Policy Watch

A shorter working month but no shortage of activity with Ofsted’s latest Annual Report, the government’s 2020 Vision for Apprenticeships, UCAS’s summary report on 2015 admissions, the Social Mobility Commission’s third annual report and the latest statements on school and FE funding, all making the news.

Key headlines from the month

• Children’s Services. Government announces ‘failing’ services will be taken over
• Coasting. Criteria to be extended to Academies
• Careers. New joint Education Committee launches another inquiry
• Intervention in underperforming schools. Consultation closes
• Appeals. Ofqual launches consultation
• ICT. Thousands sign petition to keep it at GCSE and A level
• Re-sits. Ofqual consults on proposals for re-sitting legacy qualifications
• School funding (1.) DfE announces revenue funding settlement for 2016/17
• School Funding (2.). F40 group presents petition on fair funding
• State school debt. Rises to over £50m overall according to TES survey
• Sixth Form Colleges. Guidance on applying for Academy status due in the New Year
• FE Funding (1.) BIS publishes latest funding letter and spending totals
• FE funding (2.) Public Accounts Committee raises concerns about ‘future deterioration’
• Traineeships. Government invites all eligible providers to offer programmes
• Apprenticeships. Government sets out its long-term vision and plans for 2020
• UCAS. Publishes its summary report on 2015 admissions
• Voc ed. Uni of Huddersfield scoops large Gatsby grant to help improve voc ed T/L
• National Living Wage. Government lists 4 steps bosses need to take before April 2016.

Reports/Publications of the month (in order of publication)

• Annual Report. Ofsted’s latest Annual Report highlights some familiar concerns but it’s the attainment gaps between secondary schools in the North and the South that grabs the headlines
• Great Expectations. City and Guilds looks into the career aspirations of 14-19 yr olds and raises issues about careers guidance, clarity of pathways and poorly matched aspirations
• ‘Should I stay or should I go?’ The NFER becomes the latest to add its voice to the growing concerns about teacher recruitment and retention as it examines who’s joining and who’s leaving
• ‘Patterns and Trends in UK HE 2015.’ UUK and HESA’s annual data-drop reports on an increase in disadvantaged and non-EU students as the sector continues to change over time
• Innovating Pedagogy. The OU pushes the boundaries with its latest collection of essays on ten new teaching and learning strategies
• Annual Report. The Education Endowment Foundation publishes its 2014/15 Annual Report highlighting in particular its toolkits, programmes and resources helping to close the gap
• Implementing the FE and Skills Reform Programme. The FE Minister sends out his latest termly update on developments in the learning and skills sector
• English Apprenticeships: Our 2020 Vision. The government sets out its strategy and time plan for achieving the 3m target by 2020
• Supply and demand for higher level skills. Universities UK argues that far from a shortage of high skilled graduates in the future, the demand for those with such skills will actually increase
• Employability: Degrees of Value. An Occasional Paper for HEPI looks at the issue of employability and what more could be done to help graduates in this area
• Consultation on marking reviews, appeals and related changes. Ofqual proposes a number of changes designed to make the system more transparent yet secure
• Advanced Learner Loans Prospectus. The Skills Funding Agency publishes the prospectus for eligible qualifications for the 2015/16 funding years
• Funding Rules. The Skills Funding Agency updates its funding rules and guidance for training and skills providers for up to August 2016
• Skills Funding Agency funding letter. The government leaves the SFA with some tough calls as it issues its funding priorities and limits for 2016/17 and beyond
• Improving Schools in Scotland. The OECD assesses the state of play in Scotland and finds much to be positive about in the new curriculum framework but also a need to push on
• Overseeing financial sustainability in the FE sector. The Public Accounts Committee raises further concerns about support and intervention in the FE sector
• End of Cycle report. UCAS issues its annual report summarising trends, data and implications coming out of this year’s admissions cycle which saw a 3.1% increase in numbers accepted
• Social Mobility and Child Poverty in Great Britain. The Commission publishes its third annual ‘State of the Nation Report with some important recommendations for education.

Speeches of the month

• Sir Michael Wilshaw’s 1 December Annual Report speech highlights continuing improvements at primary level, sharp regional differences at secondary level and a drop in some FE areas
• Education Minister Sam Gyimah’s 3 December Westminster Education Forum speech sketches out the government’s staged approach to careers education and promises more details to come
• Business Secretary Savid Javid’s 4 December Birmingham speech positions the Midlands Engine alongside the Northern Powerhouse as a vehicle for local growth
• The Prime Minister’s 7 December ‘we can deliver’ speech outlines how the government is delivering in 5 key areas: academies, apprenticeships, housing, health and families
• Ofqual Chief Executive Glenys Stacey’s 8 December Awarding Organisations speech highlights the importance of meeting users’ needs as part of the new regulatory system
• Sir Michael Wilshaw’s 11 December BCC speech calls on employers to work with schools and colleges on apprenticeships, employability skills and governing bodies.

Quotes of the month

• “We have a very clear view that to give young people a good start in life, they should have the choice of an apprenticeship or a university place when they leave school.” The PM believes young people should take one of two roads when they leave school
• “It’s a moral outrage that the education system systematically fails the poorest children in the country at every level from early years on.” The social mobility tsar on education’s challenge
• “These instructions are valid through to 2020.” The FE and Skills Minister sends his priorities through to the Skills Funding Agency
• “We will continue with a minimum funding guarantee so no school sees more than 1.5% per pupil reduction in its 2016/17 budget.” The Education Minister explains the schools’ revenue settlement for 2016/17
• “We have already shown that we are tough on underperforming academies and that RSCs take robust action where needed.” The Education Secretary gets tough and extends the coasting definition to Academies
• “We feel that a period of consistency and stability for this sector will have greater impact than major structural reform.” The Education Minister on the Government’s plans for careers
• “We shouldn’t just sit around in my office saying scrap this, scrap that.” Lucy Powell, Shadow Education Secretary, on the view from her office
• “The current system in which teachers mark exams in their spare time for little pay is simply not able to cope with the sheer number of scripts which have to be marked each summer.” The General Secretary of one of the professional associations reacts to the latest data on appeals. 

Word or phrase of the month

• ‘‘Missing middle.’ School leavers neither going to uni or on to an apprenticeship.

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Some significant developments this month with the launch of a new Green Paper for HE, consultation on the EBacc for schools and further area reviews for FE, all topped off with the Chancellor’s spending announcements for the remainder of this Parliament. 

Key headlines from the month

• Primary. Further research links proper breakfast to improved performance
• School textbooks. Publishers draft new best practice guidelines
• Special Considerations. Requests up but number approved remains small
• Late exam entries. Up at GCSE, down at A level
• 2017 GCSEs and A levels. Consultation launched on a further batch
• EBacc. Government consults on six core proposals
• Unregistered schools. Ofsted calls on government to take action
• Mental health. Youth Select Committee highlights concerns
• Regional Schools Commissioners. Education Committee continues its inquiry
• School governors. Ofsted to look into a more professional model
• School funding. Government to consult on a new fair formula next year
• Inspections. Ofsted survey reveals how far parents use inspection ratings
• Sixth Form Colleges. Encouraged to join the Academy trail
• NEETs. Further drop in latest quarterly figures
• Apprenticeship Trailblazers. Latest guidance signals couple of changes to approval process
• Special Apprenticeship Adviser. Nadhim Zahawi picks up the mantle for government
• Apprenticeship levy. Government response sets out how it will work 
• FE Loans. Chancellor extends to 19-23 year olds
• Learning and Work Institute. New name for the joining in matrimony of NIACE and CESI
• Devo deals. Liverpool and West Midlands sign up
• Colleges. Mergers in Shrewsbury and East London under consideration
• HE. Extensive Green Paper from government sets out latest vision. 

Reports/Publications of the month (in order of publication)

• Teachers and Literacy. The National Literacy Trust surveys teachers and finds nearly a quarter concerned about their ability to teach the new curriculum requirements
• Consulting on implementing the English Bacc. The government launches consultation on the EBacc with 10 questions on how best to implement it
• Supporting the attainment of disadvantaged pupils. The NFER reports on some of the strategies used and identifies seven core building blocks around needs, evidence and leadership
• Education, skills and productivity. The two Education Committees meet up to compare and contrast the effectiveness of vocational training systems in the UK, US, France and Germany
• Socio-economic, ethnic and gender differences in HE participation. The BIS Dept’s latest research highlights a trend of disadvantaged white males missing out on higher education
• The Science Budget. The House of Commons Science and Technology Committee publishes its report calling for 3% of GDP to be given over to science spending
• Fulfilling our potential: Teaching Excellence, Social Mobility and Student Choice. The government’s latest vision for HE is partly conveyed in the title but still leaves a lot to be sorted
• Financial health of the HE sector. HEFCE looks at the data and finds a sector managing budgets as best it can but with some worrying signs of gaps emerging
• Devolving responsibilities to cities in England. The Public Accounts Committee reports on the first wave of City Deals and highlights concerns about a lack of accountability arrangements
• Background to Success. The Sutton Trust’s latest commissioned report on the impact of social background on attainment finds disadvantaged young people missing out on further study
• Beginning teaching: best in class? The Advisory Committee on Maths education reflects on maths teacher training and concludes it’s going to be a long haul to reach world-class
• Process evaluation of the Apprenticeship Trailblazers. BIS’s final commissioned report on  the Trailblazer system of developing standards accentuates the positives
• Ensuring a successful UK research endeavour. Sir Paul Nurse completes his review of Research Councils and future funding calling for the creation of a new overarching body
• School leaders survey 2015. ASCL and brownejacobson publish the results of their latest annual survey of school leaders with budgets, exam results and qual reform, the top priorities
• Media Use and Attitudes Report. Ofcom publishes its latest report on media use and attitudes among children over the last decade highlighting the growing impact of social and digital media
• Annual parents survey 2015. Ofsted surveys parents and finds wide usage among them of its reports and ratings system for schools
• European Jobs and Skills. The think tank IPPR publishes its second annual review of European trends highlighting five current challenges including increasing voc training and skills outcomes
• Education at a Glance 2015. The OECD publishes its latest hefty compendium of education indicators across its member countries with tuition fees and teaching salaries big talking points
• Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015. The Chancellor sets out the spending details for the remainder of this Parliament leaving education breathing slightly more calmly
• Apprenticeship levy. The government issues the response to its recent consultation confirming that the levy will come in from April 2017 at 0.5% of pay bill, payable alongside tax and NI. 

Speeches of the month

• Nicky Morgan’s 3 November Policy Exchange speech focuses on monitoring the progress of 7 yr olds, the EBacc and a new National Teacher Service as she seeks to push educational excellence
• John Cridland’s 9 November CBI Conference speech sees the Director-General depart the CBI stage continuing to call for GCSEs to go and for stronger skills pathways in the school curriculum
• Nicky Morgan’s 9 November CBI Conference speech explains how the government is attempting to transform education and calls on business to join in and work with schools in the future
• Nick Gibb’s 17 November Publishers’ Association speech continues to extol the virtues of text books as a valuable tool in learning and praises publishers for helping revive their use
• Nick Boles’ 17 November AoC speech challenges FE to be quicker off the mark and seize a piece of the action especially around apprenticeships
• Sam Gyimah’s 19 November speech at the National Association of School Business Managers Conference helps launch a new framework of prof standards for school business managers
• George Osborne’s 25 November Autumn Statement speech mixes clever footwork with headline announcements as it sets out the government’s future spending plans.

Quotes of the month

• “And quite frankly, if we’re not into surplus after 10 years of full economic growth when will we ever be?” The Chancellor asks the question
• “Students should come out of their university years feeling they’ve got value for money for their time there. Unfortunately too many are coming out feeling they haven’t and I want to address that.” The HE Minister on one of the principles behind the latest Green Paper
• “As your friend I have to ask you why on earth are you letting these guys nick your lunch?” The Skills Minister with a friendly warning to colleges about being quicker off the mark
• “I want to see at least 90% of students entering the EBacc.” The Secretary of State makes clear her expectations on the EBacc
• “At root, it’s not autonomy that really matters, it’s what autonomy allows you to do differently that counts.” The Schools Minister on ‘it ain’t what you do, it’s the way that you do it
• ’“We need multiple learning pathways, vocational and academic, from 14-18, with GCSEs retired and a full range of A’ levels, technical and academic at 18.” The departing CBI DG on 14-19. 

Word or phrase of the month

• ‘Waithood.’ The stage between childhood and adulthood (which some teenagers want to skip). 

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Teacher recruitment, exam performance data, apprenticeships and the funding of high-level skills top the headlines this month where ‘quotes of the month’ pretty much capture the current mood.

Key headlines from the month

• iPads. A third of pre-school kids now have one according to research
• Reception assessment. NUT leads the handing in of a petition against baseline assessment
• Foundation stage. 70% of pupils at required levels in latest government figures
• Primary schools. Come in for praise in Chief Inspector’s monthly commentary
• Numeracy projects. EEF trials new resources to help with primary mental maths
• School absences. PM announces new tougher truancy rules
• School holidays. LGA call for more reasoned approach  
• School types. Education Secretary approves new grammar school site in Kent
• School sizes. Local councils plan to increase intake in many secondary schools
• School funding. Likely to be down by 8% over next 4 years according to IfS
• Exam appeals. Ofqual due to consult on possible changes
• Performance data. Government publishes interim figures from this year’s exams
• Destination data. Latest unofficial data shows 73% participation by 18 yr olds
• Work experience. BCCs call for restoration of this for under 16s
• Careers. Careers and Enterprise Co launch new £5m Investment (support) Fund
• Mindfulness. New report published calling for training in schools
• Teachers. NUT survey suggests workload proving unbearable for many
• Maths teachers. 10% more trainees needed next year under latest government modelling
• Teacher recruitment. Education Committee to hold one-off session
• Workload Challenge. 3 new groups under way
• Education and Adoption Bill. Moves to 2nd Reading in the Lords
• Cities and Local Government Devolution Bill. Progresses to 2nd Reading in the Commons
• Functional Skills. BIS calls on ETF to lead new development programme
• FE. BIS confirm latest area-review schedule
• Apprenticeships. Ofsted critical of some provision for younger people
• Apprenticeship levy. Consultation closes with employers expressing concerns
• Devolution. Sheffield City latest region to sign up for local  growth deal
• HE applications. UCAS and others commit to anonymous forms to remove bias
• 2016 applications. UCAS report latest figures as of 15 Oct deadline
• University websites. Which? complain that some fail to have up-to-date info on fees.  

Reports/Publications of the month (in order of publication)

• Making Apprenticeships Work. C/G’s Industry Skills Board includes a UCAS style application system among its 25 proposals to reform the apprenticeship system
• Levels of Success. The Sutton Trust examines the earnings potential of apprenticeships v degrees and finds many best apprenticeships offer better returns than some non-Russell degrees
• Funding for disadvantaged pupils. The Public Accounts Committee reports on its review into the pupil premium and concludes that although its helped, more could be done to close the gap
• Annual Qualifications Market Report for 2013/14. Ofqual reports on the size and nature of the market which saw 16m certificates issued and 166 regulated awarding bodies in place
• The Contribution of FE and Skills to Social Mobility. BIS’s commissioned report highlights the contribution of FE in general and voc quals in particular in hitting core social mobility targets
• University Technical Colleges. The DfE updates its guidance for new applicants
• FE Statistical First Release. BIS publishes latest data on learner participation and attainment showing apprenticeship starts up but only modest increases at 16-19 and at higher-level
• Provisional GCSE and equivalent results 2014/15. The DfE publishes provisional data earlier this year showing a slight increase (to 52.8%) in numbers getting 5 A*-Cs
• A level and other level 3 results 2014/15. The DfE also publish early picture of A level performance showing familiar traction of slight drop in A*s but overall pass rate up to 98.7%
• Education and Adoption Bill. House of Lords Library explains all in a helpful summary of the Bill’s proposals for their Lordships
• Higher, Further, Faster, More. The think tank Policy Exchange urges the BIS Dept to consider re-assigning HE funds to support FE higher-level skills training
• Apprenticeships: developing skills for future prosperity. Ofsted points the fingers as it finds apprenticeships failing to meet the needs of some young people and employers
• Intervening in failing, underperforming and coasting schools. The DfE updates guidance on schools causing concern and issues consultation on new coasting and intervention criteria
• Why Teach? Pearson/LKMco ask the question and conclude that for many teachers it’s being able to make a difference to young people’s lives that really counts
• It’s the finance, stupid. HEPI collates essays from leading commentators on the decline in p/t student numbers and, as the title argues, suggests money’s got a lot to do with it
• Higher Education Review: 2014/15 Findings. QAA reports back on its latest round of peer reviews of 24 HEIs and 62 FECs and finds enhancement of learning a concern for the latter. 

Speeches of the month

• George Osborne’s 5 October Conference speech announces the creation of a new National Infrastructure Commission to help oversee the push towards local skills and growth
• Nicky Morgan’s 6 October Conference speech promises greater provision of childcare opportunities and further ‘raising of the bar’ on standards
• David Cameron’s 7 October Conference speech includes commitments to more academies and Free Schools and a registration scheme for religious supplementary schools
• Glenys Stacey’s 8 October HMC speech sets out to soothe independent sector concerns about exam marking arrangements, appeals procedures, qualification reform and much more
• Glenys Stacey’s 22 October FAB Conference speech highlights the changing nature of the qualification system with its impact on regulation and awarding organisations
• Sir Michael Wilshaw’s 22 October CBI speech challenges schools, FE providers, employers and government to help improve apprenticeship arrangements for young people. 

Quotes of the month

• “Learning is about so much more than just filling in the right bubble.” President Obama reacts to concerns from American teachers about too much testing
• “Early indications from the regions showed that colleges could be forced into shotgun marriages.” Labour’s FE Minister on marrying in haste as a result of area-based reviews
• “We want to see a new politically independent Levy Board setting the rate based on clear evidence with the funds ring-fenced.” The CBI respond to the apprenticeship levy consultation 
• “We do not believe that coasting should be about isolated dips in performance but about identifying schools which have consistently not stretched their pupils sufficiently over a number of years.” The DfE incorporates the stretch challenge in its coasting consultation
• “This does not reflect a change in this government’s position on selective schools.” The Education Secretary on the decision to allow a new grammar school site 
• “It is not clear to me that paying markers more of its own will deliver improvement although of course we don’t argue against this.” Ofqual Chief Executive confirms it’s not all about the money
• “This is a goldilocks scenario. It must be neither too fast nor too slow. We need a gap of at least 2 years between design and implementation.” The NAHT’s Gen Sec on school funding reform
• “Schools shouldn’t be places where business people drop their kids off at the beginning of the day like they drop off their dry cleaning.” The Chief Inspector on employer engagement. 

Word or phrase of the month

• ‘Gig work.’ No 9-5 jobs anymore, more gig work instead‘
• Self-serving generation.’ Kids who turn to google for anything from careers to homework.  

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The start of another education year and no shortage of activity as per below. 

Key headlines from the month

• Summer born children. Government planning to allow deferred school entry
• Assessment without levels. Government responds to final report
• Phonics standards. Up 3% to 77% for Yr 1’s this year
• Literacy. Nicky Morgan launches latest drive to get more books in schools
• IT. BT steps up support for primary schools with more training and resources
• Money for Mandarin. Chancellor pledges £10m
• Free Schools. Government pledges biennial waves every year to 2020
• Academies/free schools. Labour indicates an interest in greater local control
• Admissions appeals. Up 8% this year
• Lie-ins. Some teenagers to be given longer lie ins to assess impact on GCSE results
• Smartphones in class. New behaviour group to look at
• ParentInfo. Government launches new online tool to help parents keep up with teenage trends
• Core maths. New post-16 programmes launched
• 2017 GCSEs and A levels. DfE and Ofqual consult
• Qual reforms. Ofqual sends out postcards to explain
• Enterprise advisers. Careers and Enterprise Company rolls out its new network
• Teachers CPD. Taskforce calls for views
• Inspections. New inspection teams for new inspection approach
• College of Teaching. New trustees announced
• Education Bill. Heads to the Lords
• Enterprise Bill. Starts its journey at the Lords
• Apprenticeships. Statutory definition included in the Enterprise Bill
• Area-based reviews. Latest list updated
• FE English/maths teachers. ETF launches latest training modules for teachers
• English/maths GCSE 16-19 resits. Funding conditions relaxed
• RQF. Ofqual outlines arrangements for the new post QCF quals framework
• Local devolution. AoC group to review of impact on skills and FE
• Undergrad numbers. UCAS report 3% increase for UKHE for 2015/16
• Degree awarding powers. Minister lifts moratorium
• Office of the Independent Adjudicator. Extends its remit into other HE settings
• Support for women at uni. Universities UK commissioned to set up new taskforce
• Campus extremism. HEFCE launches consultation on compliance with new Prevent duty
• HE quality assessment. BIS Committee announces new inquiry.  

Reports/Publications of the month (in order of publication)

• Keeping up with the Germans. The HE Policy Institute examines how the Germans removed tuition fees and what happened to student numbers
• HE in Facts and Figures. Universities UK offers its latest smorgasbord covering 2013-14
• 2015 Spending Review. The Association of Colleges sends in its recommendations focusing on support for 16-18 provision, help with recruiting Eng/maths teachers and 3-yr budget plans
• Universities UK and the Russell Group also submit Spending Review dossiers calling for ring-fenced funding for science and research and support for high-cost subjects
• Reviewing post-16 education and training institutions. The government sets out its latest guidance for the area-based review process and announces who’ll be ‘done’ next
• A Guide to Regional Schools Commissioners. NFER looks at how the RSC system operates at both a national and local level and point to a growing in-tray in each case
• Key Stage 3: the wasted years? Ofsted remove the question mark in its latest report
• Students, Computers and Learning: Making the Connection. OECD reports on the impact of technology on learning in the classroom and finds a lot of travelling in hope
• Forming or joining a group of schools. ASCL, NGA and brownejacobson launch a new guide for schools thinking of working together in collaborative arrangements
• Guidance for HE providers on applying for degree awarding powers and HEFCE funding. BIS releases updated guidance for HE providers as the moratorium is lifted
• Progression of FE students and apprenticeships to HE. BIS publishes the latest stats for cohorts between 2006 and 2012 showing steady increases in both cases
• Differences in degree outcomes. HEFCE reports on how far course and student characteristics affect chances of securing a top degree and finds many state school students do well
• CBI submission to the Spending Review. The CBI calls for protected funding for education and skills and improved voc skills in its list of recommendations for the Treasury
• Commission on Assessment without levels. The Commission gets to publish its final report setting out six recommendations on guidance, support and training
• Government response to the Commission on Assessment without Levels. Takes on board most of the recommendations though is cautious about implementation
• Knowledge and the curriculum. The think tank Policy Exchange publish a collection of essays by leading commentators to mark its Annual Lecture by E.D. Hirsch. 

Speeches of the month

• Nick Gibb’s 5 Sept ResearchED speech highlights the traditional virtues of good teaching and learning and how the government is supporting them
• Jo Johnson’s 9 Sept Universities UK speech sets out the key principles behind his forthcoming Green Paper for the sector and gets Vice-Chancellors talking as a result
• Sir Michael Wilshaw’s 10 Sept School Improvement speech highlights 3 concerns: regional differences; primary-secondary transition; and the long tail of underachievement
• David Cameron’s 11 September speech sets out 3 principles (innovation, devolution, efficiency) for making the state smarter and more effective
• Nicky Morgan’s 24 Sept child literacy speech teams up with David Walliams again to launch the next phase of support and activity.  

Quotes of the month

• “Across Whitehall we’re looking in every dept at budgets that aren’t protected.” Nicky Morgan on the dangers of a lack of protection ahead of the Spending Review
• “We are not rushing to judgement though the silence is ominous.” Vince Cable and Chuka Umunna join forces to reflect on the government’s industrial policy
• “It’s akin to Byron burger having to ask permission of McDonalds to open up a new restaurant.” The HE Minister on finding validation partners in HE
• “My biggest frustration with the media coverage is the awful word Oxbridge.” The V.C of Cambridge on the need for distinctiveness
• “I think fragile is the way to put it.” The Education Secretary on the mood in FE
• “We don’t ask much from government, usually it’s best if they keep out of the way but a sustainable supply of well trained staff and the resources we need to deploy them-these are the basics and they’re under threat.” The gen secretary of NAHT on the basic tools
• “The government should gather a panel of experts to design a model curriculum. This content would then be laid out in a logical, sequential format: year by year, term by term.” How to design a curriculum by a former superhead
• “Any head worth their salt should stand up and ban them.” Sir M Wilshaw on mobiles in school. 

Word or phrase of the month

• ‘Cultural appeasers.’ School leaders who acquiesce rather than challenge, according to Ofsted
• ‘Disengagement contracts.’ What lies behind a lot of poor teaching according to the HE Minister. 

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Results month of course with Key Stage 2, GCSE, AS/A and vocational results all reporting and coming under heavy media scrutiny for much of the month accordingly.

Overall the results were regarded as ‘stable’ with only minimal year on year changes although with more 11 year olds achieving expected levels in reading, writing and maths, more 16/17 year olds gaining requisite GCSEs, more entries in core A level subjects, more securing places at university and more interest in apprenticeship routes, there was a lot to welcome. Nor should we forget the UK team who performed heroically in this month’s World Skills event in Rio. Attention is now turning to the new education year where Academies, assessment levels, the EBacc, the Education Bill, the Apprenticeship Levy, 16+ funding and the HE Teaching Excellence Framework, to mention just a few of the items listed below, are already jostling for attention.

Key headlines from the month

• KS2 results. 80% of 11 yr olds achieve standard L4 in this year’s reading, writing and math tests
• Parental prosecutions for children’s school absences. Up 25% in latest stats
• Back to School gear. Pupils on average now carry around £270 of tech gear in their bags
• Child literacy. Government launches new book club scheme
• Mental health. DfE appoints first ever champion for schools
• EBacc. 87% of teachers against compulsory introduction according to ASCL survey
• GCSE results. Stable, 69% A*-Cs but impact of government policy on entry and trends evident 
• A levels. 98.1% overall pass rate, growth of core subjects, some regional variation
• Chinese style maths lessons. Government keen to expand
• Wales. Gets its own qualifications regulatory body
• Grade predictions. Cambridge Assessment highlight the challenges
• Teachers as exam markers. Debate hots up as need for more intensifies
• Initial teacher training. National Audit Office to examine and report before Christmas
• Estelle Morris. Heads up new school improvement partnership in Birmingham
• Inspections. Ofsted publishes sector leaflets and final details as new framework looms  
• Education Bill. Unions unite to highlight concerns
• Academy schools. The PM aims for clean sweep
• Regional Schools Commissioners. Government said to be revising role
• Sixth Form Colleges. Struggling with cuts according to latest funding survey
• Career Colleges. Lord Baker proposes 25 more over next 4 years
• 16-18 NEETs. Down to 7.5% in latest (April-June) stats
• FE. New AoC President identifies 3 priorities (College influence, reputation, values)
• FE funding. SFA replaces 2 advisory groups with new localism group
• L2 English. All public-facing public sector workers to have it
• Apprenticeship Levy. Government launches consultation on some operational details
• Apprenticeships. Barnardo’s calls for some to be reserved for youngsters in care
• Skills quals. SFA clamps down on further approvals for rest of financial year
• World Skills. UK emerges with 3 gold, 4 silver, 2 bronze, 20+ medallions
• Post QCF. Ofqual confirm future info and arrangements
• National Living Wage. Government issues further explanatory statement
• Tuition fees. Uni of Law promise refunds where graduates fail to secure jobs after 9 months
• Uni entry. Entries up 3% on last year in latest end of month stats
• HE students. Record (77%) numbers of uni students now working to fund their courses
• Student Satisfaction. Remains at 86% in latest National Student Survey
• Alternative providers. HEFCE publishes latest info on applications and re-designation.

Reports/Publications of the month (in order of publication)

• Private Pay Progression. The Sutton Trust and upReach crunch the figures and conclude that privately educated graduates secure bigger and quicker pay rises than state school peers
• Labour Market Outlook. CIPD’s latest employer survey suggests a brighter picture for young job hunters and apprentices in particular
• Funding Impact Survey Report. The Sixth Form Colleges Association paints a bleak picture as its latest survey finds cuts biting ever deeper
• Quality Assessment Review. QAA responds to the current review of HE QA arrangements with some additional proposals of its own to enhance the quality of students’ academic experience
• The graduate labour market: an uncomfortable truth. The Edge Foundation argues that some labour market data is not all it seems and some jobs don’t require degrees
• Can the 3m target for apprenticeships be achieved? The Institute of the Motor Industry surveys employers and concludes careers advice and employability skills need to improve
• Over qualification and sills mismatch in the graduate labour market. CIPD report on the graduate labour market and suggest oversupply is leading to a mismatch between skills and jobs
• The Good Childhood Report 2015. The latest annual Report from the Children’s Society reveals it’s not all good with many worrying about bullying, school life and low esteem
• Business plan 2015-2016. The Skills Funding Agency’s latest Business Plan sticks with five core objectives but recognises a more challenging environment
• Progress 8 measure in 2016 and 2017. The DfE issues further guidance on the Progress 8 accountability measure with particular reference to schools who have chosen to opt in early
• Apprenticeships Levy. The government’s opening consultation on how the levy system should operate from 2017 leaves many of the practical details still to be resolved
• Crossing the Line.  The think tank Policy Exchange continues the levy theme by proposing that schools should pay a ‘resit’ levy to help cover the costs of GCSE Eng/maths resits in FE
• The Common Inspection Framework. Ofsted publishes the final version of its new common inspection framework and issues handbooks and leaflets for each respective sector
• The Chancellor’s Choices. The think tank IPPR suggest a more ‘progressive’ set of choices for the Chancellor including protecting 16-19 funding as it submits its ideas for the Spending Review. 

Speeches of the month

• The Prime Minister’s ‘first 100 days’ progress statement lists the economy as the central task but also puts school reform and standards high up the government’s future agenda
• Nick Gibb’s 25 August Researchers in Schools speech extols the benefits of ‘evidence-based’ research and the potential benefits it can bring modern teaching and learning. 

Quotes of the month

• “I profoundly believe this is the right direction for our country because I want teachers not bureaucrats deciding how best to educate our children.” The PM on rolling out Academies
• “If you think there is a better way to do things we want to know.” The Chancellor invites views on where cuts could be made as the Spending Review gets under way
• “Much of what is spent goes on health and safety or senior management rather than improving skills on the shop floor.” The BIS Secretary on employer investment in apprenticeships
• “I will propose a reformed funding model for post-18 education, looking at a graduate tax to replace tuition fees and support for apprenticeships.” Labour leader contender Andy Burnham
• “Clearing is no longer the education equivalent of the bargain basement.” Uni of Bedford V.C. Bill Rammell calls for changes to the University Clearing system
• “There will be more people starting university this autumn than were getting 5 good GCSEs a couple of decades ago.” The BBC’s Education Correspondent on the scramble for uni places
• “The sector cannot survive on starvation rations.” Sixth Form Colleges tighten the belt
• “It’s more important than ever that you don’t use your children’s results to boost your parental ego.” One parent’s advice about Results Day.

Word or phrase of the month

• 'Alphabet.’ New Google language
• ‘Learning Gain.’ Something governments are keen to measure.

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