HIGHER EDUCATION
Bonfire of the quangos
THES - 04/06/2010
Higher education bodies could be in the firing line after Vince Cable announced plans to abolish, merge or reduce funding for almost half of the quangos in his department.
HEFCE becomes a charity regulator for higher education
HEFCE - 01/06/2010
Changes in charity legislation mean that from today HEFCE becomes the 'principal regulator' for the 110 higher education institutions (HEIs) in England that are exempt charities. At the same time, the Charity Commission’s powers extend to apply to those HEIs, but it may only use those powers after consulting HEFCE.
More lecturers 'seeking support'
BBC News - 31/05/2010
A teacher support charity says more lecturers in further and higher education are seeking support because of the current funding crisis.
Rising wave of permanent contracts welcomed
THES - 03/06/2010
The proportion of academic staff on fixed-term contracts has fallen by 8 percentage points in the past five years, according to official figures.
Scrap firsts, 2:1s and 2:2s, says thinktank
The Guardian - 03/06/2010
Degree classifications should be dropped in a bid to improve standards at universities, argues a report by the Higher Education Policy Institute
The green and the good
British Universities Finance Directors Group - 03/06/2010
From 'Fairtrade Universities', to carbon reduction strategies, more and more pressure is being placed on higher education institutions to ensure their procurement is both ethical and sustainable.
UCU set for 'greatest industrial dispute' over job security and pensions
THES - 03/06/2010
The University and College Union has taken a step towards national strike action over job security - and is also threatening to launch the "greatest industrial dispute" ever in higher education if changes to pensions are forced through.
Watchdog orders universities to offer students value for money
Evening Standard - 02/06/2010
Universities must tell students how many lectures they will attend amid concern that undergraduates are not getting value for money, a watchdog said today.
FURTHER EDUCATION
Exam boards will take reins of Diplomas as QCDA faces the end
TES - 04/06/2010
Exam boards are to be given sole charge of the 14-19 Diplomas, with the Government and its quangos ceasing to have any involvement in the controversial qualification, the Education Secretary has said.
Pricey pension schemes put private firms off FE investment
TES - 04/06/2010
Private companies are queuing up to run further education colleges but are put off by the cost of their pension arrangements, according to a report recommending radical structural change for the sector.
UCU Congress warn skills gap will hamper low carbon economy and cost Britain jobs and contracts
University and College Union - 01/06/2010
Delegates at the UCU annual Congress in Manchester today called on the new coalition government to close the environmental skills gap in the UK or risk shattering any chance of a low carbon economy. The Congress also heard that the country would miss out on lucrative contracts to deliver green programmes if it did not act fast to close the gap.
Union members opt for strike ballot against leaders' advice
TES FE Focus - 04/06/2010
Lecturers are preparing to ballot for strike action following the "insult" of colleges' 0.2 per cent pay offer.
SCHOOLS
Beautifully appointed new school buildings, all mod cons, £55 billion. Going, going... GONE
TES - 04/06/2010
Building schools for the Future (BSF), one of the Labour government's highest profile education polices, is expected to be scrapped by the Government, The TES understands.
Failing schools 'given a year to improve'
The Telegraph - 03/06/2010
Head teachers will be given a year to turn around failing schools or face the sack, according to Michael Gove.
Gove's GTC chop splits education
TES - 04/06/2010
The education establishment was divided this week after Education Secretary Michael Gove announced he will abolish the General Teaching Council for England (GTC).
Michael Gove does not mind academies making profits – but the courts might
The Guardian - 01/06/2010
Any business that wants to make money from a new school could face a long tendering process and public scrutiny
Over 1000 schools apply for academy freedoms
Department for Education - 02/06/2010
The Secretary of State has outlined the number of schools which have shown an interest in becoming academies following the DfE announcement of the intention to expand the programme.
