BBC – Angela Harrison

“More than 150 top schools in England have applied to become academies.”(more)

The Guardian – Roger Brown

“A close study of major developed HE systems shows that market competition for students and research funds makes universities more efficient and responsive, and possibly more innovative. The downside is that unless strong countervailing measures are taken, too much competition reinforces the existing status hierarchy, reduces institutional diversity (as all seek to be “world-class, research-led” etc), diverts resources into prestige building and branding, damages wider participation, balkanises institutions and, paradoxically, threatens quality. Far from increasing the value society gains from its investment in higher education, excessive competition actually reduces it, with the US as the classic case.”(more)

The Guardian – Alan Thomas and Harriet Pattison

“From the home educators’ point of view, however, the conflating of welfare issues with education is a dangerous step. It not only threatens educational freedom but also places a presumption of guilt on loving families who must prove themselves innocent to suspicious officialdom. And, most insidious of all, if the law were changed, social workers and education professionals would presumably be expected to monitor the quality of education provided.”(more)

The Hindu – Aarti Dhar

“Even as the academic community in the country has reacted with a fair amount of scepticism and criticism to the concept of Innovation Universities, the United Kingdom has reportedly indicated its interest in the proposal and possible avenues for collaboration under the U.K. India Education and Research Initiatives (UKIERI).”(more)

The Guardian – Geoffrey Alderman

“At all these privately funded academies the bottom line is very clear: no students, no salaries. These institutions exist only because they offer services for which students – including British students – are willing to pay: typically small group teaching; state-of-the-art learning resources; career-focused programmes of study; enviable records of placing students in employment once they graduate. They offer all this while maintaining high academic standards – if they did not, their reputations with employers would quickly collapse.”(more)

Times Higher Education – John Morgan

“A worldwide trend of falling state investment and rising tuition fees will prompt intense competition in the “globally traded commodity” of higher education – and the sector must also prepare for the global advance of private providers.”(more)

The Guardian – Staff Writer

“The government’s flagship academies bill was rushed through parliament last night, though six Liberal Democrat MPs voted for an amendment calling for more consultation with parents.”(more)

BBC – Angela Harrison

“MPs are to vote on the Academies Bill, which paves the way for a radical overhaul of England’s school system. MPs are due to vote on the Academies Bill, which will allow all schools to opt out of local council control. Ministers say these independent state-funded schools will drive up standards by giving head teachers more control.”(more)

BBC – Sean Coughlan

“The UK’s first new private sector university college for more than 30 years is being announced by the universities minister. David Willetts will allow London-based BPP, which has 14 regional branches, to become a university college. The new college, which offers law and business degrees, wants to expand into health and teaching degrees.”(more)

Guardian – Rachel Williams

“Almost one in five girls who are sexually active at the age of 18 say they have been pregnant at least once, according to a major government study published today. The figures were even higher among those from the poorest families and those with the lowest educational achievements. Some 28% of all girls who are eligible for free school meals reported getting pregnant at least once, with 7% having done so twice or more.”(more)