Dear Subscribers
Let us begin with funding for 16-19 courses. Following the introduction of the new flagship T level qualifications in 2020, the government announced that, as the new qualification was rolled out, other level 3 courses which overlapped with a T level would be de-funded. In the new guide to the post-16 qualifications landscape at level 3 and below for 2025 the DfE provides the final list of qualifications that will have funding removed on 1 August 2024 because they overlap with waves 1 and 2 T Levels, the final list of qualifications that will have funding removed on 1 August 2025 because they overlap with wave 3 T Levels, and the provisional list of qualifications that will also have funding removed on 1 August 2025 because they overlap with wave 4 T Levels.
Moving on to pupil wellbeing, Virtual Heads have responsibility within a local authority for ensuring that arrangements are in place to improve educational experiences and outcomes of children in care. From September 2021, the Virtual Head’s role was extended to include all children with a social worker those in kinship care (being looked after by a relative or friend). The DfE published the first phase of its evaluation of the schemes in 2022. The phase 2 report was published last week and can be found here.
Pupil behaviour is always a topic of interest and the DfE’s National Behaviour Survey makes for interesting reading – it will be included in the May summaries.
With GCSE exams on the horizon, the DfE has published a comprehensive list of all qualifications which are awarded a points score in the Key Stage 4 performance tables. Along with this, it publishes ‘discount codes’ in order to ensure that a single subject is only credited once in the school performance tables – for example, if a pupil takes a GCSE and an AS level in the same subject, only the AS will be counted.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education is a much discussed topic at present. Ofsted has published a new policy paper outlining its approach to the use of AI. Table 2 of the paper sets out Ofsted’s expectations of providers in terms of their use of AI.
Finally, there is new non statutory guidance for schools on strengthening protective security to reduce the risk of terrorist incidents and other major incidents in schools. Recommended measures include the appointment of a Security Lead.
I look forward to updating you next week.
