Fresh Starts and New Challenges

Tuesday, 15 September 2026 — Universities thrive, colleges face fresh liabilities, and parental engagement dips

Top Stories

Leadership

University of Birmingham’s winning formula: career focus and community ↗

Birmingham’s rise in student satisfaction and exam results shows what happens when universities get the mix right—linking career pathways with a strong campus community. A good reminder that student experience and clear outcomes matter most.

Source: The Guardian
Policy

From October, colleges liable for workers they never hired ↗

New rules mean colleges must take responsibility for teaching staff even if hired through subcontractors or other indirect routes. This could cause headaches for colleges still sorting out timetables and contracts at term start.

Source: FE News
Wellbeing

Parents feel less involved in children’s education – poll ↗

One in five parents say they lack info to support home learning. This drop in engagement is concerning given how much Covid initially brought parents closer to learning. Schools need fresh ideas to keep families connected.

Source: Schools Week
Policy

New school food standards: no fried foods, no honey at breakfast ↗

The government’s updated school food standards ban deep-fried foods and honey at breakfast, plus require governors to oversee food provision. It’s a practical step to boost health and learning readiness.

Source: Schools Week
Al's Take
The University of Birmingham is proving that a clear career focus and community vibe can really turn things around in higher education. Meanwhile, colleges face a tricky new legal landscape from October, making it vital to tighten up hiring and delivery processes. And heads up, parental involvement is slipping—schools need to rethink how they keep families in the loop.

Number of the Day

1 in 5
One in five parents now say they lack the information to support their child's home learning, showing a dip in parental engagement since the pandemic. (Schools Week)

Jobs Spotlight

Head of Humanities Secondary January 2027
Unknown · United Arab Emirates
Assistant Principal of Operations - IDEA Frontier (Immediate Opening) ↗
IDEA Public Schools · UK
Head of Establishment - Kilbryde ELC
South Lanarkshire · South Lanarkshire, Scotland · £50,000 - £60,000
Team Leader - Newcraigielea
Shetland Islands Council · Shetland, Scotland · £53,367.92 - £55,221.35

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Worth a Read

Young people, learning, and generative AI: A rapid literature review ↗

by Dr Matthew Hill

If you’re thinking about how AI tools impact young learners, this quick review cuts through the noise. It’s practical and grounded in recent evidence, perfect for schools starting to grapple with generative AI.

Coming Up

Learning Impact Europe 2026 ↗ — 15-17 Sep 2026, Europe
Vocatium Gutersloh ↗ — 15-16 Sep 2026, Unknown
researchED Cork 2026 ↗ — 19 Sep 2026, Ireland

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