This week I report on the review of the government’s anti-radicalisation programme (Prevent), the publication of new DfE guidance on mental health and attendance and plans to broaden UCAS to include apprenticeship opportunities as well undergraduate degrees.

Prevent to be overhauled following review
This week the Home Secretary Suella Braverman has revealed plans to overhaul Prevent, the government’s anti-radicalisation programme. She confirmed that all 34 of the recommendations in the recently published Independent Review of Prevent carried out by William Shawcross will be implemented. This has an implication for schools and further advice will be published in due course.

New guidance on mental health and attendance and a report on children’s wellbeing over 2021/22
The DfE has published new guidance on mental health and how to support school attendance where a pupil is experiencing social, emotional or mental health issues that have caused increased absence.

The DfE has also a released a report on children’s wellbeing over 2021/22 which looked at trends in mental health and wellbeing. The findings presented a mixed picture, suggesting an inconsistent recovery of children and young people’s mental and physical health towards pre-pandemic levels. That children and young people’s subjective happiness and life satisfaction had recovered to pre-pandemic levels and anxiousness among both primary and secondary aged pupils appeared to have increased and was higher than in 2020/21.

Apprenticeships boosted under plans to broaden UCAS
The DfE has announced that apprenticeship opportunities will be advertised to prospective students alongside undergraduate degrees in plans to broaden UCAS. From this autumn UCAS will expand their service so that young people can see more personalised options, including apprenticeships. From 2024, students will then be able to apply for apprenticeships through UCAS alongside an undergraduate degree application.