EDUCATION - FURTHER EDUCATION
Headteachers and college leaders unions to merge
The Guardian
18/02/2008
Two unions representing school and college leaders are to merge to fit with government changes to 14 to 19 education. The National Association of Headteachers (NAHT) will merge with the Principals Professional Council (PPC) which is leaving the Association of Colleges it has been part of for the past 10 years.
New AoC President elected
AoC Press Release
12/02/2008
Dr David Collins, Principal of South Cheshire College, has been elected as the inaugural President of the Association of Colleges.
New further education improvement body appoints Chair and CEO
DIUS Press Release
12/02/2008
The new sector-owned improvement organisation for the Further Education and Skills sector has announced its first appointments. In November 2007 John Denham announced that a new organisation would be formed from 01/04/2008 to take over the work of the Centre for Excellence in Leadership (CEL) and the Quality Improvement Agency (QIA). Dame Ruth Silver DBE, Principal of Lewisham College, is appointed Chair and Ioan Morgan, CBE, Principal of Warwickshire College, is appointed Chief Executive Officer.
Underperformance and the LSC statutory intervention policy
DIUS FE and Skills e-Newsletter
12/02/2008
On 30/01/2008 the LSC published its proposed Statutory Intervention Policy for consultation. The policy sets out the proposed actions and processes it will take, if it seeks to use the powers of intervention conferred to it under the Further Education and Training Act 2007. The consultation period ends on 02/05/2008.
EDUCATION - HIGHER EDUCATION
Degree powers come with risks, QAA head tells private firms
Times Higher Education
14/02/2008
The 2005 Higher Education Act allows private bodies to apply for their own degree-awarding powers. Peter Williams, chief executive of the QAA cautioned against the view that it was a "licence to print money" across the world.
More top English students opt for American universities
The Times
17/02/2008
Pupils opt for top American universities over Oxford and Cambridge.
National executive stress
The Guardian
19/02/2008
Plans to restructure the University and College Union have been overturned in a meeting lobbied by its own staff.
Oxford and Cambridge fail to improve state school intake
The Guardian
18/02/2008
Oxford and Cambridge universities are to overhaul their undergraduate recruitment strategies in recognition that they have failed to significantly increase the number of applicants from state schools.
Policy watch - ELQ funding cuts - Disabled students exempted
Times Higher Education
14/02/2008
Disabled students are to be made exempt from cuts to public funding for "second chance" students.
Policy watch - investment for spin-offs - £2m available from collaboration
Times Higher Education
14/02/2008
University spin-off companies are to benefit from a new co-investment programme aimed at innovative firms and entrepreneurs.
Research intelligence - Nerc goes to work on £1bn climate change partnership - Research council aims to integrate science and policy in flagship programme
Times Higher Education
14/02/2008
Unprecedented opportunities in climate and environmental change research spanning the academic disciplines are up for grabs, according to the Natural Environment Research Council.
Rise in overseas university applicants
The Guardian
14/02/2008
Growing numbers of international students have applied to UK universities this year, according to the latest figures from the university admissions service, Ucas.
Tax threat to third stream activities - Industry alarm as revenue officials look at sector's business venture income
Times Higher Education
14/02/2008
Universities could be forced to pay tax on the profit they make from research collaborations with businesses under proposals from government tax officials.
The 'global market' bubble - Participants in the international higher education race should beware a sub-prime-style crash, cautions Philip Altbach
Times Higher Education
14/02/2008
Now is the time to examine which actions are sustainable, which policies will serve the interests of students and the academy, and which actions constitute mistaken policy or greed.
The university admissions process is still deeply flawed
The Guardian
13/02/2008
Following public and political concern the Schwartz review of admissions to higher education was established in 2003 to "reinforce public confidence in the fairness and transparency of admissions arrangements". The signs from this year's admissions cycle are not encouraging that it has made any difference at all.
Tuition fees favour the rich - new study
The Guardian
14/02/2008
Children from poor families say fear of debt deterred them from university.
UK universities 'should focus on Europe'
The Guardian
12/02/2008
Universities eager to be a part of the globalised higher education market should look closer to home than India and China.
Universities bank on fees hike as debts rise
The Guardian
19/02/2008
Some universities' spending plans are banking on the government raising the £3,145 cap on tuition fees when it reviews the system in 2009. Millions of pounds have been borrowed to meet the demand for new buildings and better facilities from students now that they pay fees.
Who will weather the financial storm?
The Guardian
19/02/2008
Many universities are already in debt, and analysts say a drop in student numbers could make things worse.
EDUCATION - SCHOOLS
Allocation, Allocation
The Guardian
19/02/2008
Oversubscribed schools are turning to lotteries to decide who gets in. But are they fair?
Anger over pupils database plan
BBC Education News
13/02/2008
The government is being urged to scrap a database of all pupils' school records amid data security fears.
A quiet education revolution
The Guardian
18/02/2008
In dismissing the success of academies as the product of unfair admissions or too much money, Fiona Millar couldn't be more wrong. Together with specialist and trust schools, academies are blending innovative school leadership with radical new approaches to the curriculum and school timetable. They are using performance data to ensure that every pupil can fulfil their potential. And they are creating disciplined environments where pupils take greater responsibility for their schools.
Parents given right to check on paedophile convictions
The Times
18/02/2008
Parents are to be given the right to seek information from police on whether people with regular unsupervised access to children have child sex convictions.
Pupils promised 'quality culture'
BBC Education News
13/02/2008
There are to be £25m pilot schemes in 10 areas - with local authorities invited to take part - involving visits to top theatre shows, galleries and museums.
Watchdog probes 'soft A-levels
BBC Education News
12/02/2008
The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority is looking at whether some GCSEs and A-levels are easier than others.
