Weekly Round Up - 19/06/2026
A look back at the last week in education, a peek at what's coming up, plus lots of other bits and...
How should universities respond to cuts in teaching, demographic decline and greater competition?
Having finally finished reading it yesterday evening, I have come to the conclusion that the one book every vice-chancellor, aspiring vice-chancellor and chair of council should read on the beach this summer is Capitalizing on College: How higher education went from mission...
Retrieval practice vs worked examples: When to use which
We talk about a lot of different strategies on our blog that all have been shown effective for student learning.
International Graduate Outcomes: pilot to strengthen data on global graduates
Improving the evidence base on international graduate outcomes remains a key priority for the UK higher education sector.
Too cool for school? Not in our overheating classrooms
After May saw record-breaking temperatures in the UK, another warm spell is under way in parts of England.
The predictive value of standardised test scores for future attainment: The impact of achievement level
In many countries, school evaluations take into account the average progress their students make on standardised tests relative to their peers.
STEM must remain part of the enrichment conversation
The Department for Education’s new Enrichment Framework is a welcome recognition that education extends beyond the classroom.
BBSRC invests in 21 new Fellows
BBSRC invests £10 million in 21 new Fellows as part of its ongoing commitment to develop the next generation of independent research leaders across the UK.
Exam board accused of 'unfair' treatment of pupils
Scotland’s exam board has been accused of ‘opaque’ and ‘grossly unfair’ treatment of young people who have recently completed National 5, Higher, and Advanced Higher exams.
'Historic' pay deal on offer for college lecturers as long-term tensions thaw
College lecturers could receive a “historic” pay rise negotiated after a thaw in relations between employers and unions.
The Student Loans Company (SLC) is contacting some Plan 2 customers about corrections to their balances
The Student Loans Company (SLC) is contacting some Plan 2 customers about corrections to their balances. Around 71,000 customers (approximately 1.3% of current Plan 2 customers) have been affected by technical issues.
Education Committee launches new inquiry on school reforms
Today the Education Committee launches a new inquiry on school reform, after the government announced major proposals for reform in February’s Schools White Paper.
Have schools been put into an attendance trap?
New guidance on communicating with parents about absence leaves schools with the ‘all but impossible’ task of improving attendance without being able to hold families to account, warn leaders.
DfE legal costs rise by more than 50% under Labour
Increase in legal costs is likely due to the government introducing contentious policies that have ‘well-funded’ opponents – such as VAT on private school fees, say experts.
Talk to us before rolling out AI tools, tutors tell DfE
Tutors are calling for the government to engage with them before rolling out an AI tutoring programme, amid concerns that the tools will lack human oversight and pose risks to safeguarding.
More schools fear blackmail over pupil images posted online
Legal experts have reported a “significant spike” in concerns from schools about the risk that pupil photos on their websites could be used to create AI deepfake content.
Nationalisation calls as SATs marking delays continue
SATs markers were this week scrambling to get through tens of thousands of questions after an already-extended deadline passed, prompting calls for the assessment series to be nationalised.
Council seeks legal advice over SEND bailout calculation
A council has sought legal advice and written to ministers after flagging concerns that it will miss out on extra cash to plug a looming SEND deficit.
DfE official hopes to improve ‘nightmare’ MIS procurement
Tech companies which fail to make the cut for the government’s management information system (MIS) framework will not have “agreed to treat schools fairly”, a Whitehall official has said.
Fears trusts could get handcuffed to government energy-buying scheme
Beleaguered academy trust bosses could face “yet more bureaucracy” and the prospect of being handcuffed to long-term contracts through Labour’s flagship energy scheme, union chiefs fear.