New report reveals teachers’ pay lower than it was in 2010
The Institute for Fiscal Studies released a report highlighting key school funding issues for the next government to focus on. It found that average teacher pay is 6% lower than it was in 2010, potentially contributing to the ongoing problem in recruiting and retaining teachers.
Challenges in teacher recruitment and retention in England
The Education Committee has published a report on teachers recruitment, training and retention. It reveals that despite government strategies, England faces a significant challenge in recruiting and retaining teachers, especially in secondary and further education. It concludes:
- Financial incentives such as bursaries and premium payments, introduced to attract and retain talent, have had a limited impact – often because of the eligibility criteria imposed.
- There is confusion surrounding the various routes into teaching and that greater promotion and clarity are needed, particularly to attract international teachers and career changers over 40, who bring valuable skills and experience to the profession and can help to address shortage in key subjects.
- Flexibility and workload are necessary to attract and retain staff.
Ofsted will retain its single-phrase judgments
The Department for Education has rejected calls from the Parliamentary education committee to scrap the four single-phase judgments and adopt a more nuanced approach.
In its formal response to the committee, the DfE said that “the government will continue to listen to views and look at alternative systems, including the various approaches taken internationally” but it believes there are significant benefits to retaining the current system.
Ofsted’s approach to AI integration
Ofsted has released a policy paper detailing its approach to the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) by schools and colleges.
The paper makes clear that Ofsted will not directly assess the quality of AI tools used by institutions but it will consider how AI is used. It acknowledges the risks of using AI and sets out five principles which are based on those set out in the AI regulation white paper. These are:
- Safety, security, and robustness: providers must ensure that AI solutions are secure, safeguard user data, and can detect and correct biases or errors.
- Transparency and explainability: providers should be open about their use of AI and understand the advice it provides.
- Fairness: AI solutions should be ethically sound, with providers considering and monitoring bias, especially concerning small groups and protected characteristics, and rectifying issues as needed.
- Accountability and governance: clear roles and responsibilities should be established for monitoring, evaluating, maintaining, and using AI.
- Contestability and redress: staff should have the authority to override AI suggestions and address complaints effectively, particularly when AI errors lead to adverse outcomes or unfair treatment.
As technology rapidly advances, Ofsted plans to stay informed through research and dialogue with providers about their AI experiences. It will also enhance inspectors’ understanding of AI and collaborate with other regulators and government departments.
Consultation to enhance early years safeguarding
The Department for Education has announced an open consultation aimed at improving safeguarding measures within the statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)1. This initiative seeks to gather public opinion on proposed enhancements to ensure the utmost safety of children in early years settings across England.
The consultation invites responses from a broad spectrum of individuals and organisations, including childminders, childcare providers, parents, carers, charities, and educational institutions. The Department is particularly keen to hear from those directly involved in childcare and early education.
Interested parties are encouraged to participate in the consultation process, which remains open until 17 June 2024.
New guidance on terrorism and major incidents
The Department for Education has published comprehensive non-statutory guidance to help schools and colleges to prepare for, and respond to, terrorism and other major incidents.
The guidance is aimed at those working in settings who have existing responsibilities for emergency planning and response and site security, and staff new to concepts of protective security and preparedness. It recommends that all staff read this guidance to ensure they can identify security vulnerabilities, suspicious activity and respond when there is an incident.
Cyber-attacks disrupt UK schools
Schools across the UK are grappling with the fallout from a surge in cyber-attacks, with incidents reported in the education and childcare sector jumping by 55% in 2023 compared to the previous year. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) disclosed that 347 cyber incidents were recorded, highlighting a worrying trend that has seen schools temporarily shut down and educational activities disrupted for weeks.
According to data released by the government, cyber security incidents in educational institutions have become a significant concern.
- Over half of primary schools (52%) and 71% of secondary schools reported experiencing breaches in the past year.
- Further and higher education institutions not only encounter these problems more frequently than schools, with 86% and 97% respectively reporting breaches or attacks, but they also face a broader spectrum of cyber threats. These include impersonation attempts, malware infections, and unauthorised. access by external parties. Notably, nearly 60% of higher education institutions have suffered adverse effects due to these security breaches.
The data underscores the pressing need for enhanced cyber security measures across the educational sector.
Rising school absences among children in social care
Recent Department for Education (DfE) statistics have revealed that a significant number of children known to social care are missing substantial amounts of school time. The figures, which cast a spotlight on the educational outcomes for these children, show that during the 2022-23 academic year, one in ten children in need missed at least half of their school sessions.
The severe absence rate for children in need was reported at 10.1%, a stark contrast to the 2.2% for the general pupil population. This rate has seen a worrying increase from the previous year, with a rise of 4.5 percentage points for children in need, compared to a one percentage point increase for all pupils.
Children on child protection plans are facing even more acute challenges, with a severe absence rate of 14.8%. In secondary schools, this issue is magnified, with over a quarter of these children missing 50% or more of possible sessions.
Children in need, who often face higher rates of special educational needs and disability (SEND) and come from low-income families, are particularly vulnerable. The data shows that half of the children in need have SEND, and nearly 60% are eligible for free school meals, indicating a correlation between economic disadvantage and educational challenges.
High Court greenlights judicial review of strike law
The High Court has granted the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) the right to challenge the government's minimum service levels legislation through a judicial review. The PCS, representing around 185,000 civil servants, argues that the law infringes on workers' rights under Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
The Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023 came into force on 20 July 2023 and gives the government powers to make regulations to set minimum service levels in specified sectors during strikes.
TUPE 2006 reforms and plans to abolish European Works Councils framework
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has initiated a public consultation on proposed changes to the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE 2006), alongside plans to dismantle the legal framework for European Works Councils.
The proposed amendments to TUPE 2006 aim to:
- Specify that only employees are protected rather than a wider class of workers; and
- Eliminate the requirement to divide employees' contracts among multiple employers in instances where a business is transferred to more than one new entity.
The deadline for submitting responses is Thursday 11 July 2024.
New report reveals drop in workplace mental health-related costs
According to a recent report by Deloitte, UK employers have benefitted from an 8% reduction in costs related to poor mental health among employees. The study, which surveyed 3,156 working adults, reveals a decrease in absenteeism, presenteeism, and labour turnover costs in 2022-2023, amounting to £51 billion, down from £55 billion in the previous year.
The report also estimates that the impact of children's mental health on working parents costs employers around £8 billion.
Despite the overall improvement in workers’ mental health:
- 24% of workers reported being diagnosed with conditions such as depression or anxiety.
- 63% reported experiencing at least one sign of burnout, such as fatigue, detachment from their work, or a decrease in job performance.
- 6% said that they intended to quit their job in the upcoming year and 11% said they had already left their jobs: 59% attribute this decision to mental health and wellbeing concerns, either partially or entirely.
Unemployment hits seven-month peak
The UK's labour market is facing a period of turbulence, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The data, covering January to March 2024, shows that unemployment rates have hit a seven-month peak at 4.3%, while economic inactivity has risen to 22.1%.
Read more – June 2024
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