REFORMS
Unpopular education bill scrapped, but grammars remain on the agenda Justine Greening: ‘rightly reflected on our strategic priorities’
Simon Davis/DFID
The controversial education bill unveiled in this year’s Queen’s speech has been dropped, but grammar school proposals remain on the agenda. The education bill has already had its most controversial clause removed – forcing all state schools in England to become academies by 2020. But Justine Greening wrote of her intentions to scrap the bill in a written statement to parliament on the unrelated technical and further education bill. “We have rightly reflected on our strategic priorities and the proposals for education legislation put forward at the time of the Queen’s speech [in May],” Greening said in the statement. “My department has renewed its focus on ensuring everything we do drives towards improving social mobility
with an emphasis on not just the most disadvantaged families but also on those that are just about managing. “Our ambition remains that all schools should benefit from the freedom and autonomy that academy status brings. Our focus, however, is on building capacity in the system and encouraging schools to convert voluntarily. “No changes to legislation are required for these purposes and therefore we do not require wider education legislation in this
PUPIL WELL-BEING
Calls for earlier sex education for pupils Shadow Women and Equalities Minister Sarah Champion has launched her Dare2Care report, which calls for earlier sex education for pupils as part of a range of measures to tackle child abuse and violence in teenage relationships. Dare2Care argues that the current statutory guidance for sex and relationship education to
begin at key stage 3 is too late and more needs to be done provide age appropriate education before children are exposed to it online. In addition to earlier sex education, the report also calls for a public health campaign about spotting the signs of abuse and training on abuse for all frontline professionals working with children.
session to make progress on our ambitious education agenda.” Greening’s Schools that Work for Everyone consultation is running until 12 December and is expected to be followed by a white paper setting out proposals for extending grammar schools. “The Schools that Work for Everyone consultation, which I announced in an oral statement to the house on 12 September, remains ongoing,” Greening said. “This consultation asks how we can create more great school places in more parts of the country – including selective places for local areas that want them – and asks our independent schools, universities and faith schools to play their part in improving the quality of our state-funded schools.” READ MORE: tinyurl.com/gv3keng
The Sixth Form Colleges Association’s annual survey suggests two-thirds of colleges have had to drop courses due to funding cuts. The Association sent its annual questionnaire to all 90 sixth form colleges in England in September, and 80 responded. The findings indicate that
over half (58 per cent) have also reduced or removed extra-curricular activities such as music, drama and sport. Over a third of colleges (39 per cent) have dropped courses in modern foreign languages, with A-levels in German, French and Italian being the main casualties.
Teachers’ pay could be devolved in Wales Control over teachers’ pay and conditions could be devolved in Wales, Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns has announced. The measures will reportedly be included as part of planed changes to the Wales Bill put forward by First Minister Carwyn Jones. The Bill, which is currently being debated in the House of Lords, contains a several significant changes to the way power is shared between Wales and Westminster. Cairns said: “Education is a devolved matter, and it makes sense for the assembly and Welsh ministers to decide the pay and conditions of teachers’ in Wales.” However, both the NASUWT union and NUT Cymru have voiced concerns that the changes could lead to teachers in Wales being paid less than those across the border. READ MORE: tinyurl.com/zcuc9gq
SCHOOL TRIPS
Thorpe Park launches STEM workshops for schools
FINANCE
Colleges drop courses due to funding pressures, survey finds
FINANCE
Education Briefer
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR EDUCATION – www.educationbusinessuk.net
Thorpe Park’s educational team has launched three interactive STEM workshops for students. The curriculum linked workshops provide an opportunity for students to utilise unique technological learning tools in a range of STEM and Business subjects, alongside the rides and mazes Thorpe Park is known for. Schools can choose from a
computing workshop at KS3 or KS4, which enables students to see how digital images can be manipulated for effect, as well as design and technology workshops for KS3 or KS4 which explore the scaling up of ideas. What’s more, a psychology workshop is available for KS5 students, which explores compliance theory and its effect on society. Additionally, Thorpe Park Resort has partnered with the British Science Association (BSA) for 2017. There will be BSA endorsed events at Thorpe Park Resort on 24-30 March and the summer term, and STEM themed events at other Merlin Attractions, as well as resources aligned to the CREST Awards. READ MORE: tinyurl.com/zvxczgs
Volume 21.10 | EDUCATION BUSINESS MAGAZINE
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