Highlights of the week ending 10 June
This week has seen a wealth of statistics published by the Department for Education, covering all parts of the education journey, including: the number of pupils in English schools hitting 9 million; a rise in those pupils receiving free school meals; 4,400 more full time teachers are in post; advanced apprenticeship accounting for 44% of starts in the first half of the academic year; a widening of the gap between the employment rates of working-age graduates and postgraduates and non-graduates (first time since 2013).
Two big announcements were saved until the end of the week with plans for a new system to bring international teachers to England and up to 75 new free schools being built in England (including sixth forms and alternative provision). The latter formed part of this year’s education White Paper.
The big ministerial speech this week was provided by Michelle Donelan, HE and FE minister, at the HEPI annual conference. As part of it she announced the appointment of Professor Edward Peck, the vice-chancellor of Nottingham Trent, as the first Student Support Champion. The role is to provide sectoral leadership to share best practice and promote new initiatives for how to ensure students remain supported and engaged with their course.