Education News
School will tell story of the playground pioneer
Published: 03 January 2006
At first glance the empty playground of what was once Queen Street School seems to stand as testament to little more than falling pupil rolls in the Lincolnshire market town of Barton-upon-Humber.
Minister admits student numbers may drop as £3,000 tuition fees bite
Published: 02 January 2006
The Higher Education minister has admitted there could be a dip in student numbers this year.
Queue for music lessons as school children emulate their guitar heroes
Published: 02 January 2006
The new generation of British rock bands has clearly made an impression on their young fans. Inspired by the success of such groups as the Arctic Monkeys and the Kaiser Chiefs, increasing numbers of teenage boys are now seeking to emulate their heroes by learning to play musical instruments.
Peasant poet's home to be made into rural education centre
Published: 02 January 2006
The country cottage in which John Clare, the "peasant poet", was born, lived and worked is to be turned, almost 150 years after his death, into an education centre devoted to the countryside he loved.
German history syllabus 'doesn't mention the war'
Published: 27 December 2005
The Cold War would replace the Second World War in secondary school classrooms under a syllabus published today on how to teach German history.
Children 'should learn religious tolerance in nursery schools'
Published: 26 December 2005
Children as young as three should be taught respect for other races and religions in a bid to combat a rise in anti-Semitism, says Britain's biggest teachers' union.
Prescott's home city backs Blair with new city academy
Published: 24 December 2005
John Prescott says he is not convinced a major reform of schools is necessary. But it would seem his local council, Hull, begs to differ. Early in the New Year it will be unveiling plans to set up one of Prime Minister Tony Blair's cherished academies as it battles to shed its former image of being the worst education authority in the country.
From maths to music, how schools fail pupils
Published: 22 December 2005
The Government's exams watchdog issues a damning indictment of how core national curriculum subjects are taught.
'Cooling off' units aid school discipline
Published: 19 December 2005
Hundreds of secondary schools will start using new "cooler" units in the new year in an attempt to crack down on discipline in the classroom.
Drugs epidemic in top public schools
Published: 18 December 2005
Why Eton has its own drug rehab programme
Published: 18 December 2005
Language teaching returns to schools
Published: 16 December 2005
Learning a foreign language will become compulsory again from September next year in England's schools after ministers admitted that given the option, too many pupils remain resolutely monolingual.
60 MPs sign up to alternative education plan
Published: 15 December 2005
Despite his fighting talk, Tony Blair is expected to back down over his plans for schools after a show of strength by potential Labour rebels
Government plans to introduce harder A-levels next year
Published: 15 December 2005
Tougher A-levels are to be introduced from next September as new evidence has emerged of high-flying youngsters with at least four grade-A passes being turned down for university places.
Headteachers' powers could be reduced by reforms, critics warn
Published: 14 December 2005
Tony Blair's planned education reforms could end up tightening the rules that determine how schools choose their pupils, instead of giving heads the promise of greater freedom.
Secondaries 'failing to help pupils catch up in maths and English'
Published: 14 December 2005
Teachers in the great majority of secondary schools are giving too low a priority to improving literacy and numeracy standards, say inspectors.
German ambassador criticises UK over failings at languages
Published: 13 December 2005
The outgoing German ambassador delivered a fiery parting shot on the state of language teaching in UK schools yesterday, saying "English is not enough" for tomorrow's youngsters.
Estelle Morris leads challenge to Blair on 'divisive' school policy
Published: 11 December 2005
Tony Blair's flagship education reforms will face a fresh assault this week from a coalition of former ministers and senior Blairite figures, including Estelle Morris, the former education secretary.
Payment by results works for teachers
Published: 09 December 2005
The smartest question for a parent to ask a teacher about their child's exam chances might well be: "What's in it for you?"
Students at Oxbridge have twice the chance of getting a first
Published: 04 December 2005
A first-class degree is still regarded as a mark of academic distinction. But new government figures show that the chance of gaining a first depends as much on the university you go to as it does on intelligence and diligence during studies.
Ten years on, school cuts ties with widow of murdered headteacher
Published: 03 December 2005
Frances Lawrence admits she is in two minds as she approaches the tenth anniversary of her husband's murder next Thursday.
Ignoring ministers is secret of a primary school's success
Published: 02 December 2005
The head of the school that ranked top of today's primary school league tables attributed her success to "ignoring" most of the Government's literacy and numeracy strategies
Kelly tears up reading policy and backs phonics approach
Published: 02 December 2005
Ruth Kelly, the Education Secretary, ripped up the Government's key policy for teaching reading in schools during the past seven years - and insisted on returning to a more "back to basics" approach.
'Back to basics' overhaul for reading lessons
Published: 01 December 2005
Ministers will announce plans today for a major overhaul of the way young children are taught to read.
MP quits ministry job in protest at school reforms
Published: 01 December 2005
Tony Blair faced the first resignation from his government since the general election when Martin Salter, a member of his education team, quit in protest over the handling of planned school reforms.
