Ofsted chief speaks of need to reverse ‘teacher brain drain’ from the UK New teachers should be given golden-handcuffs deals, to prevent them from leaving the country as soon as they qualify, the Ofsted’s chief inspector has said. Sir Michael Wilshaw warned this morning that there is “a teacher brain drain from this country, just when the supply issue is …

The government has passed legislation that will turn ‘inadequate’ schools into academies The Education and Adoption Bill, which will force all schools deemed to be “failing” to be turned into academies, completed its passage through Parliament last night. It will become law “as soon as possible” once it receives royal assent, the Department for Education has said. But what is …

The longer this accreditation process drags on, the more it is going to be a real problem, warns union leader Well over half of the new GCSE, AS and A-level qualifications being introduced in September have still not been officially approved, just 18 school weeks before they are due to be taught, TES can reveal. Figures from exams watchdog Ofqual …

Majestic lakes, mountains, history and even ecotourism resorts, opt for Russia’s lesser-known cities and nature parks and there’s enough to keep you exploring for weeks. Share your Russia tips in the comments below Marvel at … Marble canyon, Ruskeala, Karelia. Photograph: Shamukov Ruslan/Corbis Ruskeala, Karelia Why go? Karelia, a republic in north-west Russia, is known as one the country’s most …

Perched atop a 380 metre hilltop in Nakkerd Hills between Chalong and Kata is Phuket’s newest man-made attraction, Big Buddha or Ming Mongkol Buddha. This structure is dedicated to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej in honour of his 80th birthday. There is also a smaller Brass Buddha that is 12 metres high and is constructed of 22 tons of brass, …

  Winning tip: the Caribbean’s Antigua in a day Antigua, the island of beaches, is best seen from the sea. For an exciting and downright hair-raising trip try circumnavigating the island on an offshore powerboat. You’ll be swimming with stingrays, snorkelling at the Pillars of Hercules, then lunching on a remote beach, Robinson Crusoe style. You’ll sail into Nelson’s Dockyard …

Portugal’s leading airline will launch daily service to Boston and New York from Lisbon in June and July. TAP Portugal’s Boston service will begin on June 11 and the New York service will commence on July 1. TAP will compete with fellow Portuguese airline SATA International on the Boston-Lisbon route. No carrier currently flies between New York and Lisbon, however …

Student unions are no longer sticky bars filled with beer-swilling students avoiding their lectures. Today’s undergraduates are more likely to be found sipping a coffee in an academic study group than downing a cheap beer with their mates. New research from YouthSight and the National Union of Students (NUS) reveals that student unions are more often focused on providing academic …

Heading off into higher education is a major decision for many, and picking the best subject to study while at university can be an even bigger, and more important, choice – especially if the course you choose determines whether you will join one of the world’s rarest groups – the billionaire league. With less than 2,000 in the entire world …

North Shore Oahu, Hawaii: marvel at surf masters Each December, surfers compete for the coveted Pipeline Masters surf title. All the action takes place in cavernous barrelling waves that come close to shore. Oahu’s north coast also sees the world’s best big-wave competition: theQuiksilver Big Wave Invitational, in memory of local surfer Eddie Aikau. It’s held only when the waves …