This week I highlight the Prime Minister’s proposals to introduce the Advanced British Standard (a new Baccalaureate-style qualification for 16 to 19 year olds), the Education Secretary’s intention to ban the use of mobile phones by pupils during the school day and the Prime Minister’s proposal for new legislation preventing children who turn 14 this year or younger from ever legally being sold cigarettes in England, alongside a consultation on measures to reduce youth vaping.

‘A world-class education system: The Advanced British Standard’
On Wednesday the DfE published its new policy paper providing a summary of proposals to introduce the Advanced British Standard, a new Baccalaureate-style qualification for 16 to 19 year olds. The publication coincided with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s pledge at the Conservative Party conference to replace A-levels and T-levels with a new single “Advanced British Standard” qualification. Within the policy paper, the department notes four features that it wants to change for the 16-19 system, including:

• Delivering parity of esteem between technical and academic routes.
• Increasing quality teaching time.
• Embedding a core of essential knowledge.
• Ensuring everyone studies a greater breadth of subjects.

The policy paper also mentions that it will need to look at all elements of the education system and this will include ensuring that GCSEs prepare pupils for post-16 education.

Consultation on the design of the new qualification will be launched next month with a white paper expected next year setting out the plan for delivery. The reforms are dependent on the Conservatives winning the next election, which is expected later next year, and if implemented would take ten years to deliver in full.

Using mobile phones to be banned in England’s schools
During her speech at the Conservative party conference on Monday, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan announced that the use of mobile devices by pupils during the entire school day will be banned, to tackle disruptive behaviour and online bullying while boosting attention during lessons. The DfE is set to publish new guidance on the ban and if schools fail to implement it, the government will consider legislating in the future to make the guidance statutory.

Government to introduce historic new law on smoking
The Prime Minister has proposed new legislation which will make it an offence for anyone born on or after 1 January 2009 to be sold tobacco products – effectively raising the smoking age by a year each year until it applies to the whole population. Alongside this a consultation will be launched this month on measures to restrict disposable vapes and regulating flavours and packaging to reduce their appeal to children.