EDUCATION - FURTHER EDUCATION
Briefing for MPs and Peers on funding cuts
AOC
19/03/2010
AoC has produced a briefing for MPs and Peers on cuts to Further Education funding.
Conservatives want to return to traditional A-level
Guardian
24/03/2010
The Conservatives unveiled plans for a radical shake-up of A-levels that will involve a return to traditional exams taken at the end of two years of study.
English language schools plan legal challenge on tightening of visa rules
Guardian
16/03/2010
English language schools are planning a legal challenge against the Home Office over fears that the UK will lose thousands of jobs and £400m in income through tighter visa regulations this year. English UK, the body that represents most language schools, says it will seek a judicial review of home secretary Alan Johnson's decision to prevent students with only beginner's English from entering Britain for English language courses.
School opportunities expand colleges' horizons
TES FE Focus
19/03/2010
Barnfield is leading a wave of FE providers looking to improve local secondaries
Trust issues: private colleges mull legal response to UKBA accreditation
THES
25/03/2010
A group representing private colleges has threatened legal action against immigration authorities over attempts to stop economic migrants exploiting the student-visa system. From 6 April, only colleges deemed "highly trusted" may recruit foreign students to "level-three" and sub-degree courses that include work placements.
Viability in doubt for 100 vulnerable colleges
TES FE Focus
19/03/2010
KPMG says colleges face funding cuts of 20%
EDUCATION - HIGHER EDUCATION
20 institutions face fines for overshooting cap on student numbers
THES
18/03/2010
Hefce warns that reduction in grant income could become permanent.
Big boost for creative and cultural sectors with new state-of-the-art training
M2 PRESSWIRE
17/03/2010
Funding has been confirmed for a £13 million skills academy that will train thousands of people for the theatre industry and provide hundreds of jobs, Thames Gateway Minister Shahid Malik announced today. The state-of-the-art National Skills Academy for Creative & Cultural Skills will be set within the Royal Opera House Production Park in Thurrock and will deliver industry-led training and apprenticeships for the creative sector.
British universities cool to India campus plans
Indian News
17/03/2010
Buffeted by major funding cuts, major British universities have noted the Indian Cabinet's approval this week of a bill allowing foreign universities to set up campuses in India, but have no immediate plans to do so. The Indian government led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh approved Foreign Educational Institution (Regulation of Entry and Operation) Bill, 2010, that is expected to raise the quality and quantity of higher education to meet India's growing demands for skilled manpower.
Budget 2010: An extra £270m to give another 20,000 students a university place
Times
25/03/2010
An extra 20,000 university places will be available in England this September on science, maths, engineering and technology degree courses, the chancellor Alistair Darling announced in the budget.
Budget 2010: Fund for academic enterprise revived in new guise
FT
25/03/2010
Chancellor announces a £35m university enterprise capital fund to support innovation and help start-up companies set up by new graduates to get going.
Budget windfall for STEM places and spin-offs
THES
25/03/2010
Chancellor promises £305 million for ‘key subjects’ and commercial initiatives.
HEFCE announces funding of £7.3 billion for universities and colleges in England
HEFCE
18/03/2010
HEFCE will distribute £7,356 million to 130 universities and higher education colleges, and 123 directly funded further education colleges, for the academic year 2010-11
Pupils should take US-style tests for university entrance’
Times
24/03/2010
Pupils should sit American-style university admissions tests to help tutors to discriminate between candidates, according to a review of examinations commissioned by the Tories.
Students call for fairer hearings
THES
25/03/2010
Universities are being urged to resolve student complaints within three months as part of a new charter on their procedures.
Universities in Wales face money 'challenge'
BBC News
24/03/2010
Universities in Wales are facing a "tight" year financially, with a funding drop of almost 2% announced. Eleven universities will see teaching budgets cut, with unions fearful of less teaching time with students.
Universities need to pay their senior staff well
Guardian
23/03/2010
Universities need to be able to attract the best senior staff, and this means paying them well – otherwise the country will suffer, says Malcolm McVicar
University budgets to be slashed by up to 14%
Guardian
18/03/2010
Budget cuts trigger warnings of larger class sizes, further job losses and deterioration in quality of courses
University building projects to be mothballed as funding is slashed
Building
18/03/2010
Three-quarters of England’s universities are facing severe budget cuts after the university funding body slashed funding. Hefce, which handles university funding in England for the government, has told institutions how much they will receive next year from a fund of £7.3bn - £449m less than the sector had been expecting.
UUK report considers the growth of private higher education
UUK
18/03/2010
A report published today by Universities UK looks at the growing force of private and for-profit providers, and their role in delivering higher education in the UK. It considers key issues such as quality assurance, regulation and funding, as well as the opportunities for collaboration and partnership with publicly-funded institutions.
EDUCATION - SCHOOLS
Heads should be able to fire BNP teachers, says David Cameron
Guardian
18/03/2010
The Conservatives would take steps to prevent British National party members becoming teachers, David Cameron said last night
Ministers urged to make it easier for sponsors to sack weak academy staff
TES
19/03/2010
Think tank, Policy Exchange, states that legal obstacles should be removed so that underperforming teachers can be fired
