News Sources - EdCentral - Results from #380

Governor oversight of food standards ‘risks being counterproductive’

Making a lead governor oversee the implementation of new school food standards “feels haphazard” and “risks being counterproductive”, ministers have been warned.

College free meals rate lifted after backlash

College students will receive the same per-learner funding for their free meals entitlement as school pupils following backlash from further education leaders.

New enrichment benchmarks: What colleges need to know

Schools and colleges will be expected to provide broad and varied enrichment activities, celebrate participation and achievement and work with external partners where necessary as part of the new enrichment framework.

Farage: I’ll appoint political enforcers to stop colleges promoting diversity

A Reform UK government would ban schools and colleges from engaging in diversity, equality and inclusion initiatives and appoint Whitehall enforcers to ensure compliance, the party has said.

Apprenticeship subcontracting review launched by DWP

A “full review” of apprenticeship subcontracting rules and policy is set to run over the coming months, the government has said.

PeopleCert pursues former City & Guilds chiefs for £3m ‘unauthorised’ bonuses

PeopleCert is seeking to recover almost £3 million in bonuses paid to former City & Guilds chief executive Kirstie Donnelly and finance chief Abid Ismail after an internal investigation concluded the payments were “unauthorised”.

Prime Minister announces social media ban for under-16s

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced a social media ban for children aged under 16 which is expected to come into force next spring.

Sheffield Hallam drops plan to employ staff via subsidiary firm

University to keep employing academics directly after predictions that contribution rates to Teachers’ Pension Scheme will come down.

Specialist master’s ‘main victims’ of course-cutting spree

More than 300 social sciences programmes lost in past year, figures show, as critics bemoan decisions made on enrolment numbers alone.

‘Brain architects, not babysitters’: Norland aims for university title

Amid concern over graduate outcomes and the declining value of a degree, one UK higher education provider that boasts a practically perfect employability record is setting its sights on official recognition – and disproving those who might question whether its students need to...

Understanding where global higher education is heading means understanding China’s next moves

Glen Noble gets across what the Chinese government’s recent five-year plan means for international scientific collaboration and UK universities.

Welsh government says it has found £55m to boost childcare for two-year-olds

The Welsh government says it will spend an extra £55m this year to roll out childcare to more two-year-olds.

Thousands of children at risk in ‘dirty and dangerous’ illegal schools

There are warnings that thousands of children are being hidden away in suspected illegal or unregistered schools across England, labelled "breeding grounds for extremism", and receiving a substandard education.

Teens react to Starmer’s UK social media ban for under-16s: the ‘right thing’ but ‘unlikely to make much difference’

Young people have said banning under-16s from social media is “the right thing to do” but have shared worries about how effective the new laws will be.

Sheffield Hallam University strike called off after deal reached

A strike by staff at Sheffield Hallam University (SHU) has been called off after plans to move workers to a less generous pension scheme were scrapped.

University of Cambridge accused of tolerating misogyny and bullying in tribunal

The University of Cambridge’s prestigious Institute of Astronomy has been accused of tolerating misogyny and a “cycle of bullying” in an employment tribunal.

Scottish private school co-founded by Tilda Swinton to close

A private school in Moray co-founded by Oscar-winning actress Tilda Swinton is to close amid financial pressures, it has been announced.

Starmer announces social media ban for under-16s as part of sweeping reforms

Social media ban for under-16s ‘watershed moment for child protection’ | The Standard Britain announces sweeping social media ban for under-16s | Reuters 'More clarity' needed over social media ban, says children's minister | STV

Labour MPs urge Starmer to set targets to boost number of male teachers in England

Government ministers have been urged to set targets to boost the number of male teachers in England, as backbench MPs seek to capitalise on turbulence in the Labour party to influence government policy.

A major new national programme designed to help young people furthest from the labour market launches today in Blackpool.