Policy Watch is our regular policy update service, covering national and international developments in the world of education. We try to keep things simple, sharing the latest news and information with you through weekly updates, monthly summaries, papers and events.
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In a speech to the Confederation of School Trusts, the Education Secretary restated the Government’s ambition to build on the multi-academy trust system, which would see schools with a history of long-term underperformance being brought into existing trusts, and a new “try the academy experience before they buy” process.
It’s been another busy week, with all aspects of education and age groups covered by announcements and reports. The Government began work on two aspects of the recent Skills for Jobs White Paper. It opened a new consultation on flexi-job apprenticeship schemes, seeking views on how the new schemes could be run. In addition, applications were opened to become a Local Skills Improvement Plan trailblazer or Strategic Development Fund pilot as part of the Skills Accelerator.
The Government announced all students yet to return to campus and in-person teaching will be able to do so from 17 May at the earliest – in line with Step 3 of the Government’s roadmap. Russell Group’s chief executive, Dr Tim Bradshaw described the decision to delay the full return to HE as “a major blow”.
This week, Ofsted was ordered to investigate schools’ safeguarding policies. Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson, announced that the education watchdog will undertake an “immediate review” of child protection plans in both state and private schools across England. The review comes in the wake of pressure from the Labour Party following over 8,000 reports of sexual harassment and abuse within schools on a website for survivors.
