EDUCATION
Funding cuts could cost UK £4.5 trillion in future growth, top economists warn
Times Educational Supplement
12/02/2010
The OECD has warned officials from the DCSF that cutting education spending due to the recession could cause the economy to lose out on trillions of pounds in the long term.
Working towards equality: A framework for action
Government Equalities Office
09/02/2010
A strategic framework explains why a fair and family-friendly labour market is necessary to boost economic growth, support families and reduce child poverty. It outlines an action plan to ensure women are offered equal opportunities and career structures which enable them to progress and to fulfil their potential. Actions include parental choice over maternity / paternity leave and pay; addressing gender stereotyping in education and career guidance through a new equality strategy for education; working with recruiters to help them recognise and address biases and prejudices; developing a new National Equality Benchmarking Framework against which organisations can assess themselves for legal compliance; and developing proposals to support service families through a Service Family Employment and Training Task Force.
EDUCATION - FURTHER EDUCATION
16-19 Capital statement
LSC
09/02/2010
The LSC has given approval to a further 5 capital projects - Milton Keynes College, Frome Community College, Tendring Technology College, Melton Mowbray School and St John the Baptist School.
Learning and Skills Council honours commitment to help colleges with financial problems
LSC
09/02/2010
The LSC has agreed to provide an extra £34 million to 41 colleges to ensure they do not face financial difficulties as a result of developing capital bids that have not proceeded. Due to the sensitive nature of the colleges' financial health, details of those receiving additional support will be confidential. The LSC says "The additional money we are now providing draws a line under the capital funding issue."
Colleges respond to Learning and Skills Council announcement on capital programme mismanagement
Association of Colleges
09/02/2010
The AoC has welcomed the funding to help colleges affected by the LSC capital funding crisis, but points out that £34million is less than 20% of the amount that colleges spent, with due diligence, on projects that were eventually shelved.
£200m held by Treasury amid compensation fight
Times Educational Supplement
12/02/2010
More than £200 million of funding for capital projects is being held back until the outcome of Grimsby Institute of Further and Higher Education's judicial review over the LSC capital funding crisis. The Government is waiting to hear if it will be forced to pay compensation to colleges which have had their capital projects cancelled.
Councils mull need to overrule colleges
Times Educational Supplement
12/02/2010
A new paper from the Local Government Association predicts potential clashes between local authorities and education providers as LAs seek the power of veto over colleges to review under-19 provision.
EDUCATION - HIGHER EDUCATION
A clear and present danger
Times Higher Education
11/02/2010
This article consider threats to academic freedom in the UK, Europe and America, with examples on whistle-blowing cases.
Case for change not made
Times Higher Education
11/02/2010
Opinion article by Charles Clarke, former Education Secretary, argues that universities have yet to convince politicians that a higher level of fees cap would make a difference.
First Secretary takes aim at retrenchment ‘hyperbole’
Times Higher Education
11/02/2010
Lord Mandelson speaking at a conference on the future of higher education, criticised vice-chancellors' attempts to ‘get a retaliation in first’ over university funding and hinted that the Budget will not deliver additional cuts to the sector.
'Golden triangle' to win funding riches
Times Higher Education
11/02/2010
Hefce has altered the funding formula to give a bigger weighting to "world-leading" research in the 2010-11 allocations. Half of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities, most of the 1994 Group of small research-intensive universities, and almost all the teaching-focused institutions in England are set to lose research funding in real terms as a result of a change to the funding formula.
How high? 'Reasonable number' would accept fees hike
Times Higher Education
11/02/2010
A survey of 37,000 students suggests that more than half of students would be willing to pay university fees of £5,000 and one in five would be prepared to go as high as £10,000. Unsurprisingly, poorer students would be less willing to pay more.
Money's tight, but we still have the scope to improve and innovate
Times Higher Education
11/02/2010
David Willetts, Shadow Secretary of State for Universities and Skills, explains how the Conservatives propose to improve higher education without breaking the bank.
'Mushrooming' branches may turn out to be poisonous
Times Higher Education
11/02/2010
Two recent reports on international branch campuses highlight the pitfalls of failure as resulting damage to academic reputations, financial losses and poor service to students.
New student number control for 2010-11
Hefce
10/02/2010
Hefce has published information on changes to the student number count for 2010-11 that aims to make it easier for institutions to monitor against their offers of places to prospective students for the coming academic year and to restrict the control to a smaller population, those fundable by Hefce.
Relief greets revised student visa regulations
Times Higher Education
11/02/2010
Changes to visa rules for overseas students will come as a relief to universities that had feared tougher restrictions.
Student complaint results will identify institutions
Times Higher Education
11/02/2010
The Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education has published its Pathway Report identifying the next stage of development for the OIA Scheme. It has decided to publish the outcomes of its adjudications, naming the universities involved. Universities fear publication will create league tables of grievances.
UK chases golden prospects as US donors retreat
Times Higher Education
15/02/2010
British universities are confident that their fundraising programmes will pay dividends even as giving to US higher education registers its biggest drop ever.
UUK chief raises spectre of Budget 'double whammy'
Times Higher Education
11/02/2010
The head of Universities UK has warned that the cuts to the higher education budget that have already been announced may not be taken into account by the 2010 Budget. In an interview with the Financial Times the Chancellor declined to deny reports that the Treasury is seeking real-term cuts of 17% in all departmental budgets except health, schools, police and overseas aid.
EDUCATION - SCHOOLS
Complaints against teachers soar by 800% as parents pitch in
Times Educational Supplement
12/02/2010
The number of complaints about teachers from members of the public to the General Teaching Council for England has risen by 800%, resulting in an 18% increase in annual membership fees for teachers to cover the cost of hearings.
Draft School Admissions (Co-ordination of Admission Arrangements) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2010
DCSF
11/02/2010
Consultation on an amendment to the School Admissions Co-ordination Regulations which will require all local authorities to include a statement on their common application form which signals to parents the importance of complying with a school's policies once their child has been admitted and that by signing the form or making the application the parent is confirming that they accept those policies. This relates to pupil and parent guarantees.
Ed Balls invites bids for new school chains
DCSF
10/02/2010
Following consultation the Government has launched the Accredited Schools system. The new accreditation process will select the organisations who will be eligible to partner or sponsor trust schools, federations and Academies.
How to make your school more eco-friendly
Guardian
12/02/2010
This article considers existing schemes that help schools reduce their carbon footprint through better management of buildings, energy, food and waste.
Ministers cave in to offer improved deal to agency staff
Times Educational Supplement
12/02/2010
Ministers at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills have made an important concession in new employment laws that means agency supply teachers who work regularly in the same school will be entitled to the same rates of pay as permanent employees.
Teachers complain of 'e-spying'
BBC
12/02/2010
Teaching unions are complaining that e-safety software, so called spyware, is increasingly being used to keep track of teachers.
