Here are links to some of this week’s education-related news:
Schools:
- Plans to replace the Education Maintenance Allowance could lead to unintended discrimination, according to a government equalities assessment.
- Head teachers have voted overwhelmingly to stage a ballot on whether to strike over planned changes to their pensions.
- Head teachers will get more freedom to sack underperforming staff as part of a Government plan to improve classroom standards.
- “Minimal” funding for the Government’s flagship “teaching school” initiative will leave headteachers unable to take on the major tasks given to them by ministers, heads’ leaders have warned.
- Nearly four in ten schools are planning to reduce staff numbers over the next 12 months as headteachers struggle to balance their books, according to a survey of senior leaders.
- Children’s education is being ruined as they are turned into “statistical fodder” to hit Government targets, a head teachers’ leader warned.
- NUT General Secretary Christine Blower has told delegates it is vital they continue to protest against the government’s planned education spending cuts.
- More than half of parents do not think sex education should be taught to children in school from a young age, a survey suggests.
- Fear of strangers puts nearly half of London children off walking to school, a survey suggests.
Image – Warm feet = Happy feet
- As many as one-in-10 head teachers has been physically assaulted by a pupil’s parent or carer, a survey by the NAHT school leaders’ union suggests.
- Five academy schools in financial deficit received extra government funds last year, with one needing almost £5m.
- Another pupil is needed at a primary school that will lose a teacher if the magic number slips below 20.
Universities:
- The economies of university towns and cities could be badly hit by the move to raise student tuition fees as high as £9,000 from 2012, research finds.
- Tougher regulations are needed to keep rising numbers of private universities in order, according to research.
Other News:
- The UK is in the bottom half of an international league table of developed countries for “well-being” in childhood.
- Babies who cry excessively and have problems feeding and sleeping have a greater risk of serious behavioural problems later in life, say scientists.
- More boys than girls feel confident expressing their views in class and social situations, a survey of eight- to 16-year-olds in the UK has found.
- Teenage girls should be taught the benefits of abstinence to cut sexually-transmitted diseases and teenage pregnancies, MPs have been told.
- A generation of British children are turning their backs on sport and physical activity, a survey suggests.
Next week’s Teaching Events include:
- 23rd April to 8th May - Shakespeare’s Birthday Celebrations
- 2nd May to 8th May - RSPCA Week
- 13th May - Fruity Friday
