EDUCATION
Beware the perils of 'tweaching'
Guardian
22/05/2009
Teachers tempted to use the social networking site Twitter to report on classroom life should take note of the Scottish secondary school teacher who faces disciplinary action for revealing too much information about her pupils, in addition to repeated criticism of the school's head teacher and management.
Complaints procedures: a complaint
Education, Public Law and the Individual
29/05/2009
This article considers the procedure for complaints relating to social care decisions affecting children and young people introduced by the Children Act 1989 Representations Procedure (England) Regulations 2006, and discusses the shortcomings of the system.
EDUCATION - FURTHER EDUCATION
Financial Planning handbook 2009 to 2012
LSC
29/05/2009
The Learning and Skills Council has published guidance on the financial planning information that further education colleges must submit to the LSC by 31 July 2009.
Inquiry called into the bogus colleges exposed by The Times
Times
23/05/2009
The Home Affairs Select Committee will hold a parliamentary inquiry on 2nd June into the abuse of immigration controls by a network of bogus international colleges in the UK. On 3rd June more than 2,500 allegedly bogus diplomas issued by one college will be the subject of a test case before the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal.
Recession could hit college degrees
Guardian
26/05/2009
College principals are concerned that the recession might reduce the proportion of higher education degree-level study that is franchised to colleges by universities.
EDUCATION - HIGHER EDUCATION
Grand designs on hold until future of learning is clear
Times Higher Education
28/05/2009
RIBA's report 'Growing by Degrees: Universities in the Future of Urban Development' says that the space needs of universities have grown more than the retail or residential accommodation sectors in recent years. However, architects and planners face an uncertain task when designing university campuses for the future.
Let universities raise fees to £5,000, says access watchdog
Guardian
22/05/2009
Sir Martin Harris, director of the Office for Fair Access (Offa), will tell a government review of student finance that universities should be allowed to raise their annual charges above the current £3,140 cap as long as they provide adequate bursaries to low-income applicants.
Off-season money spinners
University Business
23/05/2009
Considers potential additional revenue for universities when the academic terms are over.
Recession delays publication
Times Higher Education
28/05/2009
The Higher Education Task Force, set up by the CBI to review the relationship between higher education and industry, was due to publish its findings and recommendations in June. But the final report has been delayed until September to ensure that it takes account of the effect of the recession.
Review of university language courses
Guardian
22/05/2009
HEFCE have announced a review into the provision of modern foreign languages in England's universities amid concerns over cuts to course budgets and departments. The review will be led by Professor Michael Worton, Vice-Provost at University College London. An interim report is expected by 31 July 2009, followed by a final report in September 2009.
Under lock and key
University Business
23/05/2009
Discusses security risks at higher education institutions and how universities can protect themselves.
University cuts threaten standards, say lecturers
Guardian
26/05/2009
Sally Hunt, the general secretary of the University and College Union says that university funding cuts could trigger thousands of redundancies, force up class sizes and reduce students' contact time with their tutors; and could provoke a backlash from fee-paying students.
Watchdog makes case for a guard with teeth, but will it have the bite?
Times Higher Education
28/05/2009
An opinion article declares that the QAA makes some sound recommendations, but it ducks the most troublesome issues.
EDUCATION - SCHOOLS
Academy freedoms mooted for all
Times Educational Supplement
29/05/2009
The Government is considering giving all schools in the state sector the freedoms enjoyed by academies. The significant move away from previous education policy was contained in a response to a House of Lords committee report by Schools Minister Jim Knight.
Fired-up MPs get action on arson threat
Times Educational Supplement
29/05/2009
Schools Minister Jim Knight has agreed to hold meetings with council chiefs, academy builders and insurance bosses to find out why only 400 of the UK's 32,000 schools have sprinklers, despite a Government order that they should be installed in all classrooms.
Incoming chair of teacher regulator warns on privacy
Times Educational Supplement
29/05/2009
Gail Mortimer, the new chair of the General Teaching Council, has warned that the GTC needs to be "very careful" not to pry excessively into the private lives of teachers. A revised code of conduct is due to be published later this year and the council will be debating this issue in July,
Some academies "a quarter empty"
BBC News
28/05/2009
Official figures in a report by PricewaterhouseCoopers reveal that there are more than 2,600 empty desks in Academies that have been open for years.
What not to wear: religious symbols and school uniform
Education, Public Law and the Individual
29/05/2009
This article examines Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights and the Equality Act 2006 and considers their likely application in school uniform cases.
