EDUCATION
"Go away, we're thinking": Balls blocks FoI request to release cost-saving report
Times Educational Supplement
30/10/2009
The Schools Secretary Ed Balls, has refused a freedom of information request from the Conservatives to publish the recommendations of the Handover Report on potential savings in education spending, claiming that it would interfere with his ministers' "thinking space".
Bogus student checks 'don't work'
BBC
01/11/2009
Immigration officers claim that new rules designed to stop bogus students entering the UK are not working. Non-EU students are supposed to apply to registered institutions, and must prove they can support themselves. But claims are now verified in the students' home countries, and UK staff say they have limited ability to challenge those they suspect.
Mergers fail to boost FE standards, says Ofsted
Times Higher Education
30/10/2009
According to Ofsted's Summary Review of Further Education Provision in Higher Education 2003-09, mergers between low-achieving further education colleges and higher education institutions have failed to raise standards significantly.
More than a quarter of teachers face false accusations by pupils
Times Educational Supplement
30/10/2009
A survey by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers has found that 28% of teachers have faced a false accusation by a pupil and 17% have had a false claim made against them by a member of a pupil's family.
EDUCATION - FURTHER EDUCATION
Colleges feel the funding squeeze
Guardian
27/10/2009
Rising unemployment and the government's promise of a place in college for every 16- to 17-year-old who wants one has created a surge in demand for places at further education colleges, that has led to a huge strain on FE budgets.
Diplomas too difficult for pupils, says survey
Guardian
27/10/2009
A report by the Association of Colleges argues that parts of the diploma qualification require urgent review.
Government criticised over advert for diplomas
Times Higher Education
28/10/2009
The Advertising Standards Authority has ruled that DCSF adverts claiming that diploma qualifications are accepted by all universities was misleading and breached advertising standards codes.
EDUCATION - HIGHER EDUCATION
20% say 'no' to student auditors
Times Higher Education
29/10/2009
Eleven higher education institutions have chosen to opt out of being inspected by the new the Quality Assurance Agency audit teams that include students. From 2011, all QAA audit teams will have student members.
A funny sort of welcome
Times Higher Education
29/10/2009
This article discusses the complex new visa and immigration regulations for foreign students and academics.
Government ignores MPs on standards reform
Times Higher Education
29/10/2009
The Government has rejected most of the Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee's recommendations on higher education.
Labels to aid student 'consumers'
BBC
01/11/2009
A food labelling-style system will provide data to school leavers about universities including teaching hours, career prospects and seminar frequency.
List of troubled institutions to remain secret
Times Higher Education
29/10/2009
Hefce has decided against revealing the names of the institutions that were most at risk of financial failure four years ago, despite advice from the Information Commissioner that the risk register could be disclosed after three years.
Loans firm tightens debt recovery
BBC
23/10/2009
The Student Loans Company is tightening its procedures for recovering debt after writing off nearly £29m.
Mandelson outlines the future of higher education
BIS
03/11/2009
The Government has published a new framework for higher education. Key measures in "Higher ambitions" include:
- More competition between universities, giving greater priority to programmes that meet the need for high level skills;
- Business to be more involved in the funding and design of programmes, sponsorship of students, and work placements;
- Creating more part-time, work-based and foundation degrees to make it easier for adults to go to university;
- Encouraging universities to consider contextual data in admissions, as one way of ensuring that HE is available to all young people;
- Universities setting out clearly what students can expect in terms of the nature and quality of courses offered;
- Continuing to focus research on areas of excellence, concentrating funding where needed; and
- Encouraging collaboration between universities on world class research, especially in high cost science.
http://www.bis.gov.uk/policies/higher-ambitions
Mobility slows but EU wants many more to join Erasmus
Times Higher Education
29/10/2009
Erasmus, the European Commission's flagship overseas-study programme, could be in danger of missing its targets despite student mobility now being at the heart of Europe's education agenda. The Commission has a target to reach 3 million Erasmus students by 2012.
Record numbers apply early for University
Guardian
02/11/2009
Early application figures indicate that competition for university places next year will be tough.
State your demands, Government and Tories tell students
Times Higher Education
29/10/2009
Politicians have warned universities that they must do more to meet students' needs, with the Government also urging students to be more demanding. Both Labour and the Conservatives are proposing measures to ensure that students have more information about the returns they can expect on their investment in higher education.
The long march
Times Higher Education
29/10/2009
China is now the world's largest provider of higher education and the second biggest producer of academic research papers. This article discuses the country's efforts to build a dynamic and vibrant world-class system.
Things fall apart, the sector may not hold: splintered future on cards
Times Higher Education
29/10/2009
Roger Brown, co-director of the Centre for Higher Education Research Development at Liverpool Hope University, says that the structure of the sector could change as a result of public spending constraints, international competition, demographic change and the potential increase in the level of the tuition fee cap. He predicts within five years most universities would fall into one of four categories - elite "brand names", "no-frills" providers, all-purpose universities, and high-quality specialist institutions
Two heads are better than one ...
Times Higher Education
29/10/2009
Consultant Paul Hoskins, managing director of Precedent, suggests that universities should follow business by appointing two leaders equivalent to a chief executive and a chief operating officer, in effect splitting the role of vice-chancellor.
'Umbrella' structure is the future for universities, report claims
Times Higher Education
29/10/2009
PA Consulting's report, Escaping the Red Queen Effect: Succeeding in the New Economics of Higher Education, advises that universities should think of themselves as "holding structures" for a conglomerate of separately managed businesses.
Universities face cut in historic building fund
Guardian
30/10/2009
Universities will have to find new funding for the specialist maintenance of historic buildings as the Government seeks to cut £40m funding. The universities most affected have asked Hefce to phase in the cuts in to allow time to find new sources of funding.
Universities overhaul will make them more inclusive, says Mandelson
Guardian
03/11/2009
The new framework for higher education includes the suggestion that all universities should consider accepting lower grades from students who show potential despite a poor home life or unambitious schooling. The government cannot order universities to change their admissions procedures but today's plan will put new pressure on them to do so.
EDUCATION - SCHOOLS
All over the place
Times Educational Supplement
30/10/2009
Ed Balls plans to create more federation and partnership schools where an executive head leads two or more schools. This article examines how such schools work in practice.
British schools abroad say new standards will protect their brand
Times Educational Supplement
30/10/2009
The Council of British International Schools has welcomed plans for set of government-approved standards for British schools abroad.
Brown weighs into Sats row
Times Educational Supplement
30/10/2009
The Prime Minister says Sats primary testing is vital to accountability, as teaching unions prepare to ballot members on a boycott of the tests.
Consultation on Proposed Amendments to the School Premises Regulations on School Kitchen and Dining Facilities
DCSF
29/10/2009
In May 2009, the Secretary of State wrote to all schools and local authorities urging them to tackle inadequate kitchen and dining facilities in support of transforming the school meals service. This consultation sets out the proposals on amendments to the School Premises regulations.
Curtain comes down on academy philanthropists flying solo
Times Educational Supplement
30/10/2009
Under new plans announced by the Government any individual, charity or business that does not have first-hand educational experience will be forced to have a co-sponsor or partner that can demonstrate a track record of improving schools.
Review to recommend sanctions for parents who lie to win school places
Guardian
02/11/2009
The Chief Schools Adjudicator, Dr Ian Craig, has published his annual report revealing how many schools have broken the admissions rules in the past year and the number of complaints received from parents. The OSA has also published three specific inquiries ordered by the schools secretary, Ed Balls, into fraudulent admissions, inappropriate use of lotteries for allocating school places, and the problem of twins being sent to separate schools when places are scarce. The reports recommend tougher sanctions for parents who cheat, a ban on twins being separated against their parents' wishes, and the continuing use of lotteries to allocate remaining school places.
Ed Balls' response to the Chief School Adjudicator’s Annual Report 2008/9
DCSF
02/11/2009
The Schools Secretary has published a letter responding to the reports' recommendations and commissions further work on penalties for misleading applications. He states it is not the Government's intention that parents should be criminalised for misleading applications, but asks for a report by February 2010 on how the problem should be addressed, including proposals on how to strengthen the deterrents, bearing in mind the need for any sanctions to be legitimate and proportionate.
Punished for soldiering on: swine flu councils' fury
Times Educational Supplement
30/10/2009
Schools that have remained open during swine flu outbreaks claim they are being unfairly penalised by the Government for high absence rates. Official statistics do not record the absences of schools that are closed but count them if they remain open. Ofsted use absence rates to make judgments about schools.
Warning! Overcrowded classrooms ahead
Times Educational Supplement
30/10/2009
This article considers the increase in 'super schools' and the impact of pupil numbers on educational standards.
