Education
Devolve powers to level up
The panel brought together by the Centre for Progressive Policy think-tank agreed local government needed more powers to make the agenda a success.
Government appoints SEND commissioner at Birmingham
A former council chief executive has been appointed to oversee improvements to Birmingham City Council’s special educational needs and disability (SEND) service.
Government defeated over council involvement in skills plans
The Government has lost a House of Lords vote after peers demanded councils should be involved in drawing up local skills improvement plans.
Bristol seeks help over ‘worrying’ schools deficit
The council has approached the Government for support with a deficit in its schools budget.
Council apologises for SEND failures
Suffolk CC has apologised to families who rely on special educational needs and disabilities provision after a report found the council was 'not performing well'.
Three priorities for the new education secretary
Donna Molloy of the Early Intervention Foundation outlines three priorities for the new secretary of state for education Nadhim Zahawi and says there’s a ‘window of opportunity’ for positive change.
Put education at the heart of levelling up, say CPP and NRG
Education should be at the heart of the levelling up agenda, according to the influential Northern Research Group (NRG) and think tank the Centre for Progressive Policy (CPP).
Back to school?
Since schools returned to full capacity there has been focus on attendance, mental health and emotional wellbeing. But, argues Charlotte Ramsden, post-pandemic, the main concern must also be education recovery for all our children.
‘Significant inequities’ in SEN funding exposed
Differences of tens of millions in funding were found in areas with similar demographics, a report for the SEN Policy Research Forum has found.
A-teams go forth
It is that time of year again. The moment there is barely any news, almost everyone in local government has wandered off for a well-deserved rest – and those are left have a frenzied workload that we haven’t seen since… well, pretty much all of the pandemic.
Birmingham faces intervention on SEND
Birmingham City Council faces a further intervention after a damning Ofsted report revealed it was not making progress.
Unravelling the knot of education, health and care plans
Leo Jones lays out the deeper challenges that need to be recognised and addressed if the SEND review is going to tackle the complex problems behind rising numbers of education, health and care plans.
Catching up with lost learning
There is no national strategy to help children recover lost learning and promote emotional health and wellbeing, writes Charlotte Ramsden from the Association of Directors of Children’s Services.
Hitting the target but missing the point
A report by the Institute for Government highlights the risks of a target culture - 'prioritising easy wins, ignoring important issues and manipulating data', says Claire Kober.
Skills devolution key to levelling up
A panel of experts brought together by the Localis think-tank discussed how to bring about economic growth at a local level.
Scottish council told to improve housing and education services
Aberdeen City Council has been warned to improve its housing and education services by the public spending watchdog.
We must stop the Treasury tail wagging the Government dog
Graeme McDonald senses 'much of Whitehall has a greater understanding of our challenges than for many years, but is handcuffed by the inflexible, rigid approach imposed by a shortsighted Exchequer'.
Government must get education right to 'level up'
How the Government manages school catch-up policy is closely linked to the levelling up agenda, says Andrew Carter of Centre for Cities. And it needs to ensure it gets education right for both children and adults, he adds.
A flexible future for workspaces and town centres
Brendon Walsh says that - while an increasingly hybrid approach to work will reshape our centres and high streets - use of permitted development rights and pivoting towards education and emerging industries can support regeneration.
Solidarity in a climate of fear
In the aftermath of a recent religious scandal involving a schoolteacher, Claire Fox salutes the binmen who, she believes, have shown up how a climate of fear can make cowards of leaders – and threaten our democratic core values.
