Gloucester Clergy join Bishop's College row

The news comes after angry parents hijacked a meeting on Wednesday night at Vale of Berkeley College near Stroud, which also faces closure under recommendations from government consultant Graham Badman.

In a letter to the Diocese of Gloucester Board of Education, the Reverend David Smith, Chapter Clerk of the Clergy Chapter of the Gloucester City Deanery, said: "Following recent public announcements, clergy of Gloucester City Deanery are deeply disturbed by the proposals to close or merge Bishops' College. In 2006, the Diocese, with the local authority, made a commitment of at least five years to students, staff, and governors of Bishops' College.

"Closure or absorption into a new academy, before a single cohort of students has completed their secondary education entirely at Bishops' College, demonstrates publicly the Church's lack of commitment to the most vulnerable."

He added his concerns over the effect the proposals would have on pupils.

"If closure or merger proceeds, the current Year 10 students will be further unsettled and disadvantaged at a crucial moment of their secondary education, and their life opportunities will be limited yet further," he said.

The letter also included names of the 21 priests who had "asked particularly for their names to be associated with the above submission".

The Badman proposals are supposed to bring Gloucestershire's schools into line with the government's National Challenge, which aims to get 30 per cent of pupils achieving five GCSE passes.

The Bishop of Gloucester, the Right Reverend Michael Perham said: "We need to be proud of what Bishops' College has achieved since its opening in 2006, especially in establishing a Christian ethos which has supported student wellbeing and pastoral care in the school.

"This summer's results show a clear sign of improvement and we deeply regret that the future of the college has been put under threat by the latest government targets. The diocese is committed to improving the learning outcomes for all young people in Bishops' College and Gloucester city, which might include the provision of an academy."

Parents

He added that the Diocese intends to continue the role of the Anglican Church in any future proposals, ensuring parents retain the right to choose a Church of England school.

He added: "However, the Diocesan Board of Education, which works alongside all Church of England schools in the diocese, believes the proposed time scales for any restructuring of education provision in the city are totally unrealistic and do not serve the best interests of the Bishops' College community.

"The DBE urges the local authority and the secretary of state to reconsider the time scales as a matter of urgency.

"We share the upset and concern generated by these proposals amongst Bishops' College and the wider community. We want to reassure everyone that the diocese is working hard to ensure the best outcome for young people in Gloucester."Priests have stepped into the row over proposals to close Gloucester's only Church of England secondary school.

Twenty one of them have personally hit out at proposals which could see Bishops' College, in Longlevens, close its doors next year.

NEWS BY:http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk

Union Warns Thousands Of NHS Jobs At Risk

Thousands of jobs could be at risk in the NHS in England because of spending cuts.

The Royal College of Nursing has estimated that between 5,000 and 35,000 jobs could be axed if the NHS pushes ahead with spending cuts.

The union has said the loss of posts would put the health service under "real strain".

The NHS has been asked to find between £15bn and £20bn pounds in efficiency savings over the next three years.

Dr Carter from the Royal College of Nursing said it was "disingenuous" to suggest you could remove £20bn from the £100bn NHS budget and "nothing changes".

"I really can't see that you can take £20bn out and expect everything to carry on as is it is."

He said that losses from redundancies and posts not being replaced on retirement would be felt across the health service, not solely nursing staff.

He continued that staff cuts would have a real impact on patient care.

Health Secretary Andy Burnham promised that frontline jobs would be protected under Labour.

"It would not be right to guarantee every job. But Labour will protect frontline services, which we can't do without protecting frontline staff."

Liberal Democrat health spokesman, Norman Lamb, said: "It's incredibly short-sighted to think the only way to save money in the NHS is to slash and burn services."

Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said: "We know that by cutting bureaucracy and the tick-box targets, we can free nurses to care."

"Because we will increase the NHS budget, savings will be reinvested in frontline care and improvements."

In data collected by the Royal College Of Nursing from 180 trusts in April, nearly all health care workers believed they were already short staffed at least several times a month.

NEWS BY:http://news.sky.com

BBC College of Journalism to partner Journalism.co.uk's news:rewired event

The BBC College of Journalism, set to go live online very soon, is to partner Journalism.co.uk's 10th anniversary event, news:rewired on Thursday 14 January 2010.

Taking place at London's City University, the digital journalism event will host some of the industry's leading online practitioners from news organisations both new and old.

Covering everything from video and SEO to crowd-sourcing and data mash-ups, the conference is designed to inspire, showcase and troubleshoot newsroom 2.0.

A speaker from the BBC College of Journalism will address the challenges faced by journalists developing new multimedia and social media skills.

The College, which is part of the BBC Academy, will also be filming on the day, collecting the views and ideas of delegates and speakers.

A key part of the BBC's new Academy which launches today is to "develop partnerships and give wider access to the BBC's training resources and skills to support the wider UK media industry".

"The BBC College of Journalism is hugely excited about being involved in news:rewired, it promises to be a vital event for all journalists learning new skills," said David Hayward, assistant editor of the College.

"We are thrilled to be associated with this excellent initiative by the BBC to open up its considerable educational resources to UK-based journalists," added Journalism.co.uk founder John Thompson.

"We are particularly impressed by the focus on multimedia and social media skills, which can only serve to help the beleaguered publishing industry move forwards in the 21st century."

Some tickets are still available for news:rewired, priced at £80+VAT. Book before Christmas to avoid the VAT rise.

Tweet the news:rewired message and win a Flip HD!

To spread the word even further about our forthcoming digital journalism event news:rewired, we are enlisting the help of the Twitter army and offering you the chance to win a brand new Flip Ultra HD pocket camcorder, just in time for Christmas!

The entry requirement is simple, all you have to do is follow @newsrewired and tweet or re-tweet the following:

NEWS BY:http://www.journalism.co.uk

One Thousand Primary Schools 'Failing Pupils

Nearly 1,000 primary schools across the country are underperforming in English and maths, according to official figures.

New primary school league tables based on 11-year-olds' performances in tests show many schools would be classed as failing under targets announced by the Government last month.

The coalition said schools would fail to meet targets if less than 60% of pupils reached Level Four in English and Maths.

They would also fail if the number of children making two levels of progress between the ages of five and 11 (Key Stages 1 and 2) was lower than the national average.

According to the results 926 schools, out of around 11,500 for which results are known, fail to meet this threshold.

Those that have failed to reach the targets risk being taken over or closed.

    Currently half of all 10 and 11-year-old boys who qualify for free school meals are being let down by our education system.

Schools Minister Nick Gibb

The national average for reaching a level four in English this year was 87%, and for maths it was 86% - much higher than the national target.

However, data for a quarter of schools is missing due to a boycott by the National Union of Teachers and the National Association of Headteachers which would have affected the results.

It means each table shows gaps in results for schools that did not sit the tests, making it harder for parents to compare results.

Schools Minister Nick Gibb said the statistics show many primaries were providing a "first-class education".

But he added: "Currently half of all 10- and 11-year-old boys who qualify for free school meals are being let down by our education system.

Primary Schools Failing - Exam

The league tables are based on English and Maths results

"It is unacceptable that after seven years of primary school these children are not at the standard in English and maths that they need to flourish at secondary school.

"Ministers are focused on improving reading ability and raising behaviour standards.

"We are introducing new fair but firm floor standards to identify under-performing schools."

Manuden Primary School in Bishop's Stortford was the best-performing school, with Pilgrim School in Kent the most improved school.

Starks Field primary school, in Enfield, north London, performed the worst, according to the figures.

For the first time this year, results for science tests were not included, because they were scrapped by former Schools Secretary Ed Balls.

:NEWS BY:http://news.sky.com/home

News Corp moves into education with Wireless Generation acquisition

Wireless Generation makes web-based software that helps teachers track the progress of students and tailors individual teaching.

The move marks News Corporation's first major move into the US education sector and brings it up against media and education publishing company Pearson.

Pearson, which owns the Financial Times and Penguin Books, has a significant education publishing arm.

According to News Corp, Wireless Generation is used by more than 200,000 teachers and three million students in the US. The company is a partner of the New York department of education and Murdoch claims that the software will revolutionise education in the US.

Wireless Generation will be managed by its founder and chief executive, Larry Berger, president and chief operating officer Josh Reibel, and executive vice- president and chief product officer, Laurence Holt. The company has 400 employees.

New Corporation did not disclose whether the deal would prompt redundancies at the company.

Murdoch, chief executive and chairman of News Corporation, said: "Wireless Generation is at the forefront of individualized, technology-based learning that is poised to revolutionize public education for a new generation of students."

He is on record as wanting to see improvements in public schools.

In September this year, The Observer reported that Murdoch’s UK national newspaper operation, which included The Sunday Times and The Sun, was drawing up plans to sponsor an academy school in east London.

NEWS BY:http://www.mediaweek.co.uk

Nursery Slammed As 'Ideal' For Child Abuse

The nursery where Vanessa George worked provided "an ideal environment" for her to prey on toddlers in her care, an official report has concluded.

The 40-year-old paedophile was jailed last year for taking photographs on her phone as she abused children at the Little Ted's nursery in Plymouth, Devon.

Plymouth City Council's Safeguarding Children Board described it as a "shocking and unprecedented case".

But it admitted that due to serious failings in Ofsted's supervisory framework similar crimes could be happening in other nurseries in the UK.

The board launched a serious case review following the arrest of the self-styled "paedo whore mum" and dozens of people were interviewed.

Its aim was to determine how an apparently respected and well-liked nursery worker was able to commit her crimes without drawing any attention.

The review concluded that a combination of weak management, poor training and a lack of external scrutiny "provided an ideal environment within which George could abuse".

And while it said no-one could have predicted George would be a risk to children, her colleagues failed to raise the alarm when her behaviour and conversations became increasingly sexualised.

George, who was a senior member of staff, even showed colleagues adult porn images on her mobile phone.

It also emerged she was never formally interviewed for the job.

"Her age, personality and length of service could have created an illusion of power and encouraged a sense of trust," it added.

"K (George) is of the ability to behave in a highly manipulative manner and hence gain high levels of trust in others."

The board recommended steps to stop similar scandals happening again, including safer recruitment procedures and effective whistleblowing procedures.

Little Teds Nursery in Plymouth

Little Ted's nursery was closed after the scandal

A number of lessons needed to be learned, it added, but "ultimate responsibility for the abuse must rest with K (George)".

Sky's Katie Stallard said the victims' parents were shown details of the report on Wednesday night and were angry with education standards watchdog Ofsted for allowing the crimes to happen.

The board's chairman Jim Gould said Ofsted's framework was not adequate to protect toddlers in nurseries.

Asked by Stallard whether there might be similar cases in other parts of the UK, he replied: "I think it would be foolish for anyone to say this could never happen again."

"We would like to see Ofsted strengthen the inspection of nurseries to ensure there is a culture in all nursery settings that maximises the safeguarding of children," he said.

Colin Blanchard

George was obsessed with paedophile Colin Blanchard

A spokesman for Ofsted said: "Today's serious case review highlights a number of areas of concern. It is important that lessons are learnt from this case.

"Ofsted has already implemented a number of changes in the way we work as a result of this review and to address the recommendations made."

These include speeding up its complaints process and improving the sharing of information with local authorities

The Department for Education said an ongoing review would consider whether standards for protecting young children need to be strengthened.

The nursery was closed in June 2009 after the abuse was discovered.

George was given an supervisory prison sentence after admitting seven sexual assaults and six counts of making and distributing indecent pictures of children.

She was told she would serve a minimum of seven years before she could be considered for parole.

She was part of a paedophile ring featuring four women and headed by known sex offender Colin Blanchard, from Rochdale, Greater Manchester.

The extent of the abuse unravelled as police investigated pornographic pictures found on Blanchard's computer by his work colleague.

NEWS BY:http://news.sky.com

Tottenham Calms After Saturday's Riot

Fears that Tottenham would explode into a second night of violence proved unfounded as rioters and looters targeted other parts of London overnight.

On Tottenham’s High Road, where the riot broke out on Saturday, teams of street cleaners moved in to sweep hundreds of bottles and bricks from the road.

At either end of the street - now a crime scene - crowds of onlookers gathered to see the aftermath of the violence, the incinerated shells of two Vauxhall Astra police cars eerily marooned in the centre of the usually bustling road.

It was all very different on Saturday night.

In the early hours we managed to get through the police cordon to see the devastation first hand. It was a shocking scene. The systematic vandalism stretching for half a mile.

Around us many buildings were still smoking. A building site was ablaze. Tottenham’s Post Office; an Aldi supermarket; and a pub all razed to the ground.

On side roads we came across police officers in riot clothing laying on the pavement, many clearly exhausted by the ferocity of the violence they had faced.

Nearby on the pavement we saw a large pool of fresh blood.

At the northern end of Tottenham High Road we reached what had been a carpet shop.

The imposing 1930-built building it once occupied now alight, the flats above it destroyed.

More shocking though was the feral looting. At Tottenham Hale Retail Park we watched as youngsters walked away unopposed with trolleys full of plasma televisions.

Many had arrived prepared, some drove up in vans, others came armed with big plastic laundry bags which they filled with stolen clothing. The only restriction on them was how much they could carry.

On Sunday evening a convoy of low-loaders arrived at Tottenham High Road to remove the two burned out police cars and the incinerated remains of a Mercedes van.

As the rain arrived so the area emptied. By the early hours only the media and a few van loads of police officers remained as the violence seen here moved to other parts of the capital.

:: Scotland Yard confirmed that 61 arrests had been made in connection with the rioting in Tottenham, with the majority for burglary, and other offences included violent disorder, robbery, theft and handling stolen goods.

News By: http://news.sky.com

Hugh Grant to testify as UK's News of the World accused of hacking into murder victims' phones

Public revulsion and political fallout increased Wednesday for a Rupert Murdoch-owned British tabloid amid reports the paper hacked the phones of terror victims and slain schoolgirls.

"It's absolutely disgusting what has taken place," British Prime Minister David Cameron said Wednesday in promising an investigation of the sordid case.

Speaking at the British Parliament, an angry Cameron said he was certain that "everyone in this house, indeed this country, will be revolted" by the stunning revelations.

The four-year scandal involving Murdoch's News of the World initially focused on its alleged hacking into the voicemails of celebrities, politicians and sports stars.

Actor Hugh Grant said Wednesday on Sky News that he was summoned by London police as part of their probe.

But the tale took a morbid turn with charges that tabloid operatives hacked into the voicemail of 13-year-old murder victim Milly Dowler in 2002, deleting messages from her cell phone.

The illegal actions affected the police probe, leading both investigators and the slain girl's family to believe she was alive.

Investigators into the phone-hacking have also contacted the families of Holly Weiss and Jessica Chapman, two other girls murdered in eastern England in 2002, the Press Association newswire reported Wednesday.

Family members of the victims of the July 7, 2005, London terror bombings were outraged by reports that their phones were possibly hacked after the attack that killed 52 people.

"I just felt so stunned and horrified," said Graham Foulkes, whose son, David, died in the bombings.

"I find it hard to believe someone could be so wicked and so evil and that someone could work for an organization that even today is trying to defend what they see as normal practices."

In addition to the phone-hacking woes, London police confirmed they were investigating illegal payments to its officers from the News of the World in return for inside information.

A visitor leaves the main entrance to the offices of the scandal-plagued News of the World newspaper in London, U.K., Wednesday. (Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg)

"These events show a systematic set of abuses that show the exercise of power without responsibility in our country," said Labour Party leader Ed Miliband.

The politician demanded the immediate resignation of Rebekah Brooks, CEO of the tabloid's parent company News International.

Murdoch, though, stood by Brooks Wednesday.

Advertisers were pulling ads from News of the World in response to the public outcry, including automakers Ford UK and Vauxhall, the Halifax bank and the travel company Virgin Holidays.

"We're no longer talking about politicians and celebrities," Cameron said. "We are talking about murder victims, potentially terrorist victims, having their phones hacked into."

News By: nydailynews.com/

Graduate unemployment levels on a par with school leavers

Latest data shows 25% of 21-year-olds who left university with a degree in 2011 were unemployed compared with 26% of 16-year-olds with GCSEs

Graduates leaving university found it harder to get jobs in 2011 than students finishing A-level courses, as youth unemployment hit its highest level since the 1980s, official data shows.

In 2011, 20% of 18-year-olds who left school with A-levels were unemployed compared with 25% of 21-year-olds who left university with a degree, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics. Graduate unemployment rates were almost on a par with those for people leaving school with just GCSEs, with 26% of 16-year-olds with these qualifications out of work.

But the ONS figures show it was easier for older graduates to find work: at age 24 only 5% of degree holders were unemployed compared with 7% of those who finished their education after A-levels and 13% of those with only GCSEs.

Charlie Ball, deputy director of research at the Higher Education Careers Services Unit, said the figures were "absolutely correct, but give a misleading impression", as the cohort of people leaving with A-levels was smaller than the number graduating.

He said the graduate jobs market had "hardly returned to its state pre-recession", but most of those leaving university were likely to get jobs within six months.

"Although the number of young people out of work is historically high, the graduate unemployment rate in this recession has not reached the levels it did in the 1980s or 1990s," he said.

Research by investment firm Skandia suggests graduates still earn a high premium over the course of their career once they do find work. It says a graduate leaving university today should earn an average of £1.6m over a working career of 45 years compared to £1m for an 18-year-old entering the workforce and retiring 48 years later. A 16-year-old working 49.5 years will typically earn £783,964 over their career.

Although the prospects for graduates may not be as gloomy as they first appear, the ONS figures make grim reading for young job seekers.

The ONS said unemployment for those aged 16 to 24 stood at just over 1m in the last quarter of 2011, the highest number since 1986/87. This represented one in seven (or 14.2%) of this age group and is the highest rate of youth unemployment since 1984/85. Of these, 307,000 were full-time students actively looking for work alongside their studies.

London was the region with the highest youth unemployment rate, with 24% of economically active 16- to 24-year-olds unemployed from July 2010 to June 2011. However, the ONS said this was a result of the number of students in the capital, some of who were looking to work. When students are discounted, the highest proportion of youth unemployment was in the north-east at 15%.

The TUC's general secretary, Brendan Barber, said the figures showed the importance of higher qualifications in helping young people into work. But he added: "With ministers putting up fresh barriers to higher education by hiking tuition fees and scrapping the EMA, the scar of mass joblessness that is hitting today's youngsters could follow some of them into their late 20s or even 30s.

"The government's cut-price work experience scheme is woefully ill-equipped to deal with the scale of our jobs crisis. Young people need tailored support and experience of proper paid jobs to give them the best possible chance of moving into work."

Recently, some large firms have stepped up their recruitment of school leavers to attract bright students put off by the cost of going to university.

All of the UK's "big four" accountancy firms, which between them recruit several thousand graduates each year, have established degree-equivalent school-leaver training programmes, including Ernst & Young which launches its programme in the autumn.

Stephen Isherwood, head of graduate recruitment at Ernst & Young, said the company had already recruited 30 of the 60 school leavers it planned to take on from hundreds of applications.

"There is a sense that the mantra of the last few years that everything is about university is not necessarily right, and that A-level students should really be thinking about what they want to do and whether that means going to university, and making sure they get the best deal for themselves."

NEWS BY:http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2012/feb/22/graduates-unemployment-levels-school-leavers

English language schools win court battle over visas

English language schools have won a High Court battle over visa restrictions which they say are absurd and damaging to their businesses.

They took the action over new regulations which say that people coming to the UK to study must have a good standard of English.

The restrictions were part of a drive against illegal immigration.

The government says illegal immigrants and migrants seeking low-skilled work were abusing the system.

Foreign students coming to study are now required to have English language skills of at least GCSE level.

English UK, which represents 440 language schools, says the regulations are "disproportionate and unjustified".

The group's chief executive Tony Millns said: "It's clearly absurd requiring students to know English before they come here to study it."

His group brought the case after the rules were tightened by the Labour Home Secretary Alan Johnson.

It argued in court that the Home Office should have brought the issue back to Parliament for proper debate.

Mr Justice Foskett said the fresh restrictions had been achieved through altering guidelines when there should have been a formal change to the rules, with the matter referred back to Parliament.

Mr Millns said: "I am delighted and relieved.

"We are pleased that Mr Justice Foskett saw the merits of our case and we believe that his decision is good for the UK economy, to which the English language sector contributes about £1.5 billion in foreign earnings each year."
Common sense

He said he hoped common sense would now prevail so that students could come into the UK to study English with a lower level in the language, equivalent to having studied it for 150 to 200 hours.

The coalition government says it is reviewing English language requirements across the visa system.

It believes the student visa system could be abused by people who want to come to Britain but have no intention of studying.

A spokesman for the Home Office said: "We are carefully considering this judgment.

"This government is committed to undertake a review into the Student Tier of the Points Based System in its entirety later this year to ensure that every student who comes to the UK is genuine."

Last month the government said it would bring forward to the autumn other measures planned by Labour requiring many immigrants marrying UK citizens to prove they have a command of English.

NEWS BY:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10569701

David Miliband backs bid for university 'living wage'

One of the architects of New Labour has thrown his weight behind a student campaign to give Cambridge University and college staff a ‘living wage’.

About 1,000 staff at the university and its colleges are paid less than the ‘living wage’, judged by the Living Wage Foundation to be £7.20 an hour outside London. The National Minimum Wage is currently £6.08 for workers aged over 21.

Former Foreign Secretary David Miliband held a breakfast meeting with Labour students, who want the university to pay cleaners, waiters and other low-paid staff at least £7.20 an hour.

The Labour MP told the News: “It’s significant that Labour students should vote to run their number one campaign this year about the living and working conditions of others and not themselves.”

Student Richard Johnson, chairman of Cambridge Universities Labour Club, said: “A lot of the colleges are aware of being perceived as exploiting workers, although we are not saying they are doing that.

“They put on enormous banquets for students, which of course are great for them, but at the same time are paying these staff low wages. The colleges are conscious of that and the way they are seen.”

The 20-year-old added: “My hope is that by the end of this term there will be at least one college which will to commit to it.

“I do not think that is unreasonable. The colleges know it will be great publicity to be the first.”

Cambridge University itself, with a top pay grade of £131,395 a year, has 112 staff paid less than the ‘living wage’, according to a Freedom of Information request by the campaign last year.

A spokesman for the university would not comment directly on whether it would sign up to the living wage pledge, saying its pay scales were “derived from national pay bargaining” for universities across the country.

He added: “The minimum point of the university scale has just increased to £11,175 (a year). The university pay scales are above the national minimum wage.

“The impact of this year’s pay increase is that an individual on the lowest point of the scale would have enjoyed a higher percentage increase (1.3 per cent) than those on higher rates of pay.”

Homerton College had one of the highest numbers of staff paid below the ‘living wage’, according to the FOI request, with 65 on less than £7.20 an hour.

But college bursar Gale Bryan said these related to casual staff – all permanent employees were paid more than £7.20 an hour.

He said: “The unintended or intended objective (of this campaign) appears to be to increase the cost of casual labour, which meets the needs of many young people wishing to supplement their income.

NEWS BY:http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk

UK's Equine Initiative renamed UK Ag Equine Programs

stakeholders to better reflect the breadth of equine offerings at UK and the college's long-term commitment to serving the state's signature equine industry.

The Equine Initiative was launched in 2005 when the College of Agriculture set out to radically change how it served Kentucky's signature equine industry and provide a suite of services appropriate for a land-grant university. In a nod acknowledging the success of those efforts and a continued commitment to the state's equine industry, the college has adopted a new name to better position its equine programs for continued success.

"In short, we have indeed transformed the ‘initiative' into established, world-class, service-oriented programs across the board," said Nancy Cox, UK College of Agriculture associate dean for research, Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station director and administrative leader for the UK Ag Equine Programs.

That was a sentiment echoed...
read more
Equine Reproduction Facilities open at UK's Maine Chance Equine Campus
LEXINGTON, Ky., (Feb 9, 2012)
UK Equine facilityA grand opening celebration for University of Kentucky's Equine Reproduction Facilities was held Feb. 2 at UK's Maine Chance Equine Campus. The celebration recognized the generosity of supporters who funded the remodeling.

The...
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UK climate change workshop to stimulate ideas, collaborations
LEXINGTON, Ky., (Feb 9, 2012)
tractor in droughtFor those interested in remaining competitive in an agricultural future that could be defined by a changing climate, the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture's Climate Change Working Group is offering the Climate Change and Small Grains Production...
read more


More News
School will help producers ready their IPM plans for 2012
PRINCETON, Ky., (Feb 9, 2012)
What has been a considerably mild winter thus far has many producers wondering if and how the warmer temperatures will affect diseases and insect pests in their fields in the upcoming growing season. The University of Kentucky’s Integrated Pest Management School can help producers get a jumpstart on their 2012 management strategies.

The school is March 7 at the UK Research and Education Center in Princeton.

Registration begins at 8 a.m. CST, and presentations by UK College of Agriculture...
read more

UK College of Agriculture engineer recognized for safety work

The beef industry is always changing, sometimes very rapidly with regard to weather, market prices, fuel and other input costs. Add in external forces such as national and world politics, economics, animal rights and consumer perceptions, and beef producers have many situations to manage and overcome to be profitable.

NEWS BY:http://www.ca.uky.edu/news

Top universities warned over places for 'disadvantaged' students

Top universities in England were warned yesterday they face having to slash their fees if they fail to recruit more students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The warning came from Professor Les Ebdon, the Government’s choice to take over as head of the Office for Fair access – the university admissions watchdog.

Professor Ebdon, vice-chancellor of Bedfordshire University and chairman of the million+ university think-tank, told MPs he was willing to use “the nuclear option” to force universities in the Russell Group – which represents leading research universities such as Oxford and Cambridge – if they fail to meet targets for recruitment.

He was being grilled by members of the Commons select committee on business, innovation and skills  – who have the power to veto his appointment.

At present, all universities seeking to charge more than £6,000 a year in fees have to sign an agreement with OFFA committing them to making efforts to recruit more students from disadvantaged areas.

If they fail to meet agreed targets, they can be fined up to $500,000 or have their fees reduced to £6,000 a year.

Professor Ebdon told the MPs that the performance of Russell Group universities has been “patchy” – “The commitment (to widening participation) has been mixed”.

“There are some colleagues in the Russell Group universities who are just as passionate about widening participation as I am,” he said.

“I would be aiming to strengthen that opposition so that is the case throughout the whole university system.”

He added: “If they don’t do that, then there will be a point at which we will not be afraid to use sanctions.

“At present there are £500,000 fines – which are hardly sanctions at all but the other is to refuse to sign an access agreement.

“That’s a significant sanction – the nuclear sanction – and one has to use the nuclear sanction with subtlety.

“If you have a nuclear sanction, thought, you have to be prepared to use it and clearly I would be prepared if people didn’t meet their targets.”

Professor Ebdon said he would like to have had a wider range of sanctions at his disposal - “a tactical strike option would be welcome as well”

Figures showed the ratio between disadvantaged students had gone from one to six to one to seven in leading universities, he said, and it was important to reverse that trend.

He was questioned at length by MPs on his outspoken opposition to the new fees regime while the legislation on the new fees was being steered through the Commons by the Coalition Government.  He is a supporter of a graduate tax.

He said he would make it clear it was not part of his role as head of OFFA to comment on that issue.

Brian Binley, Conservative MP for Northampton South, told him frankly he could not see any evidence of business acumen in his c.v.

NEWS BY:http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/top-universities-warned-over-places-for-disadvantaged-students-6348941.html

Super university for Manchester

A new super university will be created in autumn next year with the merger of Manchester University and Umist after the councils of the two universities gave their final agreement.

The merger had been first discussed in March last year. It was formally agreed by the two university councils last October, but was dependent on funding being found.

It will create the largest UK university outside of London. London nominally remains the largest UK university but that structure has become less important as the autonomy of the colleges has increased.

More than £82m in grants has now been secured for the new institution whose name will be decided in less than three months' time.

The package of funding includes £65m from the higher education funding council for England, the office of science and technology and the north-west development agency. A further £17m will come from the science research investment fund.

The vice-chancellor of Manchester University, Sir Martin Harris and John Garside, the principal and vice chancellor of Umist (the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology), said: "We are delighted that central government and the north-west development agency have provided the practical financial support to help the universities to realise their vision. The extra investment on this scale is unique.

"We have a solid foundation on which to build a truly world-class university that will continue to attract the best students, the most talented staff and significant research funds from around the world.

The new university will have an annual income of £420m and will have the breadth and quality of research and teaching to attract staff and students. It will have around 34,000 students and the merger will cut competition and duplication, streamline administration and create a clearer identity.

Lord Sainsbury, the science minister, said: "The merger will establish a centre for world-class research in Manchester, both in terms of size and resources." 

NEWS BY:http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2003/mar/07/highereducation.administration

UK university plans Bangkok campus

Plans to unveil the UK's first private university campus in Bangkok have been unveiled.

The University of Central Lancashire has signed an agreement with Thai-based entrepreneur Sitichai Charoenkajonkul to create a full-scale campus.

Preston-based UCLan will invest £7.5 million in the Thailand venture which aims to open the doors to its first influx of students in June 2014.

The site will offer full-time and part-time undergraduate, postgraduate and foundation degree courses in subject areas such as business, built and natural environment, engineering, creative and performing arts, and languages. Located in the Bangkok metropolitan area and within easy reach of the city centre, the new facility will initially be home to 800 students with a planned capacity of 5,000 in 10 years.

UCLan vice chancellor Malcolm McVicar said: "UCLan has made huge strides in the last 10 years and the qualities of innovation, entrepreneurship and enterprise remain at the heart of everything we do.

"We have students from over 120 countries and some 125 partnerships across the globe but we are now entering a new phase of exciting development which will see us build campuses outside the UK.

"Our Thailand project is an ideal fit and will enable us to become the first UK university to build a campus in Thailand, thereby extending our international links and bringing world-class higher education and our view of a superlative student experience to south-east Asia."

UK-based students will also benefit with full-time undergraduate students given the opportunity to obtain global experience or a study period abroad as a standard part of their degree programme.

Mr McVicar added: "At an undergraduate level our market research shows that in Thailand nationally there is strong demand for all our proposed academic subject areas while the postgraduate market looks even more encouraging with UK MBA qualifications particularly sought-after. Drawing on the strength of some of our partnerships with global brands, we will deliver courses which are bespoke for the Asian market while providing the gold standard of a UK university experience."

All teaching will be carried out in English with some UCLan academics relocating from the UK, while the degrees awarded will be University of Central Lancashire qualifications.

NEWS BY:http://www.herald.ie/breaking-news/world-news/uk-university-plans-bangkok-campus-2987540.html

UK university applicants down 8.7%

The number of UK students applying to start university this autumn has slumped by nearly 9%, official figures show.

In total, 462,507 people have applied for courses beginning in September, compared with 506,388 at this point last year - a drop of 8.7%, according to statistics published by Ucas.

Tuition fees for English universities are due to triple to a maximum of £9,000 this autumn. Overall application from all students, both home and abroad, are down by 7.4%, the figures show.

The figures show that the number of applicants have fallen from all parts of the UK. In England the number of applicants has dropped by 9.9%, Northern Ireland 4%, Scotland 1.5% and Wales 1.9%.

Education experts warned that the Government's plans to raise tuition fees could be having an impact on application figures.

But Ucas chief executive Mary Curnock Cook suggested that population changes could be a factor in the fall, and said the drop in demand was larger among wealthier students than poorer ones. And university leaders said the dip had been "far less dramatic" than had been predicted.

Ms Curnock Cook said: "There has been a headline drop of 7.4% in applicants, with a slightly larger fall in England. "The more detailed analysis of application rates for young people takes account of population changes. This shows a fall of just one percentage point in the application rate in England, with little change across the rest of the UK.

"Our analysis shows that decreases in demand are slightly larger in more advantaged groups than in the disadvantaged groups. Widely expressed concerns about recent changes in HE funding arrangements having a disproportionate effect on more disadvantaged groups are not borne out by these data."

Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of vice chancellors' umbrella group Universities UK, said: "While overall applicants have decreased compared with the same point last year, the dip is far less dramatic than many were initially predicting.

"For prospective students, it's important to remember that there is still time to apply. This is only the start of the admissions process. The important thing will be looking at how many of these, and subsequent applications, turn into acceptances in the coming months."

NEWS BY:http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/national/news/9500732.UK_university_applicants_down_8_7_/

College research shows cause for concern about ready-made spectacles

The results of research commissioned by the College of Optometrists shows that many ready-made spectacles are not of appropriate quality to match the advertising around them.

Following the publication of a Which? report on ready-made reading glasses in October 2010, the College commissioned Professor David Elliott at Bradford University to carry out some further research in this area based on a much larger sample size.  The original Which? report pointed to some potential issues with the quality of ready-made  spectacles, and possible discrepancies between the standards claimed by the manufacturers and those actually found in the glasses tested for their report.   Although the Which? report highlighted an issue that was of interest (and if their findings were accurate, concern) to our members and the public, the conclusions were based on a sample of 14 ready readers, which opened the findings to question.

After assessing over 300 ready readers from a wide range of high street stores, with costs ranging from £1 to £32, Professor Elliot’s team found that:

    Just over half of all ready-made spectacles used in the study provided the optical standards required of them by the relevant British and European Standard.
    
    Higher-powered ready-made spectacles were more likely to have errors (+3.50DS).
    
    The quality of these ready-made spectacles could be easily improved by the use of more appropriate inter-pupillary distances for the work they are intended for.

The team at Bradford ran a range of tests on the spectacles.   They examined each pair’s quality in terms of:

    how closely they met their advertised specifications
    
    the positioning of the lenses in the frames
    
    whether the frames positioned the lenses in such a way that the distance between the focal centres of the lenses was likely to fall within the range for average distance between pupils in the UK population.

Professor Elliott’s report on this research will be published in the research journal of the American Academy of Optometry (Optometry and Vision Science) later this year.

NEWS BY:http://www.college-optometrists.org/en/knowledge-centre/news/index.cfm/ready_readers_1_12

UK College of Medicine to launch program at Morehead State

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine will establish a program at Morehead State University in Morehead as a part of a mission to train and retain physicians in rural parts of the state.

Up to 10 students will be recruited for the Rural Physician Leadership Track program in 2008 and 2009.

After spending their first two years of medical school at UK's main campus in Lexington, students opting for the rural program will transfer to Morehead State, which will work in cooperation with St. Claire Regional Medical Center, to provide hands-on training.

The College of Medicine plans to open a second rural program at Murray State University in Murray as early as 2012, UK president Lee T. Todd said Tuesday in a news release.

A report issued in fall 2007 by the Kentucky Institute of Medicine showed that Kentucky has 213.5 doctors per 100,000 residents, compared with the national average of 267.9 per 100,000. The state needs an additional 2,300 doctors to reach the national average.

The most pronounced shortages are in the rural areas, College of Medicine officials say.

"The shortage of doctors, particularly in primary-care roles, is felt especially hard in areas such as Eastern and Western Kentucky," Dr. Jay Perman, dean of the College of Medicine and vice president for clinical affairs, said in the release. "The university has a leading role to play in ameliorating this problem, which is both a health care crisis and an ...

NEWS BY: http://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/stories/2008/06/16/daily24.html

Impact & Evaluation: Learning together

The University Museums Group (UMG) and the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE) are partnering on this one day conference - which is also the UMG Annual Conference. The programme includes a keynote presentation from Paul Manners (Director of the NCCPE) exploring the impact agenda, delegate led case studies, and workshops to develop key skills in evaluation and developing effective practice. Delegates will have the opportunity to participate in an open space session - contributing topics of relevance to them for small group discussion. The day will conclude with a panel discussion including contributions from Sally McDonald, UCL; Penny Fiddler, Association of Science and Discovery Centres and Eric Jensen, University of Warwick.


 NEWS BY: http://www.hestem-sw.org.uk/higher-education-curriculum/hec-news/?view=impact-and-evaluation-learning-t

London Tasmac college linked to UoW closes suddenly

A college in London which awards degrees validated by the University of Wales (UoW) has closed suddenly.

The UoW said it was offering "direct support" and assisting in the transfer of 650 students at Tasmac London School of Business to other colleges.

It is a further difficulty for the UoW which has recently faced widespread criticism over its validation of degrees at partner colleges.

UoW confirmed the closure. The BBC was unable to contact the college.

The investigation by BBC Wales' Week In Week Out programme examined how overseas students were being made offers to cheat their way to UoW degrees and UK graduate work visas. Tasmac college did not feature in the BBC programme.

The university said it wanted to repair its "tarnished brand" and would stop validating courses at all other institutions in the UK and abroad.

The UKBA and the Metropolitan Police subsequently launched two investigations which led to raids being carried out.

"University of Wales academics and officers travelled to London last week and are meeting the students today," a statement from UoW said.

"The university has been in discussions with other collaborative centres to arrange for the 650 students on University of Wales programmes to transfer to programmes at these institutions".

NEWS BY:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-15197683

A Global Fund for Education

The world is currently at risk of falling woefully short of the Millennium Development Goal of universal primary education by 2015. If we are to avoid this fate, a game-changing reform is needed. I believe that a Global Fund for Education is that game-changing initiative.

As you'll see in the report below, I propose that World Bank's Global Partnership for Education (formerly, the Fast Track Initiative) should be converted into an independent Global Fund for Education (GFE) that draws on the experience of the global funds in health, and that serves as a focal point for a renewed drive toward getting another 68 million children into school by 2015. The GFE would engage the business sector, and have the flexibility to make grants to NGOs and private companies, as well as national governments and multinational agencies.

It is time for governments around the world to take urgent action on behalf of the millions of children in need of a decent primary education. A Global Fund for Education would be a bold step in the right direction.

Brighton Hill Community College Is 'Satisfactory'

BASINGSTOKE’S largest secondary school has made progress since it was graded as “inadequate” by Ofsted in March – and there has been praise for the man who has now taken over as the permanent headteacher.

Charlie Currie has been leading Brighton Hill Community College as the interim headteacher after former head David Eyre retired months after the inspection result, which he publicly challenged Ofsted over.

Following the critical Ofsted report, Hampshire County Council, as local education authority, applied to the Education Secretary to replace the governing body with an interim executive board (IEB), which came into effect on September 1.

An Ofsted inspector, who visited the school in Brighton Way, in November, said the school is now making “satisfactory” progress in raising students’ achievement and addressing the issues for improvement.

Her Majesty’s Inspector John Daniell said in his report, published this month, that although attainment at the end of Key Stage 4 rose slightly in 2011, with 60 per cent of students gaining five or more A* to C grades at GCSE, including English and maths, this remains below the school’s target.

He said better progress has been made in music, drama and German, but the quality of teaching is variable, with some still inadequate.

The report said: “Where teaching is better, there is a correlation with good behaviour because students are challenged and therefore engaged in their learning.

“In some lessons, students’ good behaviour accelerated their rate of progress because they are enthused and motivated to succeed, whereas in others, inappropriate behaviour acts as a barrier to progress, which students say they find frustrating.”

Mr Daniell said the IEB had “set about making clear its high expectations in its mission to drive up standards.”

He added: “The interim headteacher and his team have accurately analysed the school’s existing strengths and areas for development, and have galvanised staff’s enthusiasm in tackling key issues head-on.”

Mr Currie said: “We were delighted with the outcome because it indicates that the school is making significant progress.

“We have been able to make outstanding headway in a very short time to put the school in the right place to progress. It (the grading) would never have been ‘good’. We were expecting, and hoping, it would be ‘satisfactory’. I was very pleased with it.

“It means we have been able to come a long way in a short time and that when we have our full inspection, which is scheduled to take place between March and the summer term, that we would expect by that time to have our ‘notice to improve’ removed.”

Basingstoke MP Maria Miller visited the school in November to find out how things were going.

She said: “I am delighted to hear about the progress that has been made at Brighton Hill Community College over a very short amount of time, and it is fantastic news that things are really getting back on track here.”


News By:

basingstokegazette.co.uk

Ryan Reynolds & Blake Lively Spotted In Vancouver

VANCOUVER, CANADA -- Caption At home with Ryan Reynolds isn’t a bad way to spend your holidays!

According to multiple reports, Ryan took rumored new girlfriend Blake Lively to his hometown of Vancouver this week.

According to People, the pair was spotted at the Original Cupcake Shop, where they purchased several cakes and various cupcakes.

“They seemed like a really sweet couple,” an employee told the mag.

Us Weekly also reported that Ryan, 35, and Blake, 24, were spotted on Monday night at Vancouver’s Tojos restaurant, with the actor’s mother and brother.

On Tuesday, the pair reportedly grabbed a bite to eat at Benny’s Bagels, with a source telling the mag that they were “really friendly,” but mostly only interacted with each other.

Prior to their Vancouver getaway, the “Green Lantern” co-stars were spotted together in New York City and Boston.


News By:

accesshollywood.com

Robert Pattinson, Sarah Palin And “Prometheus” In New TRAILER PARK

Three trailers have reached the Web as people attempt to scurry away from their laptops and enjoy the holidays with friends and family. But they are worth watching, so take a moment and enjoy the cinematic teases.

First, Ridley Scott has dropped our first look at “Prometheus,” a sci-fi adventure with a stellar cast (Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron, Noomi Rapace) that most thought would be a prequel to his seminal “Alien” (and many still believe will be connected somehow). Either way, Scott’s return to science-fiction heralds attention no matter what he’s attempting, and so “Prometheus” is high on our radar heading into 2012.

Next up is “Bel Ami,” Robert Pattinson’s steamy period romance that finds the “Twilight” heartthrob sleeping his way through Europe in search of wealth and power. Now that sounds like a tough task for the young actor, don’t you think? “Bel Ami” opens in March. The trailer is an MSN exclusive.

Finally, Julianne Moore and Ed Harris tackle real-life politicians Sarah Palin and John McCain in HBO’s “Game Change,” the adaptation of the best-selling book about their failed presidential campaign. “So find me a woman,” Harris’ McCain says when looking for a game-changing running mate. And Moore’s impersonation of Palin is a game changer, indeed.

I take it back. That’s not an impersonation. That’s the spitting image of Palin. It’s scary. And the movie looks scary good, no matter what side of the political fence you fall on. All three films will be out next year.


News By:
hollywoodnews.com

Carla DiBello Denies Speaking Out About Kobe Bryant

LOS ANGELES, CALIF. -- Amid stories surrounding the Kobe Bryant divorce, a new name emerged – Carla DiBello, who some reports suggested may have been romantically linked to the NBA superstar during his marriage to wife Vanessa.

On Tuesday morning, it appeared DiBello was speaking out about her relationship with Kobe, in a statement that confirmed the two were close friends, but nothing more.

However, now a rep for DiBello tells Access Hollywood that DiBello never issued any such statement linking herself to the NBA star.

As previously reported on AccessHollywood.com, Kobe’s wife, Vanessa, filed for divorce from the Lakers star on December 16, after 10 years of marriage.

In her filing, Vanessa cited “irreconcilable differences.”


News By:

accesshollywood.com

Final 3 Compete On ‘X Factor’; Simon Cowell Thinks He Knows Who Should Win

LOS ANGELES, CALIF. -- “The X Factor” and its $5 million recording contract is in America’s hands to decide.

Josh Krajcik, Chris Rene and the lone lady left standing, Melanie Amaro, took the stage for one last set of competition performances, and based on the judges’ comments, one contender may be in the lead. But who is it? Read on to find out…

Here’s how Round 1 went:

Josh, a burrito maker from Ohio, hit the stage with “Uninvited,” joined by Alanis Morissette. A little thrown off by the superstar power on stage, Josh was strong in his singing, but had a moment or two of insecurity standing next to the Grammy winner – and Simon Cowell noticed.

“Alanis — amazing, looks cute, by the way. Josh — I thought you were a little bit intimidated in the beginning,” Simon told the singer following his performance. “Then, as the song got into gear, I heard the old Josh back… It was an 8 out of 10.”

Chris dueted with Avril Lavigne on her song, “Complicated,” which featured one of the Santa Cruz performer’s own rap verses, something Josh’s mentor, Nicole Scherzinger, complimented.

“It was a little shaky in the takeoff… but your energy and the light around you is so flippin’ contagious,” she said. “You shined up there.”

Looking like the cat who got the cream, Simon introduced his contestant, Melanie, who sang “I Believe I Can Fly” alongside R. Kelly. Performing the tune in R. Kelly’s key signature made it less of a show piece for the powerhouse vocalist, according to Chris’ mentor, L.A. Reid.

“I felt you got a little bit over shadowed,” L.A. said.

Simon, however, praised his contender.

“You didn’t look like someone in a talent competition… It was a fantastic version of the song,” the Brit chimed in.

AH Nation Poll: Now that they’ve performed in the final, who should win “The X Factor”?

With no clear frontrunner in Round 1, Round 2 was anyone’s game as the contenders performed without superstar help and in Josh’s case, without any help at all. Just a lone man on stage, the Ohioan took out his guitar and gave a soulful rendition of “At Last.”

“This is what we call the $5 million song,” Simon said. “This is the song that’s gonna determine your fate… and what I liked about it was it was all about you, what we liked about it in the first place. This is gonna be a very, very close call tonight, I can feel that.”

Chris tugged at heart strings when he performed the song he did at his audition – his own composition – “Young Homie.”

Giving his all on stage alongside dancers and spruced up musical accompaniment, the young man was in his element and he was moved to tears by the end.

“You are magic!” Paula Abdul screamed. “You are the consummate singer/songwriter, performer… You make everyone fall in love with you.”

Melanie, then took to the stage for her final number – Beyonce’s “Listen,” complete with a choir and vocal runs that showed her true musical prowess.

“That is the Melanie I love,” L.A. said. “That wasn’t a $5 million performance, that was a $50 million performance.”

Simon, however, went one step further, telling Melanie she was the reason he imported his foreign reality competition stateside, and, perhaps, putting her in the lead.

“I brought this show to America because some of the greatest singers in this world are from this country, and you just proved that,” he said. “You, based on that performance tonight, you should be the winner of ‘The X Factor,’ because you’re gonna represent this country all over the world.”

“The X Factor” crowns a winner on Thursday night at 8 PM ET/PT on FOX.


News By:


accesshollywood.com

Angelina Jolie Will Cry If Kids Refuse To Travel

Angelina Jolie has admitted that she will break down in tears if one of her six children asks to be excused from the family's global travels.

The Hollywood actress and her partner Brad Pitt, who have three adopted kids and three biological tots, pride themselves on their nomadic lifestyle, settling for a few weeks at a time wherever their work takes them.

But Jolie knows eventually her children will want to live in one place and she can't bear the thought of leaving one behind.

"Right now they love it. If we're in the same place for two months they wanna know why we're not getting on an airplane," Contactmusic quoted her as saying.

"They really love to travel. Because they're such a big travelling pack, it's not one child moving around the world and missing friends, there's so many of them they have constant play dates and are always together.

"But I'm sure they're gonna say, 'Mum, let me stay home' and when that happens I'm gonna cry. I don't wanna settle, I love travelling, but we'll see.

"They'll probably end up living all around the world and my old age will be Brad and I travelling, trying to visit all our grandchildren in random countries," she added.


News By:

timesofindia.indiatimes.com

California Political Group Asks Kim Kardashian to Pay More Taxes

Progressive advocacy group, the Courage Campaign, may have found a way for Kim Kardashian to gain some fans after the backlash of her quickie divorce from Kris Humphries. It’s asking the reality star to pay more taxes.

"Surprisingly, [Kim] pays only one percentage point more in taxes than the average Californian, 9.3 percent," the organization says according to AdWeek.

The campaign asks Kardashian to support the Millionaires Tax, a California ballot measure that asks state residents who make more than $1 million a year to pay more in taxes to make up for state budget cuts, including ones to education, children and senior services, and road and bridge repairs.

The Courage Campaign goes on to point out that Kardashian "proudly boasts three separate closets for shoes, including one of her favorites, a pair of $2,500 Christian Louboutin lace and python booties," and could stand to pay a little more to relieve the state’s budget shortfall.

I have to say that the fact that she only pays 1% more in taxes than the average Californian who makes $47,000 a year is a winning argument for me. But, will Kim think so?

If you think Kardashian should support the Millionaires Tax, visit TaxKimK.com.


News By:

hollywoodreporter.com

Kendall Jenner Dishes On Kardashian Sisters

LOS ANGELES, CALIF. -- With Kim, Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian, Kendall Jenner has three sisters to offer up advice on everything from guys to her career – but which one’s blunt honesty can sometimes come off as a little “mean”?

“I don’t have a favorite, I love them all!” Kendall told Billy Bush and Kit Hoover on Monday’s Access Hollywood Live.

So, who does the 16-year-old Kendall and younger sister Kylie, 14, go to when they need guidance on dating?

“It’s so hard right now. Sometimes, we go to Kim, but then when we go to Kim, Khloe is like, ‘Why are you going to Kim? Like, I have the husband!’” Kendall said with a laugh.

Kendall explained to Billy and Kit that Kim is the sister she looks to for guidance on her career as a model, but what about help with friends?

“I would say Kourtney, but sometimes Kourtney, she’s just like, she doesn’t care, so she could be like mean about things,” she explained.

As for Khloe, she “just gives good advice about everything,” the young reality star told Billy and Kit.


News By:


accesshollywood.com

Why We Should Look East For Lessons In Education

The phrase "Go West Young Man" has lent itself to the English language for the past 160 years. But Education Secretary Michael Gove appears likely to ignore that advice as he looks to all parts east for inspiration on improving school standards in the UK.

He will today publish evidence from his independent review body on the national curriculum comparing the English system with the rest of the world. Mr Gove is aiming to make use other effective methods to provide what his officials call a "gold standard" curriculum here.

The report, by Tim Oates, director of research at Cambridge Assessment, will highlight places like Singapore and Hong Kong, which are at the top of international league tables. Singapore, for instance, insists its pupils learn their times tables by the age of nine – while Hong Kong teaches pupils about animal and plant cells by the age of 10 in science lessons instead of having to wait until secondary school. And the report does not just look to the Far East for inspiration – parts of Eastern Europe features in the list of countries to be marvelled at, too. Poland puts greater emphasis on classic books on its reading list for literature – the work of Homer and Sophocles as opposed to the three most popular books in GCSE exams, Of Mice and Men, Lord of the Flies and To Kill a Mockingbird. A glance at the international league tables for reading and maths standards shows evidence Mr Gove could cast his eye over other eastern countries, too.

The last Pisa (Programme for International Student Assessment) study in 2009 is topped by Shanghai, the first time China had entered schools for the survey. In Shanghai, pupils spend less time in extra-curricular activities such as sport, concentrating instead on preparing themselves for exams in the basics.

Then there is Finland. It has no league tables or targets; it instead relies on its teachers to prepare their lessons. Teaching there is the most sought-after career in the country.

But any attempt to "easternise" the curriculum over here is likely to have its opponents. "There are advantages to using international comparison data and it is right to view the curriculum in an international context but this must be put into perspective," said Brian Lightman, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders. "We know the danger of putting too much stock in cherry-picked international statistics that do not factor in cultural context. The national curriculum must be right for pupils in this country, not a 'me-too' model based on what is done elsewhere."

A second part of Mr Gove's announcement – that the curriculum reforms are being put back for a further year to allow a greater debate on the shape they will take – is being welcomed by secondary heads. "It is encouraging to hear the Department for Education recognise that rushed and poorly debated curriculum change creates chaos for schools by allowing them too little time to prepare," Mr Lightman said.

Mr Gove said his review will be completed by the end of next year – rather than January – and will not be implemented until 2014. This is being interpreted by some as evidence that the review group has not come up with the solutions he would like, including a more traditional 1950s-style curriculum in its first drafts – a claim denied in DfE circles.

Leading by example: What the world can teach Britain

From Shanghai: Top for reading and maths in international league tables. Shanghai schools concentrate less on extra-curricular activities such as sport and spend more time preparing pupils for exams in the core subjects. Critics say we spend too much time on tests but we do try to insist pupils do two hours of physical activity – sport or physical education – a week.

From China generally: Children start formal primary schooling at the age of six or seven (in line with most European countries) instead of aged five as in England. The education budget was also increased by 9 per cent last year, compared with being protected from overall cuts and modest growth of about 1 per cent in England

From Singapore: Children learn their times tables and division in maths by the time they are nine. In England, this is a target for Key Stage Two, which covers seven to 11-year-olds. Secondary school pupils are taught about quadratic equations at 13 instead of 14 as in England.

From Finland: Teaching is the most sought-after profession with 16 candidates for every vacancy on a teacher-training course. All teachers have to have a Master's degree – thus enhancing the status of the profession. In England you can qualify with a third degree pass although Education Secretary Michael Gove is planning to tighten this to just those with 2:2 passes or better.

From Hong Kong: Children in primary schools are taught about plant and animal cells in science lessons at the age of 10 instead of waiting until they start at secondary school, as the system works in England.

From Poland: Reading lists concentrate more on the classics from the likes of Homer, Sophocles and Shakespeare. In GCSE exams, 90 per cent of the answers are based on the same three books – Of Mice and Men, Lord of the Flies and To Kill a Mockingbird. Shakespeare, though, is a compulsory part of the national curriculum.

Bottom of the class: how Britain scores

Reading

1. Shanghai-China 556
2. Korea 539
3. Finland 536
4. Hong-Kong 533
5. Singapore 526
...25. UK 494



Maths

1. Shanghai-China 600
2. Singapore 562
3. Hong Kong 555
4. Korea 546
5. Chinese Taipei 543
...28. UK 492


News By:
independent.co.uk

Students Have A Gift For Pentucket-Area Residents

WEST NEWBURY — It's the season of giving and Pentucket Regional High School Visual Arts Teacher Marcia Nadeau-Tanner and her Senior Studio and AP Studio art students are offering a unique gift to residents in the Pentucket communities.

As part of a new graphic design unit developed by Tanner this year, the students are seeking to create visual designs for residents' marketing or advertising needs. There is no charge for the service.

Under the supervision of Tanner, students will work with clients to design a marketing piece. Clients will receive both a hard copy of the final design and a "print-ready" electronic file.

Requests for the design services have already been submitted by the Pentucket Music Department, Boys Soccer Team, the Pentucket Fine and Performing Arts Foundation, Pentucket Education Foundation and High School Community Service coordinator.

Tanner explained that creating authentic learning experiences for students is in keeping with teaching children 21st Century Skills, a focus for the Pentucket Regional School District.

"Authentic leaning experiences require collaboration between school and community. The benefit of having students work and learn in real-life situations creates a powerful connection for engaged student learning," Tanner said.


News By:

newburyportnews.com

The Cost Of School Failure

IT is hardly surprising that so many pupils are leaving secondary school lacking literacy and numeracy skills when so many primary schools are failing to equip children for secondary school in the first place.

According to the latest primary-school league tables, more than 1,300 schools across the country are missing targets for pupils mastering the basics. Meanwhile, to this region’s shame, Hull and Wakefield are among the very worst performing areas in England, with Rotherham and North Lincolnshire not far behind, based on 11-year-olds’ performances in English and maths Sats tests.

This means that one in 10 boys is leaving primary school with the reading age of a seven-year-old, while one in 14 has the writing age of a seven-year-old. And with secondary schools already having enough on their hands without correcting the faults that primaries should have put right, the result is far too many teenagers leaving school still deficient in English and maths and therefore struggling at university or failing to find a job.

Indeed, the consequences reach even further. For, as Morrisons announced last week, many recruits even lack basic social skills such as turning up on time and making eye contact. Yet it is hardly surprising that, if children are not taught to read and write properly, they lack the self-confidence necessary for all kinds of simple social interaction.

This is a damning indictment of the education system and of primary schools in particular. And while education in itself cannot be relied upon to solve the problems of the troubled families identified by the Government yesterday in the wake of the summer riots, it has to form a large part of that solution. For if teaching is more effective, it becomes more attractive, and a child who feels he is learning and making progress has less incentive to skip school, roam the streets and look for trouble.

There are, of course, many excellent primary schools with top-quality teachers and the results to show for it. But far too many are failing in their basic functions and the cost of that failure is becoming too much for society to bear.


News By:
yorkshirepost.co.uk

Shock At Sudden Death Of Hythe Bay Teacher Marion Broom

FLOWERS, balloons and messages have been left outside Hythe Bay Primary in memory of an "inspirational" teacher who died suddenly last Friday.

Pupils, parents and colleagues created a colourful display in tribute to Year 2 teacher Marion Broom, who lived in Palmarsh and had worked at the school for 18 years, on Monday.

Head Carolyn Chivers said: "Everyone will tell you what a great colleague Marion was. She had a wicked sense of humour and loved to party – we have all agreed to put on our biggest, "blingiest" jewellery at the staff Christmas party next week in her honour.

"But there was another side to Marion – the caring colleague who mentored the new teachers in this school like a mother, would help anyone with anything and was never afraid of hard work."

Mother-of-two Mrs Broom, who was in her 40s, started as a cleaner at Hythe Bay and became a dinner lady, but her "talents were spotted" and she became a teaching assistant. She then studied for her GCSEs, A levels and a degree to qualify as a teacher. She was studying for a master's degree in education.

Mrs Chivers said: "If your child was ever taught by Marion, you will know she was able to get the best from any child, achieving the highest standards with the children in her classes. She had exceptional skills with our more vulnerable children, her patience and understanding ensured that she would always go that extra mile for them.

"Parents and carers loved her. She was never afraid to say it like it was, but in a kind and professional way of course. She understood the traumas of family life and would always lend a sympathetic ear to those who needed it. After her own family, the children and families at Hythe Bay were Marion's life.

"Len, her husband, was the real love of Marion's life. Our thoughts and prayers are with Len and the boys at this very sad time and, although we will all miss her more than words can say, the memories we all have of her will always make us smile.

A Facebook tribute page had gathered more than 100 fans by Tuesday. One, Claire McIllroy, wrote: "To this day, I have never found anyone who has been able to make me laugh as much as Marion did, or met anyone as wonderful, kind and truly inspirational. I consider myself incredibly lucky to have worked alongside Marion, in fact truly privileged! My thoughts are with Marion's family and everyone at Hythe Bay."

The creator of the page, RIP Marion Broom, wrote: "Thank you everyone for the wonderful display of love that was at the school this morning. I'm sure she will be looking down with a tear in her eye."


News By:

thisiskent.co.uk

Where To Now For UK Life Sciences?

The 2012 UK Life Science Industry Leaders Survey* highlights a concern that the UK is losing its position as a center for global R&D. Nick Stephens, chief executive of executive search organization RSA, presents results from the survey and draws out some themes that are relevant to the industry as a whole.

These are challenging times for the UK life sciences industry as it copes with a host of issues. Some of these are impacting the industry worldwide and others, such as the reorganization of the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) and the introduction of new commercial arrangements, are specific to the UK.

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Recurring throughout the report is a palpable concern that the UK could lose its position as a center for global pharmaceutical research and development. There is a belief that government could be doing more to support the industry, as this extract from the “Wave a Magic Wand” section of the survey suggests:

“Put a big flag on the cliffs of Dover and say the UK is open for business and welcomes world-class clinical research back to our shores. Get all the NHS Trust CEOs in a room and tell them that their jobs are on the line unless they get fully square behind the NHS, supporting and embracing research. Make rates of corporate tax and tax credits the envy on research the envy of the world.”

The survey is now an annual feature of the UK Life Sciences sector, so it is interesting to look back and see how, if at all, things have changed over the last 12 months. In 2010 the three key messages from life science leaders were:

• The UK is not competing effectively in the global marketplace
• Create the right environment for growing early phase, smaller companies
• Make the most of the NHS and a talent for innovation and discovery

2010 also highlighted four key issues: the cost of operating in the UK, reorganization of the NHS, regulatory burdens, and fiscal and tax incentives to enable small companies to grow.

Some targeted support for R&D

The government has made progress on this last point in terms of providing some targeted support for R&D. Foremost amongst these is the Patent Box scheme, which applies a 10% corporation tax rate to profits derived from all active patents from April 2013. This does give an incentive for companies in the UK "to retain and commercialize existing patents and to develop new innovative patented products."

There have also been new tax credits for R&D, whereby a company can set tax against National Insurance contributions and income tax. This is ideal for small biotechnology companies which tend not to make profits but instead innovate toward acquisition by larger companies. Another positive sign has been the £800 million ($1.25 billion) invested in the National Institute for Healthcare Research.

These rays of sunshine in an otherwise overcast economy have done little to raise the spirits of UK life science leaders. In 2010, 60% were optimistic about the government’s engagement with and support for the industry, but in the space of 12 months, half of these lost faith. Now just one in three general managers has a positive outlook; and this amongst a group that tends to exude a positive attitude no matter what the challenge.

Gauging value of new therapies

Further into the survey, the causes for concern become more concrete. Payer evidence mechanisms - gauging the value of new therapies across a range of criteria - are becoming an increasingly common feature of health care management and the UK is no exception. This year we polled leaders on the new UK value-based pricing system and the results were not positive. Three out of five felt that it would reduce market access (and therefore patient access to novel drugs). Over half felt that it would cause the UK to fall behind as an early launch market; 70% felt it would delay launches in the UK and 40%, that it would reduce return on investment.

The reorganization of the NHS and the associated changes to the model of engagement is a major issue in the UK because during the periods of change everything grinds to a halt. It exacerbates an already difficult situation where multiple “hurdles” limit patient access to novel and effective medicines. It’s a far cry from the days when a representative sat down and talked to a doctor who would then decide whether to prescribe a particular drug.

When it came to suggesting solutions for some of the current challenges, respondents highlighted the need for flexibility (organizations and process) and innovation. Central to this is the current enthusiasm for “open innovation” with external partners - for example R&D scientists in universities, small biotech companies, even competitors - to achieve new therapies and medicines.

Fears on off-shoring

In the UK’s preclinical R&D, there were concerns about off-shoring (90%), the cost of pre-clinical research (74%) and increasing regulation (64%). In clinical research and regulatory affairs, concerns center on the impact of NHS changes (90%), the cost and speed of clinical trials in the UK (81%), and increasing regulatory burden (68%).

The real concern for the UK pharmaceutical business is that business will go offshore. Pfizer’s decision to move its anti-infectives business to Shanghai (though recent changes in China may indicate a silver lining) was proof that the alarm bells were for real. Moving to emerging markets may no longer give huge cost-savings but it remains a very real threat to the UK

The general message from the survey is that the UK is doing itself few favors when it comes to making itself an attractive place to undertake clinical trials.

The UK is still the biggest and most appropriate current set up for research and development but it is going to have to do a lot more if it is to retain this position. Central to this is the alignment of the health care sector, regulatory environments and educations systems, to deliver positive outcomes for both patients and the industry. If the UK doesn’t do this, there are others that will. And it will be their patients and economy that benefit, Mr Stephens concludes.


News By:

thepharmaletter.com