Education and schools work update

Some links from the world of education and schools work (also posted at schoolswork.co.uk – a great network and resource for those doing shcools work, go check it out):

• Bursaries leave poorer students out of pocket: Poorer students will have to find £384 to cover grant shortfall – yet universities must only subsidise £329
• Interference from Balls ‘contributed to Sats fiasco’: Ed Balls’ department micromanaged the system and prevented the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) from reforming the tests.
• Lib Dems drop student fees pledge: Nick Clegg came under pressure from one of his own frontbenchers for refusing to stand by his party’s commitment to abolish university tuition fees.
• Keep the faith: Should Muslim children receive sex education?: The Independent reports on a “A group run by a member of a radical Islamic organisation is opposing plans to give five-year-olds sex education.”
• Education spending to be cut by £100m despite Gordon Brown’s pledge: Cuts for first time in more than two decades despite repeated pledges by Gordon Brown to safeguard spending.
• Primary teachers should have A-level maths and English, say thinktank: Primary teachers in England are among the worst qualified in Europe and should only be allowed to teach if they have passed A-levels in maths and English, said Politeia, a right-of-centre thinktank.
• India makes education compulsory and free under landmark law: India is to provide universal free and compulsory education for all children aged between six and 14.
• School closures urged to prevent spread of swine flu: Closing schools for long periods could reduce the spread of swine flu, ease its burden on hospitals and potentially limit the number of deaths it causes argue two leading experts.
• Writers should comply with schools vetting, says children’s laureate: The new children’s laureate Anthony Browne has attempted to calm the storm that has blown up among children’s authors over the ISA registration which requires them to be vetted before visiting schools.
• Eleven million names on school vetting database: Parents who help out on school trips or accept foreign exchange students into their homes will have to register on a government database in order to prove they are not a danger to children.
• Glorious mud: How pupils are building a greener future: Alphington primary school, in Exeter, has a new classroom. It’s hexagonal, with round, glass windows, and the pupils are very proud of it – not surprising, as they built it themselves