Steve Besley's Education Eye: week ending 19 July 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:

It’s been a week of getting down to business for the new government, ‘taking the brakes off’ as the phrase of the week has it.

On the education front, the education secretary held an open webinar to set out her thoughts on education, the deputy PM included adult skills training in her ‘devolution revolution’ and a number of education and skills related Bills made it into this week’s set-piece King’s Speech.

Elsewhere the innovation agency Nesta and the Institute for Government explained what a mission-led government actually means. A lot of hard work it seems but more specifically it means government adopting three key roles: “driving public service innovation, shaping markets, and harnessing collective intelligence to improve decision-making.” Thankfully they offered a manual to go with it.

And the IPPR think tank and Research group Persuasion UK dug a bit deeper into the views of those who voted Labour at the latest general election. Most it seems were motivated unsurprisingly by a desire for change. Generally there was more coming together on economic issues but less so on issues of culture. Oh, and they expected things to improve ‘in two to three years.’

On the wider front, the government launched ’a root and branch’ review of the armed forces, the PM announced a new taskforce on Child Poverty, and the social care and construction sectors highlighted shortages of skilled workers.

Nor should we forget the evidence from the detailed ‘Hallett’ UK Covid Inquiry which released its Module1 report this week pointing to a lack of preparedness by the government. “Our defences were down.”

It maybe some time before we see any concrete action from all this bustle of activity but the tone has been set and perhaps, as the New Statesman described it, it’ll be a case of ‘policy by increments.’

So let’s see where we are now on education starting with those three big developments of the week.

First the King’s Speech, that formal occasion that sets out the legislative programme for the year ahead. It heralded in the words of Bloomberg UK ‘a king-size-to-do’ list.’

The King dutifully read through the list of 39 Bills that the government hopes to introduce over the coming months. For education, these included Bills on Children’s Wellbeing, Mental Health, Skills England, English Devolution, Employment Rights, and Digital Information and Smart Data.

Much of the detail will be familiar.

The Children’s Wellbeing Bill for instance includes measures on breakfast clubs in primary schools, requiring academies to teach the national curriculum, subjecting MATs to Ofsted inspections, and requiring local authorities to maintain Children not in School registers. The Skills England Bill does what it says by setting up a new skills body for England bringing together powers from other bodies, while the Devolution England Bill transfers powers over key areas like adult education and transport to local leaders.

The NAHT described the measures in the Children’s Wellbeing Bill as “sensible and welcome” although the NEU said ‘more ambition was needed’ to tackle the scale of the problems. The AoC welcomed the proposals on skills and reform of the apprenticeship levy. And the NUS welcomed the Renters Rights Bill and proposals on worker’s rights, bus franchising and apprenticeship levy reform.

Particular measures such as implementing VAT on private school fees, reforming the apprenticeship levy and strengthening mental health provision will follow in due course but they may all take time as the PM later explained. “Rebuilding our country will not happen overnight.”

Second, the education secretary who outlined her thoughts on her role and priorities in the first of what she hoped would be a series of open Q/A events. There were lots of questions, over 3,000 apparently on everything from SEND, to Ofsted, MATs, apprenticeships and the proposed curriculum review but not many got to be asked let alone answered.

Funding inevitably was a recurring theme. But as with so many issues on this, just her 12^th day in office, the education secretary declared she understood, was listening but couldn’t say much more yet. So nothing yet on teacher’s pay, school funding allocations and so on. Instead, announcements ‘before too long.’

As for local devolution which Labour had promised in its manifesto would be ‘a central pillar of its growth strategy,’ Angela Rayner, who is leading on this area, called on local leaders “to take the plunge and speak to us about how we can work with you to transform your regions.” She specifically wanted to end what she called ‘devolution deserts’ and see matters like housing, transport and adult skills devolved to local leaders.

Greater Manchester provides a leading example and much of this work will be driven through Local Growth Plans overseen by the new Council of Nations and Regions. The Couty Council Network appeared onboard calling the plans potentially ‘transformational.’ Further details can be seen in the proposed English Devolution Bill which in its words intends to make devolution ‘the default setting.’

Away from all this activity what’s been happening elsewhere in education this week?

In schools, the bosses of Ofqual and UCAS wrote to students to reassure them ahead of this summer’s results days. “Whatever your results, you can be confident that for GCSEs and A level it’s no harder or easier to achieve a particular grade in each subject between one awarding organisation (exam board) and another.”

The Education Policy Institute reported on student exam performance over the last five years and highlighted a growing disadvantage gap, particularly at primary school. “By the end of primary school (key stage 2), the disadvantage gap had grown to 10.3 months.” The NFER called it ‘a worrying report.’

The British Council published its latest annual report on Language Trends in schools in England suggesting that “significant challenges remain to be overcome,” particularly over the recruitment of qualified teachers.

The Careers and Enterprise Co reported on its ‘Start Small: Dream Big’ pilot which has seen employers go in and talk to primary school kids about future careers and which has been well received. “It’s just opened up a new area of thinking for children,” one school said.

Ofsted published its Annual Report and Accounts for 2023/24 pointing to “a year of significant change and challenge” but equally hoping to introduce changes in the coming year following its Big Listen exercise.

And the NAHT commented on the latest figures on school suspensions and exclusions, concluding that “we cannot go on as we are.”

Over in FE, the WPI Strategy Group called for ‘a kick-start to the skills revolution’ as a precondition for boosting economic growth, with Gordon Brown, in his Foreword to the report, positioning T levels as the key ingredient in this. “T-levels,” he argued “have the potential to create a new skilled workforce for the next three-quarters of our century.”

Not everyone agreed. The sixth form colleges association felt the report ‘had been drafted in a time warp,’ while early findings published this week from the Edge Foundation’s research into what students really think about T levels, found many students yet to be convinced.

In HE, the QAA reported ‘no great concerns’ in its commissioned report into international pathway programmes. The Russell Group welcomed the report given the media headlines earlier this year and accepted the recommendations about the need to ‘strengthen practice’ in areas like progression rates and assessment standardisation.

Unite Students and HEPI looked into how this year’s applicants feel as they prepare to enter university in a few months. In the words of the report’s summary “this year’s applicants will enter higher education with a higher level of optimism about their future employability, but with less financial confidence and with significantly lower confidence in their academic skills compared to the previous two cohorts.”

UCAS announced changes for 2026 entry to the personal statement bit of its application form. It will see the current open box format broken down to provide for three “scaffolding questions” that according to UCAS ‘will level the playing field, providing clear guidance and structure for all applicants.’ ASCL described it as ‘a welcome change.’

So, as the education year starts to draw to a close around the country, the new government continues its drive to get the machinery for ‘Change’ in place, with an all-important Treasury Statement on the financial inheritance expected shortly.

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

The top headlines of the week:

‘UK private schools warn of ‘race to the bottom’ over VAT policy’ (Monday).
‘No concerns about foreign students’ entry grades’ (Tuesday).
‘King’s Speech confirms skills focus of new Labour government’ (Wednesday).
‘UCAS personal statement changes will have a big impact’ (Thursday).
‘EEF chief to lead DfE curriculum shake-up’ (Friday).

General:

King’s Speech. The government set out its legislative programme for the coming session of parliament in the traditional King’s Speech with a full list of some 39 Bills, including many promised for education such as raising educational standards, reforming the apprenticeship levy and improving mental health provision.
Child Poverty. The PM announced a new Child Poverty taskforce, to be led jointly by the education secretary and the work and pensions secretary and to work with experts to create an ‘ambitious’ new Child Poverty Strategy.
Devolution deserts. Deputy PM Angela Rayner called on local leaders, particularly those in what she called ‘devolution deserts’ to join her in a devolution revolution that would see local issues like housing, transport and adult skills devolved to local communities.
Mission-led government. Nesta and the Institute for Government examined what a mission-led government as Labour proposes to be actually means and what’s needed to be able to deliver on it, pointing to three core components: a bold vision for change; a clear role for government; and strong foundations.
Football legacy. Following the recent achievements of the Three Lions and the Lionesses, the government moved swiftly to build on their work by promising to strengthen ‘Grassroots football clubs’ and protecting time for PE in schools.
Economic Outlook. The IMF published its latest ‘World Economic Outlook’ suggesting little change to its April forecast with global growth projected at 3.2% and 3.3% respectively for this year and next, with that for the UK uprated but still lower than the global figure, with wider concerns generally about services inflation leaving the global economy in” a sticky spot.”
UK labour market. The Institute for Employment Studies (IES) reported on the latest UK labour market data covering the period March - May 2024, suggesting more ‘clouds than silver linings’ with pay growth continuing but with little change on employment, unemployment and economic inactivity.
Job adverts. The Recruitment and Employment Confederation reported that job adverts remained stable over the last month despite the uncertainty provided by the general election, with jobs related to driving and logistics having the highest increase and those in education and health and social work ‘experiencing decline.’
EU to tackle social media. EU Commissioner, Ursula von der Leyen, pledged as part of her nomination for her second term, to tackle what she called “the plague of cyber-bullying” of young people, pledging to “convene the first-ever European-wide enquiry on the impact of social media on the wellbeing of young people.”

More specifically ...

Schools:

King’s Speech. The government included many of its expected schools measures in the King’s Speech including requiring councils to maintain a register of not in school children,’ subjecting MATs to Ofsted inspections, providing for free breakfasts in every primary school, requiring all schools to teach the national curriculum and ensuring all teachers have or are working towards a recognised teaching qualification.
Exam results 2024.The bosses of Ofqual and UCAS wrote to students ahead of this year’s exam results days reminding them of how marking and grading operate, how to prepare for results day and what to do if you don’t get the result you’d hoped for.
Curriculum review. The government announced that Professor Becky Francis, currently the boss at the Education Endowment Foundation will lead its much-vaunted review of the curriculum and assessment, covering all Key Stages and due to report next year.
Disadvantage gap. The Education Policy Institute published its 2024 annual report looking in particular at exam achievement last year compared to that before Covid and highlighting the growing disadvantage gap over this period, calling among other things for targeted funding, a dedicated strategy and support for pupils with SEND to help improve things.
Annual report. Ofsted published its Annual Report and Accounts for the period to March 2024 pointing to the many challenges it’s faced over the year most significantly with the Ruth Perry tragedy but also with financial constraints and questions about its very future but arguing that it’s looking to complete its current inspection schedules and to introduce any changes following its Big Listen in the coming year.
Pupil numbers. The government published projected figures on pupil numbers likely to affect most school types in England, pointing to a continuing drop in the numbers of nursery and primary school pupils largely due to a falling birth rate, with secondary and special school pupil numbers likely to peak around 2026/7 before starting to fall back.
GCSE Computer Science. Ofqual reported on its research into standards in GCSE Computer science which has faced a number of changes since it was first awarded in 2012, concluding that standards ‘may not have been consistently maintained through the period 2014 to 2019’ with small grading adjustments likely to follow.
Language Trends. The British Council published its latest annual report into language trends across schools in England indicating that ‘significant challenges’ remain over exams and teacher recruitment but on the plus side, pointing to optimism about the new GCSEs in French, German and Spanish.
VAT concerns. The FT reported on the government proposals to add VAT to private school fees finding a mixed picture with some schools considering absorbing any increases, some waiting to see and others worried generally about any likely long-term impact.
Career-related learning. The Careers and Enterprise Company reported on its pilot work into careers-related education with primary schools which has seen many employers talk to young people about future jobs and careers suggesting its been welcomed by all sides with many parents now talking to their children about future careers.
Early ‘failing’ schools. FFT Education Datalab examined how low-attaining schools, identified as ‘failing’ by the last Labour government, had fared over the intervening years finding the majority of the 142 such schools now in academy schemes, many graded highly by Ofsted but often with high levels of disadvantage and lower levels of attainment.
When I grow up. The NFER examined the career aspirations of young people finding continuing interest in ‘pro social care’ professions but no great increase in numbers wanting to become a teacher suggesting that if the government wanted to boost recruitment, factors like pay and workloads needed to be improved.
Research funding. The Nuffield Foundation responded to the new education secretary’s interest in research by outlining particular areas of education and skills it was keen to support research in, including the ongoing effects of Covid, issues around SEND, the role of career advice, and life skills for young people.

FE/Skills:

King’s Speech. The government included a number of measures of interest to FE in the King’s Speech including the creation of a new body for skills in England, reform of the apprenticeship levy, opportunities for more local devolution settlements, and the potential for FE teachers to have or to be working towards a teaching qualification.
Supporting T levels. The WPI Strategy Group reported on the skills and economic growth challenges facing the new government, criticising the ‘confusing’ post-16 qualification system, calling for ‘bold action’ and positioning T levels as a key factor in raising skill levels generally.
AoC response. The Association of Colleges (AoC) in a response to the WPI report reiterated its call for a full and ‘urgent review of every single T level’ so as to ensure they meet the needs of both students and industry.
More on T levels. The Edge Foundation reported on its research project looking into how students viewed T levels and pointing to four emerging findings including students being ‘steered into’ T levels rather than through choice, concerns about the teaching style and structure of T levels and issues over placements.
Skills for Care. Social Care partners pointed to the need for an extra 540,000 posts in adult social care to be filled by 20240 as they published a new Workforce Strategy, seeking to ‘strike a balance between hope and urgency’ and listing a range of recommendations on pay, funding, training and support.
Creative education. The Creative Industries Policy and Research Centre in partnership with the RSA and Newcastle University published a new ‘State of the Nations’ report into how the industry was doing in the UK FE sector, pointing to a disturbing drop in student enrolments just at a time when the industry was seeking new skilled recruits, calling as a result for renewed policy commitment in this area.

HE:

International Pathway programmes. The QAA reported on its commissioned review into international pathway programmes, acknowledging that while international students often had a greater choice of courses and opportunities to succeed, entry requirements and standards were in line with expectations and there were no great causes for concern on standards.
Top six. The MillionPlus Group outlined ‘six key areas’ for the new Labour government to consider, including stabilising sector finances, maintaining funding for BTECs, enhancing participation via a social mobility premium, and working with rather than against universities.
This year’s applicants. Unite Students and HEPI reported on this year’s HE applicants, their hopes and fears, expectations and concerns with many optimistic and confident about getting a good job afterwards but in some cases still carrying the scars of a disrupted education through the pandemic and worried about the impact of the cost-of-living.
Results day pointers. Ben Jordan, Director of Strategy at UCAS, suggested in a blog on the HEPI site ‘five things to watch ahead of this year’s results day,’ including trends around widening participation, any changes around international student numbers and how confirmation and offers play out with the numbers of 18-year-olds remaining high.
UCAS applications. UCAS announced changes to the personal statement format of its application form which will come in for 2026 entry and will see the open box format change to incorporate three ‘focused ‘questions around why the applicant wants to study the course, what they have been studying that might lead to this course and what other experiences they might want to mention.
Work experience. UCAS launched its new virtual work experience programme, put together by careers platform Sprinbod and available to students with a UCAS Hub account, which can offer significant virtual working experiences with leading employers ensuring no student is left out.

Tweets and posts of note:

“Hi again @bphillipsonMP, I know you’ve got lots on, but if you could add to the list ‘make the Ofsted inspection window October - June’ it would be great. So close to the start of term and the last weeks of term doesn’t really let anyone show themselves at their best. Thanks” -@secretHT1.
“King Charles reading out the King's Speech in the kind of dull monotone you use when you're trying to get your kids to go to sleep when reading a bedtime story (which is of course deliberate to show neutrality)” -@SophyRidgeSky.
“Teaching is one of the few professions where you steal from home to take to work. Personal experience” -@apisgallus.
“The danger with trying to make a curriculum ‘relevant’ to children is that an important purpose of education is to bring the universe to them, galaxies they’ve never encountered it imagined, not just what they already know and like. This is how you patronise kids, and keep their experience as small as the circumference of their current circumstances” -@tombennett71.
“My smallest child told the entire nursery staff that we are going to Australia for the summer holidays, so they made kangaroos and learned all the animals. This lie was maintained for three solid days. When I challenged said child, I was sternly gaslit and told that we ARE going” -@CrimeGirl.
“Wife just convinced daughter we couldn’t set up a camera to film the tooth fairy ‘because of GDPR’. Handy being married to a compliance manager” -@AlistairBarrie.
“My husband suggested that we go to the pub separately to relive our first date. So he walked over to me at the bar and asked "Hi gorgeous, can I buy you a drink?" I replied "Get lost, I'm not falling for that again" -@elainesim28.

A selection of quotes that merit attention:

“My Government’s legislative programme will be mission led and based upon the principles of security, fairness and opportunity for all” – the King reads out the government’s core message at the start of the King’s Speech.
“There was nothing on welfare, social care, and very little on health” – the Centre for Social Justice offers its thoughts on the King’s Speech.
“The Minister for Local Government and my officials stand ready to meet to discuss proposals and to support you, so you are ready to board the train of devolution as we surge along this journey to give every community a voice in the future of Britain” – the deputy PM invites local leaders to join the devolution train.
“My message to you today is simple - Britain is back. A confident, outward-looking, future-facing UK is ready and willing to play our part on the international stage” - the Business Secretary addresses G7 trade delegates.
“No child should be excluded or discouraged from taking part in PE because they don’t have the right kit” – the dept for culture saves many kids’ blushes.
“We identified a few minor discrepancies, although nothing that would give us cause for concern” – QAA reports on international foundation programmes.
“Personal statements are changing from one longer piece of text to three separate sections, each with a different question to help shape the focus for students' answers” – UCAS describes its changes to the Personal Statement section of the application form for 2026.
“It would be calamitous and costly to slow the rollout of T-levels or pause the changeover of funding from lower quality to higher quality qualifications” – Gordon Brown advocates for T levels.
“This year, there will be tens of thousands of choices on offer” Ofqual and UCAS reassure students ahead of this summer’s results day.
“In the new political landscape, its purpose itself needs redefining and new policies and procedures must be put in place to pursue it” – Professor Colin Richards reflects on the future for Ofsted.
“Parents are saying they’ll wait and hold on to their money until a bit later in the child’s academic career” – the FT reports on how some schools and parents are playing the VAT fees issue.
“A national tragedy” – the NAHT reacts to the disadvantage gap highlighted in a report from the EPI.
“Think like a soldier, and keep your expectations low, and shut your ears to any parents telling you their holidays were ‘just bliss’” - a parent’s manual for surviving the summer holiday with kids.

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

2%. The CPI inflation figure for the UK for June, the same as the month before but with ‘underlying pressures remaining high’ according to the NIESR.
0.7% and 1.5%. The projected growth figures for the UK for this year and next, slightly up according to the IMF.
22.1%. The economic inactivity rate for the period March – May 2024, up 0.8% according to the latest figures from the ONS.
0.2%. The estimated fall in public service productivity last year, following a ‘bounce-back’ in the previous two years according to the NAO.
67%. The number of people in a survey who support a ban on zero-hour contracts, according to a survey commissioned by the TUC.
43%. The number of this year’s university applicants who have struggled with their mental health at school and who think they might miss lectures at university as well, according to a survey from Unite Students and HEPI.
278,590. The number of apprenticeship starts so far this year to April 2024, up 1.1% on last year and largely at advanced and higher levels according to latest government figures.
3,263,067. The projected number of secondary school pupils in England in 2028, according to latest government data.
60%. The number of schools in England struggling to recruit qualified language teachers, according to the British Council.
786,961. The number of pupil suspensions for 2022/23, ‘the highest recorded annual number’ according to latest figures from the government.

Everything else you need to know ...

What to look out for next week:

General debate in the House of Commons on education and Opportunity (Wednesday 24 July).

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.