EDUCATION
157 Group: "inefficient" small school sixth forms must go
Times Educational Supplement
19/02/2010
The 157 Group claims cutting provision by small sixth forms would deliver better value for money and raise the quality of provision.
Tug of war looms over sixth-formers
Guardian
23/02/2010
From April local authorities will have to cope with any tension between providers of A-levels and other courses, as councils resume responsibility for 16-19 education following the abolition of the Learning and Skills Council. There are concerns that these changes may resurrect tension between schools and colleges over funding.
Update: education
Solicitors' Journal
16/02/2010
This article covers various development in education law. It discusses the Lamb Enquiry and special education needs, school admissions and the JFS case, parental involvement in schools, burden of proof in school exclusion cases, and two forthcoming High Court cases over complaints to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education.
EDUCATION - FURTHER EDUCATION
Colleges consider plan to sell and rent back campuses to survive cash crisis
Times Educational Supplement
19/02/2010
A conference has considered alternative funding methods for colleges to continue capital projects.
EDUCATION - HIGHER EDUCATION
A student's right to know
Times Higher Education
18/02/2010
An opinion article by the executive director of the 1994 Group suggests that institutions and sector agencies should be more open with data to enable students to make informed choices.
Active ageing and universities
Universities UK
17/02/2010
A Universities UK report looks at how UK universities might respond to growing demand for higher education courses from older learners.
Education and the economy
University Business
17/02/2010
The Head of Education at Barclays Commercial Bank discusses what he thinks 2010 will bring for the sector from a financial perspective.
'Frankensite' monsters loom as universities lose control of content
Times Higher Education
18/02/2010
Precedent, a digital-marketing consultancy, has warned universities that incoherent postings by scholars and departments could cause damage to the university's reputation.
Radical measures to bridge gap between supply and demand
Times Higher Education
18/02/2010
This article outlines radical proposals from David Green of the University of Worcester and Ruth Farwell of Bucks New University, to address the gulf between surging demand for higher education and the number of places available under government restrictions.
Raise your game
Times Higher Education
18/02/2010
This article offers 20 inexpensive ways to help universities improve their ranking in league tables.
Stress levels exceed safety parameters
Times Higher Education
18/02/2010
Research reveals that "the majority of health and safety standards for managing work-related stress are not being met" by the sector.
Students taking second degrees withdrawn from recruitment limits
Times Higher Education
17/02/2010
Hefce have announced that students who already hold a degree will not count towards Government-imposed recruitment limits from 2010-11, although universities cannot transfer their places to funded students.
Sustainable procurement
University Business (January 2010)
17/02/2010
Overview of the work of the Sustainable Procurement Centre of Excellence for Higher Education which has received funding for four years from Hefce.
They don't come for the food: Sector' s reputation is paramount
Times Higher Education
18/02/2010
The director of the Higher Education Policy Institute has warned that there is a growing perception internationally that standards are falling at British universities which could lead to a decline in vital income from overseas students.
Universities told to consider dope tests as student use of 'smart drugs' soars
Observer
21/02/2010
A professor of clinical neuropsychology at Cambridge University's psychiatry department says that universities must investigate measures, including random dope testing, to tackle the increasing use of cognitive enhancement drugs by students for exams.
V-c attacks "skewed" 1994 Group data
Times Higher Education
18/02/2010
Wendy Purcell, vice-chancellor of the University of Plymouth and an external adviser to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills' review of postgraduate provision, has accused the 1994 Group of presenting "skewed" data and "poor research" when making the case for greater concentration of PhD student funding.
EDUCATION - SCHOOLS
Academies U-turn gives green light to captains of industry to go it alone
Times Educational Supplement
19/02/2010
The DCSF's final guidance on the accreditation system for academies has removed the proposed requirement that sole lead sponsors must have educational experience.
Asbestos danger "in many schools"
BBC
22/02/2010
A snapshot survey by the Asbestos Training and Consultancy Association reveals that none of the 16 schools surveyed are complying with health and safety rules on managing asbestos.
Can you spot the "terrorist" in your classroom?
Times Educational Supplement
19/02/2010
The Government 's Preventing Violent Extremism strategy aims to stop individuals becoming terrorists or supporting violent extremists. It includes a toolkit to help teachers identify and work with children at risk. This article asks if this is a responsibility too far?
First accredited schools announced; system extended to primary schools
DCSF
23/02/2010
The Prime Minister and Ed Balls have announced the first wave of outstanding school leaders to gain the new Accredited Schools kite mark, enabling them to run chains of secondary schools through federations, trust schools and academies. In addition they announced that parents will be given a say in bringing in accredited schools, local authorities will have to consider bringing in an accredited provider if a school needs rapidly improving or the Government will instruct them to do so, and the accreditation scheme is being extended to primary schools.
Girls, you can take the skirts off
Times
21/02/2010
Guidance issued by the Equality and Human Rights Commission warns schools that requiring pupils to wear "gender-specific clothing" is potentially unlawful, as it may discriminate against transsexuals.
Sex education 'not watered down,' says Ed Balls
BBC
23/02/2010
Children's Secretary Ed Balls has denied plans for compulsory sex education in England's schools have been watered down by an amendment to the Children, Schools and Families Bill that gives faith schools more freedom to tailor teaching to their own beliefs.
Tories would allow teachers to tell heads, "You're fired"
Times Educational Supplement
19/02/2010
If the Conservatives win the general election the proposals in their co-operative worker plan would give teachers new powers to run their school, decide on the management structure, and fire the headteacher if necessary.
