Keeping track of what happened in the world of education for November 2011
Main talking points
Another month dominated by economic news and reports. Quarterly figures released during the month showed unemployment up and concern growing about the impact on a number of ‘depressed’ parts of the country where low attainment levels in school combined with high unemployment rates were creating a dangerous mix. Ministers moved swiftly to respond with a range of announcements including a new Youth Contract and further flexibility for the apprenticeship system before the Chancellor brought the full picture together in his Autumn Statement. As this included some 20 measures to help enhance education and training provision, it seems that the education world has a big role to play in helping any long-term recovery. Elsewhere, the Education Bill was passed, Ofsted’s annual report on the education system published, new employment flexibilities announced and bids for the ‘margin’ places in HE completed.
Key headlines from the last month
• Primary schools. Revised admissions code brings a standardised day for allocating places
• Free Schools. New proposals announced for special and maths Free Schools
• Music. First ever national plan for schools launched
• Education Bill. Now passed and on the books as The Education Act 2011
• NEETs. Latest quarterly stats show further slight increase
• Apprenticeships. Range of new measures and reviews announced
• Skills Funding Agency. Review of role and status announced
• Voc training fund. New employer owned scheme confirmed
• Business mentors. Investment provided to support 10,000 new volunteers
• HE. 25 universities reduce fees or increase waivers and discounts
Reports/Publications of the month (in order of publication)
• ‘Government Response to the Select Committee’s Report on the EBacc.’ The Government affirm its commitment to the EBacc as an important mechanism to give parents more info
• ‘Government Response to the Select Committee Report on 16-19 participation.’ The Government defends the work it’s doing to raise participation by young people
• ‘Select Committee Inquiry into HE Reform.’ The Committee conclude a comprehensive inquiry into the current HE reforms and call for some reforms to be put back a year
• ‘Action for Jobs.’ The CBI set out 9 steps to help tackle the issue of youth unemployment
• ‘The geography of NEETs.’ The Work Foundation identify the regional ‘blackspots’ for NEETs
• ‘Business Plan 2011-2015.’ HEFCE sets out a comprehensive ‘battle plan’ to help support transition to the emerging new model of HE
• ‘Youth Labour’s Lost.’ The think tank Demos add their voice to the growing clamour to do more to help disengaged young people
• ‘Training our next generation of outstanding teachers.’ The DfE publish its implementation plan for raising the bar on teacher recruitment and initial teacher training
• ‘Labour Market Outlook.’ The CIPD’s latest quarterly labour market survey finds prospects falling with little immediate sign of improvement
• ‘Labour Market Stats.’ The latest official stats see unemployment rise to 2.6m with that for 16-24 yr olds topping a million at 1.02m
• ‘Good practice in primary maths.’ Ofsted report on how 20 successful schools have done it
• ‘Colleges in the Community.’ The independent Commission’s final report comes up with some visionary proposals for how colleges can best interact with local communities
• ‘See-Through Whitehall.’ The Institute for Government find that Dept Business Plans are not all that see-through yet
• ‘Rethinking Apprenticeships.’ IPPR draw on some expert witness evidence to help rethink the nature of apprenticeships
• ‘Ofsted Annual Report.’ Ofsted’s latest ‘health check’ of the education system highlights some concerns about the overall quality of teaching
• ‘School funding reform.’ The Institute for Fiscal Studies examine some of the options for a new national funding formula
• ‘Learning Curve: Schooling and skills for future jobs.’ The Centre for Cities find a correlation between underperforming Eng/maths in schools and youth unemployment in certain cities
• ‘Economic challenges facing UK business.’ The CBI find confidence low but employers hanging in there as it surveys its members prior to its Annual Conference
• ‘OECD Economic Outlook No 90.’ The OECD’s latest economic outlook slashes global growth forecasts but offers some prospect of growth by late 2012
• ‘Autumn Financial Statement.’ The Chancellor’s Autumn Financial Statement points to a long hard road ahead but with a key role for the world of education on progression and skills
• ‘National Infrastructure Plan 2011.’ The latest Plan lists many of the 500 projects being planned for the next decade
• ‘Economic and fiscal outlook.’ The Office for Budget Responsibility publish its latest projections for the economy with the deficit, debt and borrowing all looking gloomy
Speeches of the month
• Stephen Twigg’s 2 Nov Edge lecture sets out initial thoughts on a vocational route for young people built around apprenticeships, literacy/numeracy and ‘rigorous’ voc quals
• John Hayes’ 3 Nov Careers Conference speech spells out the way in which the new National Careers Service will operate from next April
• John Hayes’ 15 Nov AoC speech praises the FE sector, sprinkles elegiac references but warns of a number of changes to come
• Vince Cable’s 16 Nov AoC speech strengthens employer engagement with a new employer ownership fund and an employer-led review of apprenticeship standards
• Michael Gove’s 25 Nov Liberal Education speech makes a passionate case for the joy of learning
• Ed Miliband’s 25 Nov SMF speech sets out five building blocks for a new economic model
Quotes of the month
• “The central forecast we publish today from the OBR does not predict a recession here in Britain.” The Chancellor remains upbeat as he introduces his Autumn Financial Statement
• “Apprenticeships have sometimes been seen in this debate as the Dept’s silver bullet.” MPs reflect on the role of apprenticeships as they debate youth employment
• “The past tendency in parts of Government was to see running an FE college like running a sweet shop.” The FE Minister tells the AoC Conference he sees colleges as big business
• “I intend to ask the new Chief Inspector to look at this issue and report back to me with recommendations.” The Schools Minister responds to findings on the quality of teaching in Ofsted’s latest Annual Report
• “Occasionally I’ve been known to be a bit like Dirty Harry.” The new Chief Inspector belies his image in evidence to the Select Committee
Word or phrase of the month
• ‘Headroom.’ The Chancellor says this has now gone leaving us facing potentially two more years of spending reductions
Steve Besley
Head of Policy (UK and International)
@PearsonCPL