This POSTnote focuses on trends in UK compulsory education and outlines where trends differ between individual nations.
Trends in Compulsory Education (541 KB, PDF)
Five trends can be identified in compulsory education across the UK: changes in the attainment gap between different pupil groups, rising pupil numbers, decreasing numbers of people entering initial teacher training, the growing use of technology and changing levels of school autonomy and diversity. Three factors are shaping these trends: population growth, inequality and the changing labour market.
Trends in Compulsory Education (541 KB, PDF)
Distance learning is a way of studying without the learner being physically present in a classroom. It can be fully remote or ‘blended’ with in-person learning and is now usually underpinned by the use of digital technologies and resources. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a rapid switch to distance learning. This POSTnote provides an overview of current trends in distance learning, evidence on key challenges and opportunities and potential future developments.
How does COVID-19 affect children? Will children be vaccinated against the disease? This article summarises the latest findings from research and highlights where more research can explore some of the remaining uncertainties.
On 26 January, 2021 POST invited speakers from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and the Commons Library, to hold a closed briefing on Census 2021. These are the notes from the briefing. As this was a closed event for Parliamentarians and parliamentary staff, questions and comments during the different rounds of discussion have not been attributed.
