In Focus
Religious education (RE) is a compulsory subject in English schools. However, Ofsted has said the subject is often an afterthought and that in many primary and secondary schools RE is of poor quality and is not fit for purpose. Organisations from the sector, such as the National Association of Teachers of Religious Education, have called for a national strategy for religious education.
In Focus
In April 2023, the Archbishops’ Commission on Families and Households published a report entitled ‘Love matters’. The commission examined how families and households in England could best flourish and called on the government and other institutions to put families at the centre of their thinking. In addition to proposals for Church of England action, the report included 29 recommendations for the government. These included supporting family hubs and developing high-quality marriage preparation.
In Focus
Staff and governing bodies in English schools have responsibilities to protect children from harm and help them to have the best outcomes. This is termed safeguarding. The government provides detailed safeguarding guidance for staff and governors that schools are required to follow. The government has updated this guidance in response to an increase in reports of child-on-child sexual violence and sexual harassment in recent years, which has occurred in the context of the widespread use of social media. The most recent guidance was issued in September 2023.
In Focus
Early years refers to the education and care a child receives between birth and five years old. In March 2023 there were over 63,000 registered childcare providers in England. Most were rated by Ofsted as either good or outstanding. However, the number of providers has been steadily declining since 2015. The sector is also characterised by high childcare costs for families, financial pressures for providers and issues recruiting and retaining high quality staff.
In Focus
The usage of educational technology in UK schools is already growing and likely to increase significantly in coming years, particularly as a result of the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. Many commentators suggest that these technologies present significant opportunities but also substantial risks. This briefing examines these issues ahead of a forthcoming debate in the House of Lords.
In Focus
Over recent years there has been a decline in the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people. There has also been an increase in demand for mental health services. The government and NHS England have committed to a number of policies intended to increase the availability of these services and improve the quality of care. This article considers the types of care provided and the reaction to these recent policy announcements.
In Focus
There have been a number of high-profile announcements regarding education in the last year, such as proposed changes to A-levels and T-levels announced in October 2023. However, it is unclear when these measures will be introduced. Elements of the Schools Bill, abandoned during the 2022–23 parliamentary session, will likely be included in the 2023 King’s Speech. Notably, the government has indicated it intends to introduce a register of children not in school.
In Focus
Music forms part of the national curriculum up to key stage three. However, evidence suggests there is significant variability between schools in the provision of music teaching. The government has committed to improving and expanding music teaching in schools through measures in the ‘National plan for music education’, published in June 2022.
In Focus
Academy schools have grown significantly in number since the beginning of the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government in 2010. In 2023, the government reiterated its support for academies, stating that it wants to “ensure all pupils and schools benefit from being in a high-quality multi-academy trust”. This article explores the development of government policy on academies and the extent to which multi-academy trusts help under-performing schools.
In Focus
Citizenship education is included in the national curriculum for secondary schools in England (and therefore compulsory in maintained schools) and forms part of a non-statutory framework in primary schools. Skills such as financial capability are also delivered through non-statutory personal, social, health and economic education. However, there have been several calls to strengthen citizenship and life skills education in schools, including from two recent parliamentary inquiries. This article examines those issues ahead of a forthcoming debate in the House of Lords.
In Focus
Ahead of a House of Lords debate on government support to skilled professional graduate workers who belong to a trade union, this briefing looks at the demographics of trade union membership. It also covers recent relations between the government and trade unions, especially over strikes, pay and the government’s Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill.
In Focus
Assistive technology can support individuals with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) to improve or maintain their daily quality of life. This includes in the areas of education and employment. This article looks at the challenges those with SEND face in these areas as well as the potential solutions assistive technology can offer. It also considers the government’s policy in these areas.
Research Briefing
The Lifelong Learning (Higher Education Fee Limits) Bill would introduce a new credit-based method of calculating the maximum tuition fee limits for higher education courses in England. This would ensure fee limits were set consistently across modules, short courses and full courses, so that learners who studied flexibly would not be charged disproportionately. The bill supports the introduction of the government’s lifelong loan entitlement (LLE). From 2025, the LLE would give people access to a flexible loan worth £37,000 that could be used to enrol in post-18 education courses throughout their working life. The government has committed to reform post-18 education. It said the current student financing framework did not encourage individuals to study flexibly throughout their lifetime.
In Focus
During the 2017–19 session, the House of Lords appointed a committee to examine citizenship and civic engagement in the UK. In 2022, the House of Lords Liaison Committee held a follow-up to this inquiry, considering issues including citizenship education in schools, the ‘life in the UK’ test, and whether the government’s policies in this area are coordinated effectively. The House of Lords is scheduled to debate its report on 17 April 2023.
In Focus
The House of Lords is to debate the financial pressures on higher education on 30 March 2023. This article looks at how the higher education system is funded and the financial challenges it faces. This includes long-term pressures, such as the decreasing real-terms value of tuition fees, and short-term issues linked to the pandemic and cost of living.
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