What is happening with college teacher pay in England?
National Education Union members who teach in non-academy sixth form colleges will strike this winter because the 5.5% pay award for teachers does not extend to them.
This briefing explains the 2022 Sunak government's plans to introduce the Advanced British Standard in England, a new qualification that was due to replace A Levels and T Levels, but which will now not be going ahead.
The Advanced British Standard (491 KB , PDF)
On 29 July 2024, Rachel Reeves, Chancellor in the new Labour government, announced the Advanced British Standard would not be going ahead. She highlighted the planned cost and said “if we cannot afford it, we cannot do it.” |
Over the next decade, the Government plans to introduce a new qualification framework for 16- to 19-year-olds in England called the Advanced British Standard (ABS). It has launched a consultation on its proposals that will inform a White Paper due to be published in summer 2024.
The Government’s intention is for the Advanced British Standard to combine and replace A Levels and T Levels with a new, single level 3 qualification at age 16. Apprenticeships will continue to be available for those looking to enter the workforce through ‘on-the-job’ training.
The Advanced British Standard would consist of:
Teaching time will be increased by 15% for most students (equivalent to an extra two and half hours per week) compared to a typical three-subject A Level study programme. Academic options will be based on A Levels while technical options will be based on both the content of T Levels and occupational standards designed by employers and the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.
Under the Advanced British Standard, students not able to progress straight into a level 3 programme might undertake a level 2 programme (equivalent to GCSE grades 3, 2, 1), such as a one-year transition programme.
Most subjects will be assessed through exams at the end of the course, but some non-examined assessment will be used where appropriate.
Students will receive individual grades for each major and minor (or equivalent) component they take at levels 2 and 3. The Government is also proposing an overall certificate or statement of achievement to be awarded to students who meet minimum attainment conditions by the end of their course of study.
The Government is providing funding of £600 million over the next two years, largely focussed on boosting teacher recruitment and retention, to support the eventual introduction of the Advanced British Standard. This includes:
The Government has not published a financial impact assessment of the Advanced British Standard, or any estimates of future additional costs of the reformed system.
Teacher salaries and recruitment are the most obvious extra costs needed to meet the expanded curriculum and increased teaching time. Additional costs could also relate to the introduction of a new curriculum, and costs linked to the increased number of students at school/college at any one time, such as more non-teaching staff and capital costs of new classrooms and other facilities.
In December 2023, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, said current teacher shortages made the Government’s plans for the Advanced British Standard unworkable. Phillipson said, if she was Education Secretary, reforming 16 to 19 education would not be a priority, and her focus would instead be on improving primary school provision.
The announcement of the Advanced British Standard has attracted a mix of praise and criticism from the education sector, with many commending the principles of the proposed reforms, but suggesting current issues, particularly with regards to teacher shortages, make it unrealistic.
The Advanced British Standard (491 KB , PDF)
National Education Union members who teach in non-academy sixth form colleges will strike this winter because the 5.5% pay award for teachers does not extend to them.
A debate on child bereavement will take place in Westminster Hall on 2 December 2024. The subject for this debate was determined by the Petitions Committee and the debate will be led by Kevin Bonavia MP.
In the 2024 Autumn Budget the Chancellor announced the introduction of VAT on private school fees from 1 January 2025. This briefing discusses the background to the government's decision and the legislation to bring it into effect.