Today's Education in the media focuses on today's Skills Summit, as well as Ofsted figures which show that there are now 1.9 million more pupils in good or outstanding schools than in 2010.
Skills Summit
Today the Education Secretary Justine Greening addressed the inaugural Skills Summit, calling on businesses to work alongside government to deliver the skills revolution that will be beneficial to the British economy. Ahead of this, the Secretary of State did a number of breakfast interviews with Good Morning Britain and The Today Programme, as well as an opinion piece in this morning’s The Times Red Box.
The Skills Summit, supported by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), brings together leading employers representing over 3.5 million UK employees to help spearhead a major skills reform programme.
As part of her keynote address, Justine Greening launched the new Institutes of Technology (IoTs), as well as announcing £10m to be invested in new Career Learning pilots across the UK. This funding will be used to support local growth and productivity by testing how best to get adults to return to learning.
Further reforms that were announced at the summit included:
- Plans to launch a consultation on the design of T levels seeking views on how to work with businesses to deliver work placements as part of the govt reforms to deliver T Levels.
- The roll out of the first seven Skills Advisory Panels in regions across England to help identify the skills needs and employer demands at a local level.
- The full list of panel members to help create the content for the new T levels, which will begin rolling out in 2020.
Education Secretary Justine Greening said:
This government is investing in developing our home-grown talent so British business has the skills it needs and so that so that young people can get the opportunities they want.
We are determined to work in partnership with business to provide them opportunities to match the talent across the country. That is why this government is investing billions in technical education and why today I am calling on employers to bring their innovation, creativity and commitment to technical education reform. Only employers can provide the work placements and apprenticeships that make these reforms a success.
Ofsted figures
Today, 30 November, Ofsted has published statistics on inspection outcomes. The figures show that at the end of August 2017 there were 1.9 million more pupils in good or outstanding schools than in 2010.
This means that the total number of pupils taught in good or outstanding schools now totals over 6.8 million. On top of this, the proportion of schools judged to be good or outstanding at their most recent inspection at the end of August 2017 is 89 per cent, up by 21 percentage points since 2010.
These statistics show the reforms being implemented by the department are working, and the government is delivering on its commitment to making sure all children receive a world-class education.
School Standards Minister Nick Gibb said:
We want every child to have access to a good school place – one that provides them with the knowledge and skills to succeed in the future. Thanks to changes made by the government and the hard work of teachers, there are now 1.9 million more pupils in good or outstanding schools than in August 2010 – that’s 87% of children in good or outstanding schools compared to 66% in 2010.
Good and outstanding schools make up 89% of all schools inspected in England - with schools judged at this rating continuing to increase in most regions of the country.
To read the Secretary of State's speech at the Skills Summit, read here.
To read the statistics from Ofsted on the number of good or outstanding schools, read here.