The Week, 25 January 2019
Reformer of the week
Damian Hinds MP, Secretary of State for Education, who argued that workload pressures on teachers could be reduced by embracing new technologies, such as AI, to help teachers to spend more time in the classroom.
Quotes of the week
“A strong tradition of public and private sector collaboration is part of the reason why the UK is a world leader in digital government.”
Oliver Dowden CBE MP, Minister for Implementation, on Wednesday.
“Many schools are already reviewing their school practices to reduce workload – and to those who haven’t already, I encourage them to look at what they can do to shift away from an email culture […] to free teachers up to spend more time in the classroom.”
Damian Hinds MP on Wednesday.
Good week for
Suicide prevention
The Government published a cross-government suicide prevention plan to promote joint working between local councils, the NHS and the justice system. The plan also aims to use AI and analytics to identify those at risk of suicide.
School standards
New data shows that GCSE results in England’s schools continue to rise, particularly in English and maths.
Bad week for
Computers in the courts
An IT breakdown in England and Wales meant thousands of court cases have been disrupted or delayed.
Apprenticeship numbers
New figures show the number of workplace training starts is 15 per cent lower than before the system changed two years ago.
Reform’s Week
Reform held two events this week. The first was a panel discussion on the prevention of ill health, led by Professor Dame Sally Davies, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health and Social Care. The second was a roundtable, supported by AbbVie, on a data-driven approach to cancer care, led by Cally Palmer CBE, Chief Executive, The Royal Marsden Hospital and National Cancer Director, NHS England.
Reform published three blogs this week. Two on prevention in healthcare from Hugo Fry, Managing Director, Sanofi UK, and Claudia Martinez, Research Manager, Reform. Alison Leary, Professor of Healthcare and Workforce Modelling, London South Bank University, wrote a blog on the need for a community workforce to tackle the winter crisis.