Letter: Robust diplomas
The Sutton Trust’s survey indicates that only a quarter of teachers think the new diploma is an appropriate qualification for academically able children and only a fifth believe it is suitable for those who aspire to go on to university (Report, 26 January). But it is vital to recognise that this survey is based simply [...]
Letter: Robust diplomas
The Sutton Trust’s survey indicates that only a quarter of teachers think the new diploma is an appropriate qualification for academically able children and only a fifth believe it is suitable for those who aspire to go on to university (Report, 26 January). But it is vital to recognise that this survey is based simply [...]
Balls pushes ahead with academies
The Schools Secretary Ed Balls says he will resist calls to slow the pace of academy programme.
The flagship reform received a blow this week, as a Carlisle school became the second academy to be judged as failing by inspectors.
Mr Balls said it was only to be expected that there would be “variance in performance” [...]
A-levels may need ‘recalibrating’, says new watchdog chief
The head of the government’s new exams regulator, Ofqual, has signalled that A-levels may have to be “recalibrated” to make it harder to get top grades.
Every year there is a heated debate about whether teenagers are more intelligent, or whether the exams are easier than in the past. Isabel Nisbet, Ofqual’s acting chief executive, said [...]
A-levels may need ‘recalibrating’, says new watchdog chief
The head of the government’s new exams regulator, Ofqual, has signalled that A-levels may have to be “recalibrated” to make it harder to get top grades.
Every year there is a heated debate about whether teenagers are more intelligent, or whether the exams are easier than in the past. Isabel Nisbet, Ofqual’s acting chief executive, said [...]
Response: We are giving people high-quality, sought-after qualifications
I take issue with Libby Brooks, who says that apprenticeships “struggle for credibility in the eyes of young people as well as employers” (Generation Crunch need more than just McJobs, 16 January). Apprenticeships are transforming the lives of ordinary men and women: they are the route from low qualifications and no career to high skills [...]
Practice: How a local council’s apprentice scheme is bucking the recession
James Murray, a perky teenager from Merseyside, acquired college catering qualifications as a commis chef after leaving school, but then couldn’t find a job. And with the recession looming last autumn, his chances looked bleak as he was caught in a disheartening cycle of unemployment. “I couldn’t get work experience as no one would give [...]
Safety head burns hands to rekindle chemistry experiments
Health and Safety Executive chair undergoes baptism of fire in the name of better school science
Anthea Lipsett
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 28 January 2009 10.27 GMT
Article history
There are less extreme ways to spark teenagers’ interest in science but the setting alight of Judith Hackitt proved a hit with bored-looking pupils in a hot science lab in a southeast [...]
College re-building to push ahead
The government is set to appoint a troubleshooter to help tackle delays with its re-building plans for schools and colleges in England.
Sir Andrew Foster is expected to start work on a £5bn programme to renovate colleges and sixth-form premises.
Decisions on 20 colleges have been postponed until March by the funding body, the Learning and Skills [...]
College faces fraud claims
A Manchester institution stands accused of altering registers to claim extra funding, reports Andrew Mourant
Andrew Mourant
The Guardian, Tuesday 27 January 2009
Article history
Allegations that one of the country’s largest colleges falsified records to claim extra funding, and then destroyed vital documents, should make the government think twice about granting further education greater freedom to run its [...]
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