Free speech and enlightenment values are under attack in our universities. In the worthy name of defending the weak and marginalised, many student activists are now adopting the unworthy tactic of seeking to close down open debate. They want to censor people they disagree with. I am their latest victim. This is not quite the Star Chamber, but it is …
What small universities lack in sheer size of their student body, they certainly make up for in the pride and passion of their students. After the Times Higher Education announced the top 20 world’s best universities 2016, students, staff and alumni sent in their own experiences and reasons why they love being at a tiny institution. The shortlist The following five tweets were …
“Asking students who should pay for their education is like asking shoppers who should pay for what they’ve just bought,” commented one professional when I started asking students for their opinions about university funding. But this analogy, which places a fee-paying student in a simple customer or consumer role, cannot be quite right. It’s not clear whether the commenter thought …
The Minister for Universities has written to the vice chancellor of Oxford University demanding more investigation into claims of anti-semitism as MPs call for the Labour Party to dissociate itself with a group accused of intolerance towards Jews. “There can be no justification for attacks on Jewish students, and no tolerance for institutionalised racism within an organisation that bears a …
A maths teacher from a London comprehensive has reached the top 10 finalists for a global teaching prize. Colin Hegarty, from Preston Manor School in Wembley, has reached the final stages of a competition to find the world’s most exceptional teachers. The winner will receive a prize of a $1m (£690,000) at an awards ceremony in March. Mr Hegarty said …
Parents at Somerset primary school are scolded for letting their children urinate in their playground at the end of school day Google Street View A primary school headteacher has urged parents not to let their children urinate in the playground. Writing in a newsletter, Kay Church, who runs Hannah More Infant School in Nailsea, Somerset, said a small number of …
Institutions like Cambridge, pictured, have ‘a particular challenge’ ahead of them, says the Minister for Universities Getty Images The Government has called on universities, particularly the most selective, to do more to help “white boys from the poorest homes” enter into higher education, as the Conservatives look to widen access for disadvantaged young people. Speaking about how institutions need to …
The Directorate of Education has received over 73,000 applications against about 23,000 seats for nursery admissions under the EWS category, draws for which will be conducted on Monday. The DoE has also issued guidelines to schools regarding the computerised draw which has been centralised for the first time. “The total number of online applications received is 73059 and total number …
Labour has accused the government of failing to take fast enough action to close down illegal schools. There are 21 institutions being investigated in England by the Department for Education, according to a ministerial statement. The statement from children’s minister Edward Timpson says “robust steps” are being taken to tackle unregistered schools. But Labour’s Lucy Powell said ministers had “dragged …
Personal details about hundreds of London-based research students were posted online in an apparent breach of data privacy laws. The University of Greenwich has apologised and said it is in the process of contacting those affected. The matter was brought to the BBC’s attention by one of the students, who discovered the information could be found via a Google search. …