Education

What, no new education bills?

The absence of any new education legislation in the Queen’s Speech was no bad thing. Michael Gove has introduced more than enough radical changes that need time and support to bed in Read more

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Youth unemployment: councils can save a generation

Local authorities can do a lot to encourage young people into education, training or employments, helping rescue them from a life of long-term worklessness. But Whitehall needs to recognise this role and invest the necessary funds. Read more

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Budget 2013: time to follow the rules

The real test of this week’s Budget will be whether George Osborne strengthens the management of the public finances. He must avoid ringfencing, while committing to surpluses that are measured comprehensively and linked to new fiscal rules Read more

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Should schools be profit-making?

There is no logical reason for having profit-making schools in the current education system in England. But perhaps school revenue could be linked to pupil attainment and any surpluses retained for investment Read more

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Class politics: the decline of Welsh schools

The Welsh government appears complacent as school performance continues to deteriorate. Ministers need to think radically and should start by introducing some competition into the education system Read more

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University funding: give the REF the red card

Determining university research funding through the Research Excellence Framework is expensive and bureaucratic. It’s time to consider a less complex and costly mechanism Read more

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Get with the programme, Gove

In an increasingly complex world, the education secretary needs to look less to the past and modernise his approach to schools Read more

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The pay increase that wasn’t

Figures released today from the ONS suggest that public sector earnings are rising faster than those in the private sector. In fact, the reverse is true and the numbers are a statistical quirk Read more

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GCSEs and the limits of Welsh devolution

Vested interests are likely to prevent Wales from following England’s lead in abolishing GCSEs. But, as a result, Welsh pupils could find it harder to gain employment or university places Read more

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Return of O levels: could grammars be next?

The abolition of GCSEs is long overdue and will help the UK to produce future leaders. But we need to go further and reintroduce an education system based on selection by ability Read more

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