Government publishes wide ranging Employment Bill
The government has published its much-anticipated Employment Bill. It contains a raft of new changes which, once implemented, will give workers substantial new rights, and schools and colleges additional new responsibilities. With the exception of a small number of changes, most won’t come into force until Autumn 2026. Before then, we expect to the government to launch a number of consultations and issue draft regulations setting out the detail.
We will be going through the detail of the Bill and will send out separate bulletins on each specific topic. Make sure that you subscribe to our monthly employment law bulletins to keep abreast of what is going on.
National curriculum review launched in the UK
The government has initiated an eight-week consultation to review the national curriculum. It invites young people, parents, employers, and education professionals to share their views on the current curriculum and assessment system. The consultation aims to understand what is working and the areas where improvement is needed.
Key topics include:
- strengthening foundational skills in English and maths
- supporting disadvantaged students, and
- ensuring a broad and balanced curriculum for all.
The review will also address challenges faced by disadvantaged students and those with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND).
The consultation closes 22 November 2024.
New apprenticeship reforms announced
The Prime Minister, Keir Starmer and Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson have unveiled significant reforms to the apprenticeship system in England. These changes aim to improve opportunities for young people and address the nation’s skills gaps.
The government plans to get rid of the apprenticeship levy and introduce a new growth and skills levy which will be used to fund foundation apprenticeships. These will provide young people with pathways into critical sectors while earning a wage and developing essential skills.
The new levy will also support shorter apprenticeships, offering greater flexibility for both learners and employers.
The Department for Education will provide further details on the scope and access to these new apprenticeships in due course. It’s wants employers to invest more in younger workers and expects organisations to fund a larger portion of their level 7 apprenticeships (equivalent to a master’s degree) outside of the levy.
The announcement coincides with the release of the first report from Skills England, the government’s new body for assessing national skills needs. The report highlights a decline in employer investment in training over the past decade and identifies a critical need to fill skills gaps in health and social care, education, manufacturing, and science and technology.
New Commission to tackle school attendance issues
A new high-level research commission has been established to address the persistent issue of low school attendance rates. The commission, set up by the ImpactEd Group, includes representatives from the ASCL leaders’ union, the Confederation of School Trusts, Challenge Partners, and various academy trusts and local authorities.
National data indicates that absence rates have risen to 7.1% in the last academic year, compared to 4-5% before the Covid-19 pandemic. One in five pupils now misses the equivalent of an afternoon’s education each week.
The initiative will survey over 100,000 pupils across the country to explore the links between engagement, attendance, and academic outcomes.
Participating schools will start receiving data and insights from early 2025, with a full analysis expected in the summer term. The commission plans to publish a comprehensive report on its findings in May 2025.
Ofsted responds to Big Listen consultation
Ofsted has published its response to the Big Listen, the largest consultation in its history, outlining significant changes it intends to make to improve its relationship with the education and care sectors. It will:
- reset its relationship with those it regulates and inspects by working collaboratively with them by reforming its inspection framework, removing the single word judgment, and increasing its focus on how vulnerable and SEND children are supported
- treat people with professionalism, courtesy, empathy and respect, and
- operate transparently, listen to challenge and take action to change.
Ofsted hopes that this will rebuild trust and ensure that its processes better support the needs of children and learners.
NEU members accept government pay offer
The National Education Union (NEU) has announced that its members have overwhelmingly accepted the Government's pay offer. In a recent snap poll, 95% of respondents voted in favour of the 5.5% pay increase for all teachers and leaders in England.
The poll, conducted between 21 and 30 September, saw a turnout of 41% among the NEU's 300,000 members.
Primary teachers reluctant to move to secondary education
A recent study commissioned by the Department for Education to look into whether primary school teachers would move into secondary teaching if they were supported to found that:
- 60% of primary school teachers said they wouldn’t consider it
- 19% said they would consider moving; and
- 12% said they would consider moving within the next three years
The main reasons for not wanting to move included a lack of subject knowledge, concerns about managing more challenging behaviour among pupils, exam pressures and a change in their relationship with pupils.
The study identified potential incentives that could encourage some primary teachers to make the switch. Financial motivators such as signing-on bonuses, salary increases, and bursaries for additional training were noted as appealing. Additionally, support from experienced mentors and buddy schemes were seen as beneficial for those contemplating the transition.
Ofsted updates school inspection handbooks
Ofsted has released updates to its school inspection handbooks, reflecting significant changes in the inspection process for state-funded schools. These updates coincide with the resumption of routine school inspections on 23 September.
One major change is the removal of the single headline grade during graded inspections. The government believes that this will reduce the pressure on school leaders and give inspectors more time to understand the school's context and priorities.
Additionally, notifications for both graded and ungraded inspections will now be issued only on Monday mornings of the inspection week. This change is intended to streamline the notification process and allow schools to prepare more effectively.
Job boards found advertising roles below UK National Living Wage
A recent study by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has discovered a number of job boards, including those by Reed, Indeed and CV-Library, have been advertising roles that pay below the UK national living wage. On a single day in July, 46 vacancies were found offering salaries under the annualised minimum wage of £20,820. The national living wage, set at £11.44 per hour since 1 April 2024, equates to £20,820.20 annually for a full-time employee working 35 hours per week.
The TUC's findings align with estimates from the Low Pay Commission, suggesting that nearly 30% of jobs paying the minimum wage or below are salaried positions. The union has called for the government to take tougher action on wage breaches and ensure that all workers, including interns, are paid at least the legal minimum.
In response, job boards like CV-Library and Reed.co.uk have stated that they have measures in place to ensure compliance with wage laws and are investigating the reported breaches.
New guidance for supporting disabled employees released by EHRC
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has issued new guidance aimed at helping small and medium-sized employers support disabled employees in hybrid working environments. This guidance outlines employers' legal obligations and provides practical advice for recruitment and all stages of employment.
Key features include conversation prompts to encourage open discussions about reasonable adjustments, practical tips, and case study examples.
CIPD report on tackling bullying and harassment issues
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has released a report examining workplace conflict and harassment in the UK. The report reveals a significant gap between employers' confidence in their conflict resolution policies and employees' willingness to report issues. Key findings include:
- While 76% of respondents believe employers create a positive environment, 25% of employees have experienced conflict or abuse in the past year
- Despite 81% of employers feeling confident in managing these issues, only 36% of affected employees reported that their complaints were fully resolved
- Only 2% of employees reported unwanted sexual attention
- 22% of employers use NDAs for sexual harassment cases, with many unaware of their extent.
The CIPD recommends that employers promote their inclusive policies and set up effective reporting channels and frameworks to deal with conflict at an early stage.
Labour Market Advisory Board launched to tackle economic inactivity
The UK government has launched a new Labour Market Advisory Board to address the nation's rising economic inactivity, described as the "greatest employment challenge for a generation." The board, appointed by Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall MP, comprises experts from business, industrial relations, and academia.
At its inaugural meeting on 9 September, the board discussed strategies to combat the root causes of economic inactivity, such as poor physical and mental health. The aim is to help the government achieve an 80% employment rate. The board will develop new initiatives to reduce economic inactivity, with a focus on long-term sickness and suppressed wage growth.
The board's insights are designed to support the government's growth mission and efforts to increase employment opportunities across the country.
Read more – October 2024
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