TIGA, the trade association representing the video games industry, has today published its latest education update.
TIGA’s update covers the latest announcements and developments concerning education in parliament, including the publication of Ofsted’s briefings on the pandemic’s impact on education providers, the announcement of new bursaries to help learners to upskill and retrain and the confirmation of details from Ofqual on how it will make sure there is quality and fairness for students who take level 3 qualifications that sit alongside A levels and T levels
Written Answers and Statements:
Schools: Vocational Guidance
Department for Education
20 July 2022
Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of schools are compliant with the Baker Clause in allowing colleges and training providers access to every student in Years 8 to 13 to inform them about approved technical education, qualifications and apprenticeships.
Andrea Jenkyns: All maintained schools and academies have a legal duty to publish a policy statement setting out opportunities for providers of technical education and apprenticeships to visit schools to talk to all year 8 to 13 pupils, and to make sure the statement is followed. This provider access duty, also known as the Baker Clause, commenced in January 2018.
In 2019, 38% of pupils in year 8 reported that their school had provided them with the opportunity to learn about vocational or technical options from further education colleges. For apprenticeship providers the figure was 32%, for University Technical Colleges 25% and for Studio Schools, it was 5%.
The department has taken steps to strengthen the provider access legislation through the Skills and Post-16 Education Act 2022. We intend to commence the legislation from January 2023. All pupils will have the opportunity for six encounters with providers of approved technical education qualifications and apprenticeships, as they progress through school years 8 to 13. For the first time, we are introducing parameters around the duration and content of these encounters, so that we can ensure they are of high quality. We are currently consulting on the underpinning statutory guidance that schools must have to adhere to when carrying out this legal duty.
The statutory guidance will set out the support that is available to schools to help them fulfil their legal obligations. Careers Hubs will also play an important role in working with schools and providers to develop links locally to ensure the effective delivery of provider encounters for young people. Careers Hubs will monitor progress and intervene early, where there is a need for additional support. Through the consultation, we are gathering examples of good practice and will use these to inform the final statutory guidance document.
Education: Software and Video Games
Department for Education
6 June 2022
The Earl of Dundee: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the efficacy of interactive learning programmes, including computer games, using the Socratic dialogue.
Baroness Barran: The Education Endowment Fund’s (EEF) metacognition and self-regulation guidance report includes ‘Socratic talk’ as a common teaching strategy. This can be accessed here: https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/education-evidence/teaching-learning-toolkit/metacognition-and-self-regulation(opens in a new tab).
The EEF’s teaching and learning toolkit highlights that for metacognition and self-regulation, “Studies that use digital technology, for example, intelligent tutoring systems that scaffold learning show particularly high impacts on pupil outcomes.” This is based on the EEF’s digital technology evidence review (2019), which can be accessed here: https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/education-evidence/evidence-reviews/digital-technology-2019(opens in a new tab).
The department does not actively support or mandate individual digital products as we believe that it is up to schools and colleges to decide what technology they need to meet their requirements. Meta-analysis from the EEF shows that digital technologies have the best possible impact when embedded in good pedagogy. This can be accessed here: https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/education-evidence/teaching-learning-toolkit(opens in a new tab).
News
Education providers resilient as COVID challenges continue
Ofsted
20 July 2022
Ofsted has published the third set of briefings in a series looking at the pandemic’s continued impact on education providers.
The 3 reports, which follow on from those published in April, find that most education providers are adapting to life with COVID-19 and focusing on the effectiveness of their recovery strategies. But the legacy of the pandemic and repeated lockdowns continues to affect some children and learners’ education and development.
Drawing on evidence from more than 100 inspections carried out in the summer term and multiple focus groups with inspectors, the reports set out how early years settings, schools and further education and skills providers are helping children and learners catch up, while dealing with the ongoing challenges of COVID.
Early years: Read ‘Education recovery in early years: summer 2022’.
Schools: Read ‘Education recovery in schools: summer 2022’.
Further education and skills (FES): Read ‘Education recovery in further education and skills providers: summer 2022’.
Please see the full press release here.
Government delivers rise to teachers’ salaries
Department for Education and The Rt Hon James Cleverly MP
19 July 2022
Teachers will benefit from pay increases of between 5% and 8.9% from September, as the government fully accepted pay recommendations from the independent School Teachers’ Review Body for the next academic year.
The starting salary for teachers outside London will rise by 8.9%, with salaries reaching £28,000 in the 2022/23 academic year. the Government is making progress towards meeting its manifesto commitment for new teacher pay to rise to £30,000.
Those in the early stages of their careers will also benefit from significant increases, ranging from 5% to 8% depending on experience.
Pay for experienced teachers who have been in the profession for more than five years will rise by 5% in the next academic year – an increase on the Government’s initial proposal of 3%, in recognition of the broader economic context and the STRB’s recommendations.
The rise is equivalent to an increase of almost £2,100 on the average salary of £42,400 this year.
Please see the full press release here.
New bursaries to help learners to upskill and retrain
Department for Education, Student Loans Company, and The Rt Hon James Cleverly MP
15 July 2022
Learners who could struggle with study-related costs such as books and childcare fees can now apply for up to £2.5 million worth of targeted bursary funding to help them access new higher education ‘short courses’.
As part of the government’s pledge to offer tens of thousands of adults the chance to retrain in later life, gain in-demand skills and open further job opportunities, 22 universities and colleges across England will be offering over 100 short courses to students from this September as part of a 3-year trial.
These courses that could be as short as 6 weeks – or as long as a year if studied part-time – in subjects vital for economic growth including STEM, healthcare and education. To support this flexible study, learners can now apply for tuition fee loans created especially for the short courses to support them for the duration of their study and administered by the Student Loans Company.
Alongside this, bursary grants will be available for learners who need extra financial support to pay for additional costs associated with study. Anyone applying for a loan for one of these ‘short courses’ who faces financial barriers to their learning could be eligible for a bursary. This includes the costs of learning materials such as books, childcare fees and learning support for disabled students.
Please see the full press release here.
Regulating alternative academic and alternative technical qualifications at level 3
Ofqual
30 June 2022
Ofqual has confirmed how it will make sure there is quality and fairness for students who take level 3 qualifications that sit alongside A levels and T levels. These decisions are informed by the views of students, employers, awarding organisations, and others who recognise the importance of these qualifications which enable progression into higher education and employment. Alongside these decisions, in a second consultation Ofqual is seeking views on:
- titles of qualifications
- grading of alternative academic qualifications
- details of the proposed draft regulations
Consultation on Conditions, requirements and guidance; and proposed approach to regulating grading for alternative academic qualifications and titling for alternative academic and alternative technical qualifications
This consultation closes at 11:45pm on 10 August 2022
Consultation description: This consultation sets out Ofqual’s proposed Conditions, requirements and statutory guidance for regulating alternative academic qualifications and alternative technical qualifications, operating in conjunction with the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) and the Department for Education (‘The Department’). These qualifications will be part of the future level 3 landscape, as part of the Department’s ‘Review of post-16 qualifications at level 3 in England’, alongside A levels, T Levels and Apprenticeships.
The Conditions, requirements and statutory guidance set out are those that are proposed to implement the policy decisions Ofqual has announced alongside this consultation. In addition to the proposed Conditions, requirements and statutory guidance, the consultation also seeks views on proposed approaches in a small number of areas.
Documents
Consultation on regulating alternative academic and alternative technical qualifications at level 3
Ways to respond
Respond online or email consultations@ofqual.gov.uk.
Education Secretary addresses LGA annual conference
Department for Education and The Rt Hon Nadhim Zahawi MP
30 June 2022
Nadhim Zahawi speaks to delegates about his vision for an excellent, inclusive education for every child
Location: Harrogate
Delivered on: 30 June 2022 (Original script, may differ from delivered version)
Please see the full speech here.
Introduction of T Levels
Department for Education
7 June 2022
Find out what T Levels courses include and how they work with other qualifications including grading and UCAS points.
Documents
Details
Information about the new T Level study programmes including:
- what T Levels are
- what they cover
- how qualifications will be awarded
- how education providers can get involved in delivery