EDUCATION
Conservatives to crack down on UK visas for foreign students
Guardian
09/01/2010
The Shadow Home Secretary Chris Grayling has announced the Conservatives' proposals to clampdown on foreign students' visas. Suggestions include requirements for some students to pay an annual £2,000 bond, a ban on foreign students switching courses, and a tightening of the colleges that are entitled to sponsor students.
Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006: the implications for employers in educational settings
Education and the Law (Vol 20, No 3)
23/12/2009
This article considers the practical employment implications of the new regime and the new obligations that the Vetting and Barring Scheme creates for both employers and employees.
The legal implications of student use of social networking sites in the UK and US: current concerns and lessons for the future
Education and the Law (Vol 20, No 3)
23/12/2009
This article examines the potential liability of university and college students for use (and misuse) of social networking sites. It also considers employers' use of social networking sites to investigate prospective employees.
EDUCATION - FURTHER EDUCATION
Colleges back nuclear revival
Guardian
12/01/2010
A government commitment to build new nuclear reactors has been welcomed by further education colleges offering nuclear industry-related qualifications.
Learning and Skills Council Chief Executive to Lead New Skills Agency
BIS
24/12/2009
Geoff Russell has been appointed as the first chief executive of the new Skills Funding Agency. The Agency will assist the Government in delivering its skills ambitions and will come into operation in April 2010.
Mandelson Launches New Online Basics Courses For Adults
BIS
11/01/2010
New IT courses have been launched. Online basics will be piloted in UK online centres in Barnsley, Oldham, Gloucester, Devon and London. Becta will evaluate the courses, and it is expected they will be rolled out across England in September 2010.
Scrap "wasteful" Train to Gain, says think tank
Times Educational Supplement
08/01/2010
A report by Policy Exchange recommends the Government should redirect some of the funding to employers who want to set up their own apprenticeship schemes.
EDUCATION - HIGHER EDUCATION
Fast-track degrees proposed to cut higher education costs
Guardian
22/12/2009
Lord Mandelson has ordered universities to devise two-year fast-track courses to cut the cost of higher education to students and the public purse.
The nightmare before Christmas: grant letter announces £135m cut
Times Higher Education
22/12/2009
Lord Mandelson has announced a £135 million cut to higher education funding to make up for “the higher than expected costs of student support during the economic downturn”. Research funding will be protected however. The grant letter also sets fines for universities that recruited more students than was permitted at £3,700 per person.
Hefce budget to be slashed by £915m over three years
Times Higher Education
31/12/2009
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has confirmed that the £135 million reduction announced on 22nd December 2009 will be on top of the £600 million cut to higher education and science funding announced in the pre-Budget report.
Outcomes of Hefce review of its policy as it relates to disabled students
Hefce
22/12/2009
This report reviews Hefce policy relating to disabled students, provides an overview of the sector's progress since Hefce guidance was published in 1999, and highlights areas for development. It also presents future policy and strategy with regard to Hefce support to the sector in meeting the entitlements of disabled students, and sets out good practice for institutions.
Universities tell Gordon Brown: cuts will bring us to our knees
Guardian
11/01/2010
Higher education leaders warn of severe pressures from the Government's spending cuts of up to £2.5bn. The Russell Group of 20 leading universities writing in the Guardian say: "It has taken more than 800 years to create one of the world's greatest education systems, and it looks like it will take just six months to bring it to its knees."
University funding row erupts
Guardian
12/01/2010
The suggestion from the Vice-Chancellor of Durham University that top institutions should get bigger slice of funding has sparked anger with other academic institutions.
University heads set up working group to tackle extremism
Guardian
06/01/2010
Universities UK have established a working group following the arrest of former student Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab who tried to blow up a plane. The group will examine what action can be taken to prevent radicalisation of students at universities whilst protecting academic freedom.
We have a compelling case for investment: it's time to make it
Times Higher Education
31/12/2009
Paul Wellings, Chairman of the 1994 Group and vice-chancellor of Lancaster University, argues that higher education institutions have a vital role to play in the UK's economic recovery and should demand more financial support from the Government.
EDUCATION - SCHOOLS
Assaults by youngest pupils 'rising'
BBC
31/12/2009
Assaults by children aged five or under led to 2,600 suspensions from schools in England in 2007-8.
Boarding schools celebrate end of Ofsted "swindle"
Times Educational Supplement
08/01/2010
Ofsted has reduced the annual fees that boarding schools pay for their three-yearly inspection, following pressure from schools. The fees historically covered legal advice, but this service has not been provided since April 2007. No reimbursements will be paid to compensate for previous years' overcharging.
Changes to the child visitor rules
UK Border Agency
23/12/2009
From 1st January 2010 students from countries outside the European Economic Area will be able to apply to enter the UK for up to six months on an exchange or educational visit to a state-maintained school, a non-maintained special school, an independent fee-paying school or an independent non fee-paying school. They will not require entry clearance, unless they are nationals of countries who require a visa to enter the UK. The provision replaces and supersedes a temporary concession that permitted such visits until December 31, 2009. Those who need to apply for entry clearance will need to satisfy certain conditions.
Considering pupils' views
DCSF
11/01/2010
Consultation on new regulations that set out the minimum set of matters on which governing bodies of maintained schools must invite and consider their pupils views. This relates to a new duty on maintained schools to invite and consider pupils' views on matters to be prescribed in regulations.
Ed Balls accused of wasting £1bn on red tape
Guardian
11/01/2010
The Children, Schools and Families bill has been heavily criticised and much of it has been called "bureaucratic" and "pointless" by parents, teachers, and academics. Now government statistics compiled by the Liberal Democrats show it will cost the public £1.1bn over a decade if it becomes law.
In election year, change looms large
Times Educational Supplement
08/01/2010
This article looks ahead and considers the potential forthcoming changes affecting teachers, schools, and public bodies in 2010.
Ofsted inspector had conviction for unacceptable teaching conduct
Times Educational Supplement
08/01/2010
It has emerged that an Ofsted inspector received a two-year reprimand from the General Teaching Council in 2008 for unacceptable professional conduct. Former head teacher Millicent Anne Sadler has been suspended pending an investigation. Ofsted has confirmed that a GTC reprimand would not automatically prevent someone from becoming an inspector.
Race rules that could brand top schools as failures
Daily Telegraph
02/01/2010
Schools that fail to promote race relations, gender equality and human rights, could be classed as inadequate under Ofsted rules that place equality on a par with factors such as exam results and child safety.
Schools to pay the price of prudence
Times
08/01/2010
The Government has warned schools that have amassed surplus cash that they must discuss handing back the money with their local authority or face being forced to pay it back under new legislation to be introduced in 2011. The warning follows the publication of a league table ranking schools according to their account balances for the first time.
Tories would give heads more power to fire weak teachers
Guardian
11/01/2010
Michael Gove, the Conservative shadow schools secretary, told the North of England Education Conference that he would change the regulations to allow heads and school inspectors to sit in on as many lessons as necessary to gather evidence on suspected underperforming teachers.
