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Students urged to look at universities abroad


by Pete Henshaw


Independent schools are urging 6th- formers to consider studying abroad as more and more UK universities announce their intention to charge the maximum £9,000 tuition fees. According to latest figures, 22 out


of 31 universities to have declared their fees under the new system have opted to charge the maximum £9,000 a year, with some others say- ing they will charge up to £9,000. It comes after the Browne


Report last year recommended the removal of the current £3,290 a year cap. The government accepted


this and voted to allow tuition fees of £6,000 a year, with a maximum limit of £9,000. However, despite government


assurances that the £9,000 limit would only apply in “exceptional circumstances”, a raft of universities have opted for the maximum rate. Now, a survey of members of the


Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference (HMC) showed that 80 per cent said their schools would be actively encouraging 6th-formers to apply for universities abroad. The headteachers also strongly sup- ported study abroad options being added to the UCAS applications process.


CILT and CfBT merger boosts language support


The National Centre for Languages, known as CILT, and the CfBT Education Trust merged this week with the aim of developing support for languages in schools. The move means that the major-


ity of CILT services, including its Graduate Teacher Programme and CILT Plus – an online membership community offering support and guidance on language learning, CPD and resources – will transfer to CfBT, a not-for-profit organisation which carries out practice-based education- al research. Meanwhile, CILT Cymru, which


is based in Cardiff and funded by the Welsh Assembly government, will merge with the WJEC, a charity which provides educational resourc- es, CPD and examinations through- out England and Wales. Kathryn Board, chief executive


St Jude’s Church, Dulwich Road Herne Hill, London SE24 0PB www.markallengroup.com


of CILT, said: “We are delighted that the Department for Education and the Welsh Assembly govern- ment have supported us in achiev- ing these new partnerships which will strengthen our ability to meet the needs of schools and further develop the support for languages which is so desperately needed. “By combining our operations in this way we will be able to


make the most efficient use of pub- lic funds and provide teachers and schools with the help, advice and support they need to expand and improve languages teaching.” Neil McIntosh, chief executive


of CfBT, added: “CILT’s expertise and track record in the field of lan- guage teaching are internationally recognised. We are delighted that this essential work will continue – and be developed further – within the framework of the CfBT. “Together we can offer an even


wider range of support for languag- es which will enhance education in schools and enable young people increasingly to use languages in their future careers in business and the public services.” CILT was established in 1966


and following the publication of the National Languages Strategy in 2002, it merged with the Languages National Training Organisation to become the National Centre for Languages. CILT Cymru was established in 2002 and has been given a key role in implement- ing Languages Count, the Welsh Assembly’s strategy for modern foreign languages. Visit www.cilt.org.uk and www.ciltcymru.org.uk


The HMC represents the leaders


of more than 250 of the country’s independent schools. The study showed that nearly


60 per cent said they had already noticed some increase in the number of 6th-formers interested in exploring study abroad options. However, members said that


a lack of information about what is available and a perception that many courses are not taught in English were barriers for students. The study was commissioned


by Maastricht University and its director of marketing and commu- nications, Jeanine Gregersen, said: “It is clear that the prospect of pay-


ing significantly higher tuition fees coupled with increasing difficulties in finding a place at a UK university are making study abroad a more attractive option for prospective students in Britain. “School heads, teachers and


careers advisors also recognise that studying at a top quality university in another country can broaden stu- dents’ horizons and improve their career prospects by exposing them an international environment and the kind of character-building expe- rience valued by employers. “The fact that some of the best


universities in Europe are now offering numerous degree and post-


graduate level courses taught in English means a world of choice has opened up for UK students.” Tim Hands, co-chair of HMC’s


and Girls’ Schools Association Universities Sub-Committee, and head of Magdalen College School in Oxford, said: “The UK economy is in difficulties. UK universities are nervous about costs and also about possible government inter- ference in admissions. There is a lot of uncertainty around. The globe is getting smaller and young people’s knowledge of it greater. All of these things make it inevita- ble that there will be more interest in studying abroad.”


Schools offered advice on improving efficiency


A series of four briefings aimed at helping schools to make the most efficient use of their workforce has been published by the Audit Commission. England’s maintained schools


spent over £35 billion in 2009/10 – around £5,000 for each pupil – and more than 75 per cent this was spent on school staff. The four briefings, entitled


Better Value for Money in Schools, examine patterns of spending in England’s state schools and offer ways of cutting costs without impacting on educational attainment. They look at four areas where schools have scope to improve efficiency: • The deployment of classroom staff, including class sizes and allocation of teachers and teaching assistants.


• The breadth and focus of schools’ curriculum offer.


• Approaches to covering for staff absence, including supply teachers.


• The size, cost and composition of the wider (non-teaching) school workforce.


They are based on analysis of


information from the Department for Education, GCSE entries, fieldwork in four local authority areas, and an online survey of the 2,000 members of the National Association of School Business Management. Among the findings, the brief-


ings point out that schools with smaller classes spend more on teachers, but contends that there is “no demonstrable relationship between class size and attainment”. It also points to a wide variation


in the number of GCSEs offered by schools, with some offering as many as 42 compared to 24 in oth- ers. The briefings says that greater collaboration with other schools could save money. Elsewhere, it contends that


the £875 million spent every year on supply staff could be reduced through greater use of Higher Level Teaching Assistants. It also says that bringing down


some of the higher absence and sickness rates would save £14 mil- lion worth of staff time a year. However, Martin Freedman,


head of pay, conditions and pensions at the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, ques- tioned the findings. He said: “We don’t know what


reports the Audit Commission has been looking at but, contrary to its assertions, there is a wealth of reputable evidence to show that smaller class sizes and teaching assistants are highly beneficial for pupils who need extra help and attention particularly primary children, ethnic minority pupils and those with special needs. “When we surveyed over


1,000 teachers and support staff in March 2009, 96 per cent told us there should be a maximum class size in both primary and secondary schools so that they could give their pupils enough attention.” He added: “If class size really


doesn’t matter, why is the govern- ment so keen to encourage par- ents to set up small free schools?” For the full briefings,


search for Better Value for Money in Schools at www.audit-commission.gov.uk


MA Education Ltd is an independent publishing company also responsible for education titles Delivering Diplomas, Headteacher Update, Fundraising for Schools, Early Years Educator and 5to7 Educator.


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ISSN 1479-7704 ICT managers fear effects of budget cuts


Two-thirds of ICT managers in UK schools are facing budget cuts, with four in 10 losing as much as 40 per cent of their funding. A survey of more than 1,400


ICT managers at schools in the UK has revealed fears that students are being held back by falling tech- nological standards and a lack of


2


investment in ICT. The study by IT provider Equanet showed that 58 per cent reported an average age of school computers of four years or more. It showed that 68 per cent of the


ICT managers believe the lack of investment in ICT systems will lead to poor classroom ICT skills.


And if students were to have


more up-to-date hardware and soft- ware, 76 per cent of the ICT manag- ers said they would be more engaged and performance would improve. Kevin Bennett, acting vice prin-


cipal at Belvoir High School in Leicestershire, said: “It is difficult to teach an engaging ICT lesson with


substandard equipment. With pupils gaining more access to technology at home, schools need to invest in ICT lessons that push boundaries and use the latest technology. Failure to do so may result in this area of the curriculum becoming redundant.” Phil Birbeck, managing director of Equanet, added: “It is concern-


ing that ICT is given such a low priority in schools. Technology is becoming increasingly more central to our lives and careers, and for budgets to be cut by more than half is shocking. “In the long-term, this will make


it very difficult for British workers to compete in a global market.”


SecEd • April 14 2011


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