EDUCATION
Diploma teaching must improve
BBC
17/08/2009
Some of the teaching in the new 14-19 Diploma in England needs to be improved, according to an Ofsted report.
SEN pupils could get power of appeal
Times Educational Supplement
21/08/2009
Secondary pupils with special needs will be able to bring legal action independently of their parents.
EDUCATION - FURTHER EDUCATION
Capital hope for sixth forms
Times educational Supplement
21/08/2009
The DCSF has confirmed that sixth form colleges that missed out on Learning and Skills Council funds will be eligible for capital funding from the Building Schools for the Future programme.
EDUCATION - HIGHER EDUCATION
Code of practice: take the plaudits and the brickbats
Times Higher Education
20/08/2009
The UK Research Integrity Office will launch a code of practice for research next month, aimed at helping universities formulate institutional guidance.
Estates of disrepair: 11 institutions are not up to scratch, says Hefce
Times Higher Education
20/08/2009
According to the Higher Education Funding Council for England, there are 11 institutions with less than 40 per cent of their non-residential estate in good condition. The report "Performance in higher education estates" claims that four of those institutions have fallen short of this mark for six years, although Hefce has refused to name them.
'No benefit' from tuition fees
BBC
15/08/2009
Manchester University vice-chancellor Alan Gilbert claims that extra money from tuition fees has not greatly improved universities for students because institutions' income is not sufficient to deal with rising student numbers and research demands.
'Publish or perish' factor in spiralling retractions
Times Higher Education
20/08/2009
The rate at which scientific journal articles are being retracted has increased roughly tenfold over the past two decades. An increase in research fraud, improved detection and demands on editors to take action have been raised as possible factors in the change.
Shorter KTPs aim for 'quick wins' for all sides
Times Higher Education
20/08/2009
A shorter and, it is hoped, more palatable version of knowledge-transfer partnerships has been launched in a bid to get more businesses and academics involved.
Think-tank urges end to 'injustice' for part-timers
Times Higher Education
20/08/2009
Policy Exchange, which has links to the Conservative Party, has published plans for a new funding system that would see an extra £33 million spent on part-time students, providing another 60,000 with financial support.
Trade unions holding back sector, says leaked report
Times Higher Education
20/08/2009
University personnel directors believe trade unions and a conservative, fearful culture are holding universities back, according to a leaked document.
University sites 'fail disabled'
BBC
17/08/2009
Some UK universities are failing to provide accessible accommodation or facilities to disabled students, an investigation by the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign has found.
EDUCATION - SCHOOLS
Call for cheaper school uniforms
BBC
21/08/2009
The Local Government Association guidance recommends that schools should ensure they use at least two suppliers, but research shows almost a fifth of parents can only get uniforms from one supplier, or via the school itself. School governors - who have a statutory duty not to disadvantage children - can face action under competition law if they fail to ensure choice is available.
Consultation on School Finance (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2010
DCSF
19/08/2009
Consultation on the draft School Finance (England) Regulations which amend the School Finance (England) Regulations 2008 to enable the implementation of the Early Years Single Funding Formula from April 2010. Views are also sought on the publication of schemes of financial management and on the weightings for pupils undertaking diplomas at a different school from their main school.
Ministers want chunk of £2bn surplus
Times Educational Supplement
21/08/2009
The Government's plans to reduce schools' budget surpluses include using some of the money to fund non-education services for children.
Parent debt 'damaging education'
BBC
15/08/2009
The National Association of Head Teachers said growing non-payment of bills was leading to budget shortfalls, forcing schools to cut activities. Some schools say they have not ruled out legal action to reclaim the money.
Secondary school rebuilding stalls as councils struggle to find contractors
Times educational Supplement
21/08/2009
The Government's secondary school renewal programme looks likely to face further delays as the high costs of competition make construction firms wary of signing up to smaller local authorities' BSF schemes.
Tories plan league table review
BBC
16/08/2009
Conservative plans could see schools in England earn higher league table places by getting more students through 'harder' A-levels, such as maths and physics.
