Highlights of the week ending 13 May
Details of the new Schools Bill were revealed ahead of Tuesday’s Queen’s Speech. The content provided few surprises given it provides a legislative footing for plans announced in the recent Schools White Paper. As with the White Paper, the Bill plans has been criticised by some, including Labour and teaching unions, for omissions including post-pandemic learning recovery.
Ministers finally published the list of post 16 level 3 qualifications to be defunded in favour on T Levels. 160 qualifications were named. There is an appeals process with awarding bodies having until July to make a case. There were those, like the UCU, who were quick to point out the potential impact defunding could have on widening participation in HE.
In Parliament, the Public Accounts Committee quizzed DfE officials, including the Permanent Secretary, Susan Acland-Hood, over the SEND review, the Schools White paper, and the National Tutoring Programme. And the Prime Minister has asked Matt Warman MP (Con, Boston and Skegness), a former whip and former digital minister, to lead a review into how the government can best support a thriving future UK labour market.
Finally, Pearson published the latest paper in the Spotlight Policy Series. Spotlight on Onscreen Assessment explores the benefits of a shift online, the barriers faced, and how we might get there.