Archive for the ‘Politics’ Category

Admissions Conference 2011 – Equality Act technical issues

Posted on March 29th, 2011 by Melanie Strickland, under Child Health, News, Politics, Special Educational Needs (SEN)

This year’s admissions conference included much technical content (registrars and admissions staff have a lot to deal with – from complying with the professional Code of Practice for Schools, to the ever changing Tier 4 regime, to the Equality Act…

More Tier 4 confusion for schools

Posted on March 23rd, 2011 by Matthew Burgess, under News, Politics

Yesterday’s set of announcements by the Home Secretary and UKBA has generated considerable uncertainty and confusion for schools this morning.  The consultation run by UKBA was focused on the Adult Student Visa route and sponsors of Adult Students.  There were no proposals…

Students may fund school provision in university access u-turn

Posted on March 8th, 2011 by Kristen DiLemmo, under News, Politics, universities

This morning, Offa released guidance on university access that marked a sharp departure from their earlier observations on the subject. While Sir Martin Harris previously declared that universities treated applicants from both the maintained and independent…

UKBA finally releases consultation on Tier 4

Posted on December 7th, 2010 by Matthew Burgess, under News, Politics, Private Schools

UKBA released its consultation on Tier 4 at midday today. Schools have been extremely concerned by the growing rhetoric that all student migration – including overseas pupils – will be dramatically reduced. Only yesterday, the Telegraph was reporting…

Coalition Caps

Posted on November 24th, 2010 by Matthew Burgess, under News, Politics

This month has provided much fodder for immigration observers. Two major speeches by the Home Secretary; the release of a Home Affairs Select Committee Report; the much-awaited report from the Migration Advisory Committee. The question schools ask me is: what…

“How to prevent poor children becoming poor adults” (Frank Field)

Posted on November 8th, 2010 by Manuela Winkelmann, under News, Politics

Frank Field, the Government’s poverty tsar, is to call for schools to teach parenting as a theme within existing subjects such as science to help children understand why good parenting is important and what makes parenting good. He is quoted…

What education policies are needed to combat poverty?

Posted on October 22nd, 2010 by Manuela Winkelmann, under News, Politics

The Field Review on Poverty and Life Chances  which is currently gathering evidence has prompted Policy Exchange, a conservative think tank to follow in IFS’ footsteps and organise a seminar to review the evidence base and discuss…

A case for vouchers (but by any other name)

Posted on October 12th, 2010 by Kristen DiLemmo, under News, Politics

The release of Lord Browne’s higher education review coincided with another proposal that garnered considerably less attention – for the moment, at least. Paul Collier, who spoke at Policy Exchange last night, is no stranger to having his…

J.R. Brewing

Posted on October 8th, 2010 by Matthew Burgess, under News, Politics, Private Schools and Charitable Status

Yesterday, the High Court granted permission for ISC to pursue our judicial review of the Charity Commission’s public benefit guidance.  Whilst this is excellent news, one might wonder why we needed to go to the effort (not to mention expense) of…

Some thoughts on IFS’ workshop on child poverty and children’s life chances

Posted on September 9th, 2010 by Manuela Winkelmann, under News, Politics

This week’s IFS workshop brought together a wide range of speakers from Frank Field, MP and “poverty tsar”, to researchers from a number of charities who address child poverty and social scientists and psychologists, to Peter Saunders, who is perhaps…