08-04-2024
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Greetings! In
this week's edition of our UK Education and Career Newsletter, we delve into
the ever-evolving landscape of learning and professional growth, unveiling the
latest trends, challenges, and opportunities that shape the future of Britain's
educational and career horizons.
Our dedicated
team has curated a wealth of insightful articles, expert analyses, and
thought-provoking perspectives, ensuring that you remain at the forefront of
the discourse shaping the future of education and career pathways in the UK.
Embrace this
opportunity to expand your knowledge, challenge conventional wisdom, and unlock
the boundless potential that lies within each of us. Together, we will embark
on an exhilarating journey of learning and professional development, propelling
our collective aspirations towards excellence.
Thank you for
your unwavering trust and for joining us on this enlightening expedition.
Prepare to be inspired, informed, and empowered as we navigate the dynamic
realms of education and career pursuits in the United Kingdom.
Innovative
Approach to Attract and Retain Teachers: School Offers One Day Off Fortnightly
In a bid to
motivate staff and attract new talent to the teaching profession, St Peter's
Catholic School in Solihull is trialling a unique scheme for a year, starting
in September. Full-time teaching staff will be given one day off per fortnight,
believed to be the only such initiative in the West Midlands and the only
Catholic school in the country to implement it. The scheme aims to address
workload concerns and promote staff wellbeing without impacting teachers'
salaries, planning time, or the length of their working days.
School
Kitchens Repurposed for Eco-Friendly Food Delivery Service
Carr Junior
School in York has launched an innovative eco-friendly food delivery service
called School Kitchen, utilising its underused kitchen facilities. Customers
can order cuisines like Sri Lankan, Thai, Mexican, or Spanish, with a portion
of the profits benefiting the school's funding. The scheme aims to get more use
out of school kitchens while boosting educational resources and fostering
community connections through initiatives like cooking lessons and urban
farming for students.
Kent
Students Triumph in National Formula 1 Challenge, Securing International Bid
A group of six
students from Simon Langton School in Canterbury, Kent, emerged victorious in
the national Formula 1 in Schools UK competition, outshining nearly 300 other
competitors. The LEAF1 team designed, manufactured, and raced their model
Formula 1 car, showcasing their skills in speed, engineering quality, brand
identity, and presentation. Their success has earned them the opportunity to
compete on the international stage at the F1 in Schools World Finals, as well
as scholarships, work placements, and exclusive F1 experiences.
IFS Report
Highlights Concerning Education Gaps in Wales, Calls for Major Reforms
The Institute
for Fiscal Studies (IFS) report has raised concerns about the significant
achievement gaps between disadvantaged pupils and their classmates in Wales, as
well as low scores in international reading, maths, and science tests. The
report suggests that major changes are needed to address these issues,
including a potential delay in the reform of GCSEs to align with efforts to
improve performance and reduce inequalities. The IFS warns that without
substantial reforms based on solid evidence, including a stronger emphasis on
knowledge acquisition in the new curriculum, the education picture in Wales may
worsen further.
Concerns
Raised Over College Funding Cuts Hindering Fair Access to Higher Education
Scotland's
commissioner on fair access to higher education, Prof John McKendrick,
expressed concerns about the Scottish government not being on track to meet its
targets for widening access. He fears that college funding cuts could deny some
students the "springboard" they need to get to university,
potentially hindering progress towards fair access goals. Despite the
government's claim of "clear progress" in recent years, a recent
report indicated that progress had "stalled" at around 16.5% against
the 20% target for students from the most deprived areas entering higher
education by 2030.
Outstanding
Achievement: St John Rigby RC Sixth Form College Excels Again
St John Rigby
RC Sixth Form College in Wigan, Greater Manchester, received an 'outstanding'
rating from Ofsted for the second time, seven years after its first grade.
Inspectors praised the college's quality of teaching, highly motivated
students, and excellent support system. The college collaborates with
stakeholders to meet local skills needs, introducing new programmes like
engineering.
IfATE
Downsizing Workforce Amid DfE Efficiency Drive
The Institute
for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) is restructuring and
offering voluntary exit schemes to staff, following instructions from the
Department for Education to find savings. Despite expanded responsibilities,
IfATE's workforce is being trimmed after staff costs soared from £14.4 million
to £21.5 million over two years, with the number of employees rising from 200
to 298.
Marginal
Improvement in Apprenticeship Achievement Rates
The proportion
of apprentices completing their training and assessment grew marginally to
54.3% last year, according to new figures. Achievement rates on the new
standards rose by 2.9 percentage points to 51.4% but still fell short of the
government's 67% target. Despite slight improvements, dropout rates remained
high, with 44% of apprentices dropping out before the end-point assessment.
University
of Suffolk's Dental Course to Boost Oral Health Access
The University
of Suffolk's new BSc (Hons) dental hygiene and dental therapy programme, with
its first batch of 24 students, is deemed "very important" in
addressing local dental professional needs. The course leader believes it will
"make a big, big difference" to oral health accessibility in Suffolk
and beyond, amidst a nationwide shortage of NHS dental appointments.
University
Grapples with £14M Budget Shortfall, Staff Raise Concerns
University of
Essex staff are reportedly worried as the institution addresses a nearly £14
million shortfall in next year's budget. A 38% drop in international
postgraduate applications has been cited as the primary cause, prompting the
university to announce a freeze on staff pay. The vice chancellor's email
detailing measures like delayed promotions and postponed nationally agreed pay
awards for up to 11 months caught union representatives off-guard. While the
university attributes the decline to sector-wide trends, some staff believe
government visa policies and recruitment strategies may also be contributing
factors.
University
of Kent to Phase Out Six Subjects Amid Financial Challenges, Cut 58 Jobs
The University
of Kent has confirmed plans to phase out six subjects, including art history,
anthropology, health and social care, journalism, music and audio technology,
and philosophy and religious studies, following a consultation. The decision
comes as the university proposes to cut 58 jobs in an attempt to respond to
financial challenges. While some subjects like modern languages and English
literature will continue, others will be aligned closely with other areas or
offered through a new "composite" course. The university aims to
finalise future staffing plans by mid-April and inform students about available
module and supervision options by the end of April.
Financial
Crime Compliance Academy Offers Training and Jobs
The Department
for the Economy-funded Financial Crime Compliance Assured Skills Academy
provides five weeks of training at Belfast Met and Ulster University.
Participants gain practical knowledge for roles in the sector. Successful
applicants are guaranteed job interviews with Treliant at their Belfast office
after completing the programme focused on areas like AML, transaction
monitoring, and financial crime.
STA
Launches Online Skills Hub with New Installer Training Scheme
The Structural
Timber Association (STA) has unveiled an online Skills Hub incorporating the
new STA Installer Training Scheme (ITS). This initiative aims to improve access
to high-quality timber skills training and provide a highly-skilled workforce
to support the government's Timber in Construction Policy Roadmap. The ITS
replaces the previous TFCAS and offers sector-specific learning for structural
timber installation.
Outcry as
Workers' Educational Association Faces Loss of £1.3M Grant in North East
Protests have
erupted in Durham and Tyneside after the Workers' Educational Association (WEA)
was informed it will lose its £1.3 million annual grant from the incoming North
East Mayoral Combined Authority (NEMCA). The charity warns that this move risks
dozens of courses and the jobs of 72 tutors. While NEMCA insists WEA and others
can compete for new contracts, the charity cautions it will be bidding for a
smaller funding pot with no guarantee of success, potentially leading to fewer
community-based lessons and impacting around 1,600 learners across the region.
Co-operative
Bank Plans Workforce Reduction
The Co-operative Bank has announced
plans to cut around 400 jobs, approximately 10% of its workforce, through an
operating model restructure. The decision aims to reduce costs as part of the
bank's strategic plan, and consultations with staff and trade unions are
underway to support affected employees.
Union Urges
Government Action to Secure Hitachi Rail Plant's Future
Unite has
called on the government to extend a contract for the Hitachi rail plant in
County Durham, citing concerns over the plant's future as current contracts
near completion. With work set to end later this year, the union urges swift
action to tender an extension, safeguarding skilled jobs and supporting the
UK's rail manufacturing sector.
Greater
Manchester Chamber Partners with Employment Hero to Support Local Businesses
The Greater
Manchester Chamber of Commerce (GMCC) has announced a partnership with
Employment Hero, a global payroll and benefits platform, to support small
firms, particularly in customer-facing sectors like care and hospitality where
vacancies are hard to fill. By offering discounted access to Employment Hero's
services, GMCC aims to strengthen the local business ecosystem and provide
resources to help SMEs manage HR challenges.
Bristol City
Council Secures £53.7M Bailout for SEND Deficit, Reforms Mandated
Bristol City
Council has obtained a £53.7 million bailout from the Department for Education
to address a massive deficit caused by overspending on education due to rising
demand for special educational needs and disability (SEND) support. The bailout
comes with strict conditions, requiring the council to reform its SEND
provision and services through the government's Safety Valve Agreements programme.
Without intervention, the council's SEND costs were projected to exceed £133
million over the next two years. The council aims to improve outcomes for SEND
students while operating sustainably through co-designed initiatives with
stakeholders.
Petition
Urges UK to Give More Time for Foreign Healthcare Workers Hit by Sponsor
Crackdown
An online
petition calling for the UK government to extend the job search period for
foreign healthcare workers, many from India, whose employment was disrupted due
to tighter rules on sponsor organisations has garnered hundreds of signatures.
The new rules require care providers to register with the regulator, leaving
some workers stranded when sponsors lose their licence, with only 60 days to
find a new job.
Birmingham
Jobs Fair 2024: Face-to-Face Recruitment Opportunity
The Birmingham
Jobs Fair 2024, scheduled on April 3rd at Aston Villa, offers employers an
affordable platform to connect with over 1,000 job seekers, fill vacancies
across industries, and explore branding and networking prospects. With 34
exhibitors, it promises a productive recruitment event through face-to-face
interactions.
GA's Annual
Conference 2024: Exploring Geography's Relevance for All
The
Geographical Association's Annual Conference and Exhibition 2024, held from
April 4-6 at the University of Manchester, UK, aims to highlight the
significance of geography in students' lives across ages and aspirations. With
an expected turnout of 1,000-5,000 visitors and 100-500 exhibitors, the event
promises insightful discussions on the subject's importance.
Resilient Survivor Wins Award for
Pre-School Leadership After Devastating Gas Explosion
Jessica
Williams, 34, overcame life-changing injuries sustained in a 2020 gas explosion
that flattened her home, winning the Higher Apprentice of the Year award.
Despite suffering burns on 70% of her body and spending a month in a coma, the
mother-of-two fought back, achieving a higher apprenticeship in children's
care. Her resilience and dedication to building a successful career as a preschool
leader at Ser Bach y Cwm Nursery in Ystradgynlais earned her prestigious
recognition.
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