Local authority round-up 24 October 2025
24th October, 2025
Our Local Authority round up provides brief summaries of topical information on a weekly basis, to keep you aware of the changes and updates relevant to you.
Education
Post-16 education and skills white paper set to boost opportunity for disadvantaged students, holding universities accountable and setting the sector on firm financial footing
The Government have unveiled plans to break down barriers to opportunity in post-16 education. In doing so, disadvantaged students will no longer be priced out of university with maintenance loans now set to increase each year, with the biggest cash increases going to those from the lowest-income households. The increase in funding follows data showing the gap in university entrance rates between disadvantaged pupils and their peers had grown to its biggest rate since records began in 2005.
These financial targets build on a new government targets for two-thirds of young people to participate in higher-level learning, academics, technical and apprenticeships by the age of 25, with an aim of increasing intake by 50%. A sub-target will ensure at least 10% of young people pursue higher technical education or apprenticeships by age 25 by 2040. This is hoped to be achieved by new funding methods like the boost in maintenance loads for low-income household students.
For more information, please click here.
Secondary school mandatory reading tests in bid to drive up reading standards
The Education Secretary announces a national focus on reading at the start of secondary school education to boost reading standards. In order to achieve this, a new mandatory reading test for all children at the age of 13 will be introduced. All pupils will take the test in year 8 and it will set clear expectations to support parents, teachers and pupils to identify gaps early and target help for those who need it, while enabling the most to develop even further.
The incentive behind this new scheme stems from that children’s reading journey’s begin in their earliest years, therefore, the government building on the success of the phonic programme will set a new ambition for 90% of children to be meeting the expected standard in the phonics screening check. The government is already supporting an improvement in reading and writing skills through new training of secondary school teachers and a £1 million fund to support schools with the greatest need to purchase reading programmes and other resources to support struggling readings.
For more information, please click here.
Health & Social care
NHS shake-up brings menopause into routine health checks
A new government drive announces menopause advice will become part of a free health check to help millions of women get the care they need. It is hoped that this major shift in women’s healthcare will raise awareness of symptoms and give women the confidence to seek help. These routine checks will tackle one of society’s most overlooked health challenges, ensuring women experiencing perimenopausal or menopausal symptoms have access to the right information and support. It also seeks to raise awareness earlier so more women will be able to recognise their symptoms and seek help sooner.
For many years women’s experiences of menopause have been minimised and misunderstood, with symptoms sometimes being mistaken for other conditions or blamed on lifestyle factors. This government announcement will help to bring menopause into mainstream medical conversations and contribute towards delivering the government’s Plan for Change by building an NHS which can withstand the future.
For more information, please click here.
Upcoming events
Webinar: Mayoral Development Corporations – Catalysts for growth and regeneration
Everyone involved in delivering regeneration projects needs to understand Mayoral Development Corporations because they are increasingly being favoured as a route to deliver ambitious schemes.
Between 2012 and 2025 six were created – but now there are plans for the same number to be established in the next two years.
In this webinar we will explore what MDCs can do, as well as speaking to people involved in their day to day running to learn lessons about what makes them effective at delivering regeneration outcomes.
You will be able to ask your own questions either in advance via the registration form, or you can use the Q&A feature in Zoom on the day.
Register here and join us on Tuesday 4 November at 10am.
Please note that this briefing is designed to be informative, not advisory and represents our understanding of English law and practice as at the date indicated. We would always recommend that you should seek specific guidance on any particular legal issue.
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