news
Specialising in biomedical and environmental sciences
London boroughs could face a shortfall in places of up to 40%
THE NATIONAL Union of Teachers (NUT) has launched a campaign to address the school places shortages. The School Places Crisis campaign warns that by 2016 some London boroughs could see a shortfall in places of up to 40%. For example, projections show that Croydon will have a shortfall of 39% of primary places by 2016. Waltham Forest will have a shortfall of 30%. The NUT claims that the free schools
policy and lack of local authority involvement in school planning are responsible for the shortage of places where they are desperately needed. It wants assurances from Government that the extra places created are quality places.
Powerless NUT General Secretary Christine Blower said: “As a result of the Government’s academy and free schools programme, local councils find themselves in the untenable position of having responsibility for providing quality primary and secondary places but no power to plan, commission or build schools. The reality
on the ground is that many children could be without a school place, perhaps as many as one in four. “Michael Gove has created this crisis and it is high time that he put school place planning back in safe hands. Local authorities know best where and when places are needed in their communities. They need the power to open new schools.” The campaign states that every child
deserves to be taught by a qualified teacher in an appropriate environment and that it is “entirely wrong” to cram more children into already crowded classrooms. The NUT has written to every MP asking them whether they support the campaign or not, making responses available on the campaign website (
www.theschoolplacescrisis.com). London Councils estimate that 83,470 school places need to be created between 2014 and 2017. Local authorities reckon they are spending £9,000 on every pupil making up for a government funding shortfall, in order to create new school places in London.
SEE ALSO: Analysis p10.
CONSTRUCTION is underway on the University Technical College Cambridge – a specialist science college for 14 to 19 year-olds. The £10m College, sponsored by Cambridge Regional College and Cambridge University Health Partners, will be located at Long Road Sixth Form College and is due to open next September. The UTC Cambridge will specialise in biomedical and environmental sciences and technologies, teaching an innovative learning programme developed in partnership with employers such as Wellcome Sanger Trust, Napp Pharmaceuticals, Babraham Institute and the Medical Research Council.
BAM is delivering a three-storey building for the UTC adjacent to the £175m Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB), which was completed by the contractor last year. BAM’s design arm will carry out structural design as well as specifying furniture, fittings and equipment, working closely with architects Hawkins Brown on the scheme. The building will include five super labs on the top floor, with three capable of joining together to emulate large-scale research conditions.
Asbestos in student bedrooms
AN ESTIMATED 17,000 students from 38 universities across the UK have been housed in bedrooms containing asbestos, according to a recent article (27 Aug) in The Guardian.
Left undisturbed, the material is
harmless, but damaged asbestos can cause fatal illnesses including mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. Responses from universities emphasised that the material containing asbestos in the rooms was fully sealed and safe, in line with statutory requirements. However, the
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educationdab.co.uk
main concern highlighted by campaigners is that a student may not report damages, because they are unaware that asbestos is present in their room. Commenting on the report, personal
injury specialists Asons Solicitors stated: “Awareness needs to be raised for circumstances where students’ health is under threat. Regardless of the circumstances, if an individual has been exposed to asbestos, and developed a related disease, then they can potentially make a claim for asbestos compensation.”
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