Dear Colleagues
I hope that those of you in school had a refreshing half term break. I begin this letter with some questions which are addressed in the February summaries. What has really happened to government spending on education over the past few years? How comprehensive are the ‘top comprehensive schools? What can be done about the crisis of school exclusions? Are we failing young people who do not pursue an academic pathway to university? Other themes in this month’s summaries are early years education, and ‘neoliberal’ policy in higher education and assessment. There is a curricular focus on music this month – please send the summary to your head of music – it will brighten their day.
View all of the latest summaries on our website, or use the individual links below.
https://edn.bristol.ac.uk/eprs/current/
EPRS 23/24 51 Suspending Reality: Part 1 – the crisis of school exclusions and what to do about it
This report from the Centre for Social Justice examines the challenges that contribute to the rising tide of pupils falling out of mainstream education and makes recommendations for a more inclusive approach.
https://edn.bristol.ac.uk/eprs/232451/
EPRS 23/24 52 Selective Comprehensives 2024: The Social Composition of Top Comprehensive Schools
This is the latest in a series commissioned by the Sutton Trust which examines the social composition of top performing comprehensives in England compared to all schools nationally.
https://edn.bristol.ac.uk/eprs/232452/
EPRS 23/24 53 Towards a fairer, more useful, and fit-for-purpose way to assess children and young people in the 21st century
This report from the All Party Parliamentary Group for Schools presents findings from a recent inquiry into assessment systems in England.
https://edn.bristol.ac.uk/eprs/232453/
EPRS 23/24 54 Alternative Provision in Local Areas in England: A Thematic Review
This report from Ofsted presents findings from a recent review of alternative provision (AP) and calls for stronger oversight of the sector.
https://edn.bristol.ac.uk/eprs/232454/
EPRS 23/24 55 Annual report on education spending in England: 2023
This report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies gives an overview of funding arrangements and expenditure across all phases of the education system
https://edn.bristol.ac.uk/eprs/232455/
EPRS 23/24 56 Neoliberal or not? English Higher Education
This debate paper from the Higher Education Policy Institute sets out the authors’ different perspectives on the influence of neoliberal policies on higher education over the last 40 years.
https://edn.bristol.ac.uk/eprs/232456/
EPRS 23/24 57 Broken Ladders
In this report from EDSK, the authors argue that the first rungs on the ‘ladder of opportunity’ are now broken for young people who decide not to pursue an academic pathway
https://edn.bristol.ac.uk/eprs/232457/
EPRS 23/24 58 Prevention of Future Deaths Report (Regulation 28: Ofsted’s Response)
In this report, Ofsted responds to key concerns laid out in the coroner’s report into the death of headteacher Ruth Perry.
https://edn.bristol.ac.uk/eprs/232458/
EPRS 23/24 59 Music always helps: Association of music subject choices with academic achievement in secondary education
This report, published in the British Educational Research Journal, looks at links between music choice at Key Stage 4 and academic achievement.
https://edn.bristol.ac.uk/eprs/232459/
EPRS 23/24 60 General Election Policy Briefing: Inequality in Early Years Education
This report from the Sutton Trust explores whether the recent expansion of the free childcare entitlement will lead to more equality in the early years stage.
https://edn.bristol.ac.uk/eprs/232460/
If any school requires the access code to view the summaries please contact Education admin at: childrensservices@northumberland.gov.uk
