23 MAY 2024
Election 2024: What does it mean for FE & Skills + 7 other FE stories
The big news this week: a general election will be held on Thursday July 4, Rishi Sunak has announced, kickstarting a campaign “for Britain to choose its future”. Plus, 7 other interesting articles you may have missed this week.
Election 2024: What does it mean for FE and skills?
A general election will be held on Thursday July 4, Rishi Sunak has announced, kickstarting a campaign “for Britain to choose its future”.
Parliament will dissolve on May 30 (Thursday next week). Public bodies will then be subject to pre-election rules meaning they cannot do anything that could have a bearing on matters relevant to the election. A date for when the pre-election period officially starts has not been announced. FE Week article.
AoC delays FE teacher pay recommendation for second year in a row
The Association of Colleges will hold off on making a pay recommendation for FE staff again this year until the school teacher pay review is published.
Unions, who were told about the decision in a meeting with the membership body yesterday, warned that this is likely to delay vital negotiations with individual colleges for months.
The AoC deployed the same tactic last year when the body refused to make a pay recommendation unless government coughed up extra money so colleges could make “a meaningful offer” to staff. Full story.
Poor mental health is the top reason for student absence, say colleges
The impact of declining mental health and the cost-of-living crisis on student attendance has been laid bare in new research published by the Association of Colleges (AoC).
The survey, conducted by AoC in March, asked English colleges to select the top three reasons for poor student attendance in the 2023 autumn term. Around 68 colleges responded to the survey – representing a third of all colleges in England.
The majority (88%) of respondents selected poor mental health, almost double the percentage (50%) which chose it as one of the top three reasons pre-pandemic in 2019/20. View article.
UK Employment Figures, May 2024: Strong Wage Growth Defies Broader Labour Market Cooling
UK wage growth came in hotter than expected in the first quarter of 2024, even as other indicators showed the labour market continuing to soften. Annual regular pay growth excluding bonuses remained at 6.0% year-on-year in March, well above the annual rate of consumer price inflation (3.6% in the three months to March), meaning real wage growth is now running at a two-and-a-half-year high of 2.4% year-on-year. Indeed Hiring Lab analysis.
MPs: DfE should include FE in teacher recruitment forecasts
Government forecasts of teacher recruitment should include further education as it is the “worst impacted” sector, MPs have said.
At present, the Department for Education’s teacher workforce model, which sets annual recruitment targets based on projections of incoming learners and teacher flows, only looks at the needs of primary and secondary schools.
This is despite FE facing an increasingly acute staffing crisis, widely understood to be caused by salary increases failing to keep up with inflation and falling short of what is offered in schools and industry. Full story.
HR Strategies for Supporting Diverse Employee Needs: Enhancing Workplace Inclusivity
In today’s dynamic business environment, diversity and inclusion have become fundamental priorities for human resources (HR) departments. Effective HR strategies are crucial in creating a workplace that not only recognises but also wholeheartedly supports the varied needs of a diverse workforce. By fostering an inclusive atmosphere where all employees feel valued and understood, organisations can unlock the full potential of their team and drive innovation. View blog.
10 second jobs to boost your income
With the cost of living crisis, people are looking for ways to make more money. In fact, research from last year found that one in 10 UK employees aimed to take a second job to make ends meet.
Decisions over whether or not to look for a second job aren’t always easy, particularly when trying to balance other commitments. And for many people, this option may not be possible at all. Restless article.
More Than 1 in 4 Brits Want Time off Work for Hay Fever
The NHS website states that ‘hay fever is a common allergy that causes sneezing, coughing and itchy eyes. You cannot cure it, but there are things you can do to help your symptoms or medicines you can take to help.’
Symptoms are usually worse between late March and September, especially when it’s warm, humid and windy. This is when the pollen count is at its highest. Hay fever can last for weeks or months, unlike a cold, which usually goes away after 1 to 2 weeks. View story.