Education Media - EdCentral - Results from #380

FE falls as bootcamps boom in priority skills pipeline

Mainstream further education courses linked to the government’s priority industrial strategy sectors have declined while higher education, apprenticeships and skills bootcamps all grew.

Why oblique approaches to school improvement work

What if the secret to raising outcomes in schools was not trying to raise outcomes. John Smith argues that what we need instead is an indirect and iterative approach to educating our children.

Council launches potty training guidance for children as young as six months

A local authority has launched new potty training guidance aimed at families with babies as young as six months old in a bid to reduce numbers of children starting school in nappies.

Families protest closure of charity-run Islington nursery

Families have gathered outside Islington Town Hall to protest against the planned closure of a nursery based in a children’s centre in the borough.

WhatsApp messages reveal Mandelson’s Oxford chancellor PR push

Former peer attempted to mobilise Labour alumni to vote him into prestigious position, saying online voting offered chance to beat Tories.

Liverpool first winner for devolved mayoral research funding

Support for two major science projects is hailed by city’s mayor as an important turning point in UK science policy.

Two-thirds of English public doubt value of university degrees

People increasingly sceptical of higher education’s benefits, according to social attitudes poll, while majority back limits on international students.

Universities file for judicial review over weekend student loans

Institutions ask for review of decision to revoke loans and of classification of weekend courses as distance learning.

Increase value of master’s loans, urges Russell Group

Funding and affordability significant barriers for UK students hoping to progress to postgraduate study, says report.

Changing public attitudes to higher education

The latest British Social Attitudes survey release tracks a disquieting change in the public's perception of higher education. David Kernohan has the numbers.

The new UKVI student sponsor regime goes live

The Home Office’s new system for monitoring visa compliance has come into effect. Michael Salmon walks us through the stricter process and speculates on the fallout.

New UKVI compliance metrics for universities take effect today

Highly anticipated and controversial new compliance requirements for UK universities come into force today, with immigration specialists warning the measures could have "potentially devastating consequences" for institutions that fail to meet increasingly stringent benchmarks.

Heads warn of ‘unsafe’ role of school staff in medical care

Headteachers’ leaders call for an ‘escalation route’ when a school decides a pupil’s needs cannot be safely met by education staff alone.

DfE unable to show whether £270m Multiply programme improved maths

An evaluation of Rishi Sunak’s £270 million Multiply programme found it successfully engaged thousands of adults who were anxious about maths – but was unable to determine whether their numeracy skills improved.

University finally regains teacher training accreditation

Greenwich-accredited courses to resume in September after DfE backtracks on decisions made in ‘market review’.

UCU in ‘difficult position’ over 2 per cent pay offer response

Members at union’s congress debate whether to hold another national ballot despite failure to reach threshold last year.

Aberdeen could cut 111 jobs as it seeks £10 million in savings

‘Decisive action’ is needed to address structural deficit despite recent cost-saving measures, says principal.

‘Indefinite’ strike called at Goldsmiths after marking pay docked

Union tells staff to walk out after academics taking part in boycott told they will lose full pay.

Academics ‘need clarity’ on navigating disagreements

Open University scholars call for more self-governance on free speech issues, warning conflicts often ‘improperly’ dealt with.

In a competitive, ranking-dominated world, can the UK sector centre quality in international education?

Wonkhe and IDP Education are exploring what the HE sector needs to do now to secure the success of the government’s International Education Strategy. Rachel MacSween and Debbie McVitty parse out the question of "quality".