Stories + Views: School Buildings

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Tracy Hannigan: New info on WLFS and Ark Conway costs

In addition to the £600M we have heard of for academies/free schools today...some info on WLFS from a FOIA request response posted on the H&F website: The cost of the school per pupil of WLFS at the temporary site: On the basis of the capital cost for the temporary location, and a maximum pupil population of 240 on that site, the ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by Marigold Doyle: "Have you checked that every applicant has 2 parents, Toby?..."

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Allan Beavis: Under the Coalition – Worse Education Cuts Since the 1950s

The Institute for Fiscal Studies has just published a damning report showing that  public spending on education would fall by more than 13% in real terms by 2014-15. This is the largest cut in education spending over a four-year period since the 1950s.  The cuts will be deepest for higher education, which is expected to be reduced by 40%. Education for 16-19-year-olds ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by Janet Downs: "FullFact looked at the PM's claim that school spending was being protected. It concluded: "The Prime Minister's claim, that pupil premium spending will be additional to a protected schools budget, is highly problematic. This is because protecting something ......"

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Janet Downs: £500 million to fund extra school places – £300 million less than £800m academies programme

Mr Gove has announced that £500 million will be provided to help local authorities (LAs) meet demand for school places. He’s also launched a rebuilding programme for schools in poor condition (although he’s said this is unlikely to fund the BSF projects which were the subject of the judicial review). A letter was sent directly to Academy Trusts ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by Janet Downs: "In his announcement re school funding (19 July 2011) Mr Gove says the Government will in future “deduct money from local authorities to take account of the fact they no longer provided services to academies.” What he did not ......"

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Janet Downs: “Such men are dangerous” says Lord in warning about radical changes to education

Lord Griffiths  of Burry Port gave this warning to Mr Gove on14 June 2011: “The Minister [of State for Education], in the short time that he has been at his post, has won the affection and respect of noble Lords on all sides of the House. He is a good listener, which makes it all the more difficult to ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by Shane Rae: "It's his selective hearing that will have far-reaching consequences...."

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Janet Downs: Head of PfS resigns to run company specialising in buying and refurbishing public sector buildings and then selling them back. Should we be concerned?

Tim Byles, chief executive of Partnerships for Schools (PfS) has resigned. He will be head of a social enterprise called Cornerstone which will donate its surplus to charity. Cornerstone is backed by John McDonough of Carillion and Rod Aldridge, founder of Capita, who also runs academy sponsor the Aldridge Foundation. Mr Gove is said to ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by Fiona Millar: "There are several other aspects to this story that need more investigation. If this company is to buy 'surplus' assets from the public sector, will that be at a commercial price, or at a knock down price at the request ......"

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Helen Flynn: Gove is on the same (ideological) page as Lansley when it comes to academies and education “reform”

I believe that what is happening right under our noses now in education (and as mapped out in the current education bill going through Parliament) is just as toxic as the issues that are at stake in Lansley's health bill. In fact as Peter Wilby's article in the New Statesman today points out, Gove, just as Lansley is doing, ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by Helen Flynn: "Well said, Melissa, and I take your comments on board. I am trying hard to drive education up the agenda within the Lib Dems, believe me, and make people realise we need to be fighting on two fronts over similar ideological ......"

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Chris: The End of Top Schools

Reading and Kendrick school, two top 10 schools, are in danger of being radically altered by a small group of disgruntled parents, who have been affected by changing catchment areas. These two schools that serve the brightest pupils from the Greater Reading Urban Area are being threatened with ending selection. This proposal would end the possibility for pupils in Reading to ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by jim: "at last. an intelligent person with an open mind and a good heart.thank you sarah for all your comments in the face of this barrage of ignorant tory cliches..."

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Allan Beavis: A year in and even loyal conservatives are critical of Gove’s reforms

A year after the Coalition government limped into office, things don’t look too good for the government nor for Education Secretary, Michael Gove. Despite the fan-fares heralding his education reforms, his first year at the DfE has been distinguished by a series of damaging gaffes – the debacle over EMA, a court finding Gove had acted in a way that ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by Fiona Millar: "I think you are both probably right and we will end up with a patchwork of different types of schools, with varying ownership and governance arrangements. It is interesting though that the Tories and Nick Clegg have been arguing against ......"

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Fiona Millar: If great school buildings and facilities don’t matter, why don’t the parents at Eton put up with flat packs?

It has been fascinating to see, in the comments following the publication of the James Review into school capital funding, how many people believe that school buildings can’t have a transformational effect on children or impact on educational attainment. I wonder why it is then that the parents at schools like Eton, alma mater of Sebastian James and the Prime Minister, ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by rosalyn: "Agreed, Fiona. It makes sense to invest in the existing stock in order to modernise and expand ; there is so much potential ( not on all sites though but on most) to do this. Therefore you can hit two ......"

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Liz Todd: Local extended schools help plug poverty gap

Extended schools and services can play a significant role in turning round the lives of children and families living in disadvantaged areas. These are local schools that link strategically with other agencies. Our research , published here found powerful effects on children and parents that had an economic benefit. Early intervention in just one child’s life could save the public ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by Janet Downs: "Are extended schools threatened by cuts in public spending?..."

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