The Independent - Education RSS Feed

50,000 students could miss out on university

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

Almost 50,000 potential students could be denied a place at university this year due to a sudden rise in the number of applications.

Battle for healthy school food is struggling

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:01:30 GMT

Before TV chef Jamie Oliver's campaign to get schoolchildren eating healthily in 2005, most people had no idea what a Turkey Twizzler was. The demon foodstuff has since become synonymous with the Government's fight to wean pupils off junk food – a fight it appears to be losing.

Thousands to miss out on university places

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 09:55:31 GMT

Tens of thousands of students will be denied university places this summer following a funding freeze and a surge in applications, figures will show today.

Bringing language learning to life

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 09:36:11 GMT

The reduced interest among students of all abilities in languages reported in The Independent recently cannot and must not be ignored. UK and overseas businesses continue to assert the value of language skills and cultural knowledge in particular during these challenging times.

Why it's cool to touch type

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:00:17 GMT

Exams are over. Pens are down and it's time for private tutors to take a break, unless they teach touch typing. Parents seeking to give their children a head start at school or university are bombarding typing schools with requests for summer courses this year.

Research matters: Cash for questions

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

The relationship between scientists and government is often a turbulent one, but this summer a spat is developing of larger-than-usual proportions. Around the country, a network of academics, growing in size every day, is mobilising to voice increasing anger at what they see as unacceptable political interference at the heart of their working lives.

Is further study the 'least worst' choice?

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

There are not many reasons to be cheerful if you are graduating this summer, as the economy reels from one gloomy set of statistics to another, and companies put the squeeze on recruitment. But Helen Arnold is looking on the bright side.

The science of journalism: Reporting on matters of life and death

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

Confused about swine flu? Excited about a new cancer breakthrough? So who do you turn to when you want to get the latest facts: politicians, scientists, doctors or journalists?

Universities say A-levels lack creativity

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

Four out of five university admissions officers believe A-levels no longer encourage creative thinking, a survey shows.

Postgrad Lives: 'Distance learning gives me a much broader perspective'

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

Mary-Joy Albutt is doing a distance-learning MSc in public health, specialising in health promotion, through the University of London External System. She fits this in with her full-time job working for Dudley Primary Care Trust (PCT) as a health promotion adviser for young people.

Postgrad Queries: How can I find work with a disaster management firm?

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

Jobs in disaster management

I've just completed a BA in human geography. Throughout my school years, I enjoyed topics about natural disasters, and how humans respond. I was wondering if there are agencies in Britain that deal with disaster management, and what is the best way to get a job with them. Are there any postgraduate courses that will increase my chances of employment?

Make a living out of wasps and rats

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is taking cockroaches, rats and unwanted birds seriously. Last year it published a ground-breaking report, Public Health Significance of Urban Pests, which for the first time collated research on the effects of increased pest management and what to do about it. It also highlighted the need for properly trained pest controllers.

Diary of a Fresher: 'If I do OK in exams, I'll be allowed to carry on acting'

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

And so it begins. If I can pull these exams off, a year's worth of slightly lacklustre academic performance will, I hope, be forgiven.

Welcome to the new frontier – Central Asia

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

Fresh from setting up a campus in Australia, one of Britain's top higher education institutions, University College London, is turning its attention to Kazakhstan, a vast country bordered by Russia, Uzbekistan and China and made famous by Ali G's Borat.

Leading Article: Academic doubts

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

The clear message to emerge from last week's Commons select committee hearing on academies is that the staff in these new independently-run schools have growing doubts about the Government's commitment to them.

Brandon Robshaw: The burqa should not be worn in class

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

As a teacher, what would you do if a student turned up to class wearing a mask? You'd ask them to remove it. And if they refused? Then you'd refuse to have them in the class. Simple as that.

Education Quandary: Now the national literacy and numeracy strategies have been abolished, won't we just return to the old free-for-all that harmed so many children?

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

Hilary's advice

Those of us with long memories can remember just how bad things were before these centralised teaching directives came in. A lot of children, mine included, had no decent grounding in the basics of literacy and numeracy, and many with learning difficulties were left to flounder and sink.

Can't spell. Can't add up. And that's the examiners

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:24:04 GMT

Test papers for 11-year-olds this year were littered with marking errors, a headteacher said yesterday.

Thirteen out of 20 top universities misspell ‘university’ on website

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 14:10:04 GMT

Cambridge, Harvard and Yale are among the top universities found to have embarrassing spelling mistakes on their websites.

Thirteen out of 20 top universities misspell ‘university’ on website

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 14:10:04 GMT

Cambridge, Harvard and Yale are among the top universities found to have embarrassing spelling mistakes on their websites.

Thirteen out of 20 top universities misspell ‘university’ on website

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 14:10:04 GMT

Cambridge, Harvard and Yale are among the top universities found to have embarrassing spelling mistakes on their websites.

Teacher's racy novel 'to encourage pupils to read'

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 11:35:00 GMT

An English teacher sacked after publishing a racy novel about her pupils online defended the book today, saying it was written to encourage a group of teenage boys to read.

Study highlights gloomy prospects for graduates

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 23:00:47 GMT

Life will not necessarily be a bed of roses for those graduates lucky enough to find a job during the recession, according to a major study published today.

Bleak job prospect for 2010's graduates

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

Employment prospects for next year's graduates are likely to be just as bleak as those for the class of 2009, research shows.

Balls announces school places inquiry

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

An inquiry to find out how many parents are "playing the system" to get their children into a school of their choice was ordered yesterday by the Children's Secretary, Ed Balls.