Highlights of the week ending 17 June
The Times Education Commission published its final report, calling for an education reset. The report entitled Bringing out the best: How to transform education and unleash the potential of every child, makes a number of recommendations for change across the education system, from early years through to university. Its recommendation for a British Baccalaureate at 18 and fewer exams at 16 is the latest contribution to the ongoing debate as to whether the current system of assessment is fit for purpose. However, the government is clear that it is not considering changes, having reformed exams under Michael Gove.
At the Education Committee on Wednesday, Minister for HE & FE, Michelle Donelan took MPs’ questions. In answering she added to the strong feeling that change is on the way for the apprenticeship levy, saying that it could be more flexible to enable employers to spend money in “the right way”. Perhaps luckily for the Minister, the Public Accounts Committee report on financial sustainability of the higher education in England came later in the week. MPs were very critical of both the OfS and DfE.