This post contains links to this week’s education related news stories:
- More academy news… Schools will not be required to consult with parents or staff before converting to academies, according to this report… A list of schools who have expressed an interest in becoming an academy was published… New data has also questioned the success of England’s academies, who might be relying more heavily on GCSE equivalents… and this report questions if parents will actually have the time to run free schools.
- The major three classroom unions have warned that the proposed pay freeze for public sector workers could lead to mass industrial action by teachers.
- An article in the Guardian suggests that abolishing the General Teaching Council could put children at risk.
Image – Open Book
- The schools minister, Nick Gibb, says that children are leaving school without a sufficient knowledge of facts.
- It has been claimed that some Muslim parents are withdrawing children from music lessons for religious reasons.
- The BBC have collected some wonderful photographs of schools who have been supporting the World Cup through their lessons.
- In this Guardian report, a teacher describes how pupils appear to enjoy provoking teachers on a regular basis.
- Ed Balls, the shadow education secretary, has launched a ‘save free school meals campaign‘ to reverse the cancellation of plans to extend free meals to a further 500,000 pupils.
- The health secretary has told the BMA conference that ‘the Jamie Oliver approach will not work in tackling public health problems like obesity and smoking’.
Image - Link
- A national competition based around the Olympics is to be launched with the aim of ‘reviving’ competitive sport in England’s schools.
- The school starting age in Northern Ireland could raise to six years old, in line with most of Europe.
- The Education Minister in Northern Ireland has stated that the future for new school buildings is bleak, unless she gets extra money.
- The BBC’s School Report Sports Day event took place, allowing pupils to make up their own reports. Was your school involved?
- The Open University has reached 20 million downloads of educational material via iTunes – a new world record.
- A Google Teacher Academy will be taking place at the end of this month, offering 50 teachers and other educators the opportunity to share their ideas and discuss the use of Google technology in the classroom. Follow some of the teachers who will be attending by following this Twitter list.
