the Office for Studies (OfS) for 2024/25 with an emphasis on developing alternative routes and provision, providing for strategically important subjects, and supporting student transition and welfare.
Start-ups. The HE Statistics Agency (HESA) reported on the latest data from the HE-Business and Community Interaction survey showing the number of new businesses started by recent students with HE provider support, standing at a record high for 2022/23 of just under 5,000.

And from last week ...

Free speech. The Office for Students (OfS) launched a consultation on aspects of its new duties around freedom of speech and what institutions and student unions would need to know in terms of regulation, complaints procedures and penalties.
Degree apprenticeships. The QAA published a new policy paper on Degree Apprenticeships along with a new Toolkit, highlighting development and good practice across the sector and concluding with recommendations to streamline the regulatory framework to ensure quality.
European degree. The EU Commission set out a blueprint for a European degree, a joint programme that could be recognised across EU countries, with further plans to establish quality assurance and to strengthen an academic career route, next in the pipeline.
Tackling misconduct. Universities UK issued updated its guidance for universities on handling alleged cases of student misconduct, setting out eight areas of practical guidance that could prove useful including using careful communication and ensuring compliance with procedural fairness.
University funding. The conservativehome site looked at options for reforming university funding suggesting that a good starting point might be to look at so-called ‘low value degrees’ as well as considering a system of targeted grants with perhaps a graduate tax for employers.
Election manifesto. The MillionPlus group of universities published its manifesto for the next government, emphasising the need for more investment and support for modern universities to be able to deliver on modern workforce skills.
R/D. The Russell Group joined with the Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE) and other leading research and development bodies in calling for a commitment from government to supporting UK R/D to help it become ‘a leading G7 nation’ in this regard.

Tweets and posts of note:

“The thing about the student finance system is that it both quacks like a loan and quacks like a tax. It's a bit of both. The more it resembles a loan, the less progressive it will be. So the more demands for lower interest rates and being able to ever pay it off grow, the less …” | @jim_dickinson
“I want to feel the same excitement that a bunch of sixth formers do when choosing a meal deal in a Tesco Express. It’s obviously the highlight of their day” | @dknights
“With the appointment of Luke Hall, we have now had ten changes of higher education minister in ten years. No wonder our universities are in crisis” | @MichaelLCrick

A selection of quotes that merit attention:

“Thanks to our bumper package of economic reforms coming into force today – 2024 is set to be the year Britain bounces back” – The PM heralds the increase in the National Living Wage and cuts to NI as evidence of an economic bounce back.
“This will be a lifeline for working parents, building up to this government’s plan for the most comprehensive childcare support in this country’s history by 2025” – the education secretary hails the rollout of the government’s childcare plan.
“I’m at the point in my career where I don’t know how to get their attention; they don’t have much of it. And Taylor Swift gets their attention” – A US professor tells the Times Higher about the attraction of Taylor Swift courses.
“Teaching is in the grip of a mental health emergency, with teachers turning to antidepressants, alcohol and even self-harm to cope with the pressures of their job” – the NASUWT highlights a mental health crisis in teaching at its Annual Conference
“I find the ever-increasing recording of behaviour unmanageable in my day. I am expected to record incidents; record toilet breaks; record medical and time card use; record truancy; record lateness and minutes late; record good behaviour and attitude. This takes a lot of time and interrupts my classroom practice” – the NEU highlights unmanageable workloads in a survey of members for its Annual Conference.
“We want to send a message loud and clear. Vaping is not acceptable. We will not permit it. We will not promote it" – a school in Scotland installs detectors in the loos to stop pupils vaping.

Important numbers

Not-to-be-missed numbers of the week:

6. The number of targets in the government’s 2022 Levelling Up plan out of 12 which have seen no progress at all and in some cases things getting worse rather than better, according to analysis by The Guardian.
£11.44. The new minimum for the government’s National Living Wage as of this week, according to latest government announcements.
20%. The increase in the minimum wage for apprentices from this week, according to latest official announcements.
£11.4bn. The projected figure for UK consumer spending over the Easter week, up 5.7% on last year driven by some better weather and better economic news according to the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR).
41%. The number of teachers describing their workload as ‘unmanageable,’ according to the NEU’s latest member survey.
7.5%. The pupil absence rate in schools in England for w/commencing 18 March, according to latest government figures.

And from last week ...

£2.6bn. The amount the government is investing in special and alternative needs provision between 2022 and 2025, according to the education secretary.
4363. The number of schools, academies and sixth-form colleges that applied for the latest Condition Improvement Fund to help with estate repairs with 733 being successful, according to the government.
11.3m. The number of certificates issued for qualifications in England in 2022/23, according to Ofqual’s latest market report.
11.9%. The number of 16-24 year-olds defined as NEET (not in education, employment or training) last year, down 0.5% on the previous year according to latest government figures.

Everything else you need to know ...

What to look out for next week:

MPs' Easter break (Tuesday 26 March – Monday 15 April).

Steve Besley

Disclaimer: Education Eye is intended to help colleagues keep up to date with national developments in the education sector. Information is correct at the time of writing and is offered in good faith. No liability is accepted by Steve Besley or EdCentral for decisions made on the basis of any information provided.

Steve Besley's Education Eye: week ending 05 April 2024

What's happened this week?

Important stories across the board:

The top headlines of the week:

General:

More specifically ...

Schools:

FE/Skills:

HE:

Tweets and posts of note:

A selection of quotes that merit attention:

Important numbers

Not-to-be-missed numbers of the week:

Everything else you need to know ...

What to look out for next week:

Other stories

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Steve Besley