Education Archives

Research Briefing

Trends in GCSE attainment gaps

Monday, 24 May, 2010

National improvements on the headline GCSE attainment measure have quickened in recent years. This has been accompanied by a fall in the performance gaps between different groups of pupils. Some substantial gaps remain, especially by different levels of poverty or deprivation. Others, such as those for most ethnic groups have virtually disappeared. These patterns raise the possibility that this headline indicator is no longer an an adequate measure of performance gaps that still exist and are clear on other measures.
Research Briefing

Children, Schools and Families Bill: Committee Stage ReportBill No 8 of 2009-10

Monday, 15 February, 2010

This is an account of the House of Commons Committee Stage of the Children, Schools and Families Bill. The Bill contained a clause on the charitable status of academies, but the Government decided it could achieve its objectives by non-legislative means, and at the end of the Committee Stage the clause was removed. No other changes were made to the Bill in Committee. There were many amendments proposed by the opposition parties but none was successful.
Research Briefing

Graduate Internships

Thursday, 28 January, 2010
Research Briefing

School Report Cards

Friday, 15 January, 2010

The Government plans to develop a new approach to school accountability that includes a School Report Card (SRC). The idea is that the SRC will provide a short summary of a school's performance, published at least annually, so that it will be easier for parents to understand the information available. This Standard Note provides background on the SRC proposals, and relates to England only.
- Research Briefing
- Schools
Research Briefing

Sources of historical statistics

Thursday, 07 January, 2010

Details of online sources of historical statistics across all subject areas other than the economy. These sources are either long-term time series or snapshots of a range of data from a specific point in the past.They allow comparisons between the present day and the start of data collection and any intervening period and give an understanding of patterns -have trends been smooth, random, cyclical etc? Snapshots cover a wider range of data and help us make more general comparisons between 'then' and 'now'. Most of the series go back to around the 1920s or earlier. . This note does not include links to economic data or anything to do with family history.
Research Briefing

Children, Schools and Families Bill. Bill 8 2009-10.

Wednesday, 16 December, 2009

This Bill provides ‘guarantees’ for pupils and parents in the school system, underpinned by new Home School Agreements, and makes provision for parental satisfaction surveys. It also makes changes to the powers of governing bodies of maintained schools; extends the remit of School Improvement Partners; provides greater powers for local authorities and the Secretary of State in relation to failing schools; paves the way for the introduction of School Report Cards; and makes provision to introduce a licence to practise for teachers. The Bill also seeks to implement the recommendations of several major reports. These changes affect the school curriculum; provide a registration system for home educators; and provide an additional right of appeal for parents of children with special educational needs. The Bill would also make changes to the reporting of information relating to family proceedings. Other provisions relate to Local Safeguarding Children Boards, Youth Offending Teams, the charitable status of academies, and the fees system for the inspection of independent schools.
Research Briefing

Autism Bill: Committee Stage Report (Bill 98 2008-09)

Wednesday, 10 June, 2009

This is a report of the House of Commons Committee Stage of the Autism Bill. It complements Research Paper 09/17 prepared for the Commons Second Reading debate.
Research Briefing

Sprinkler systems in schools

Thursday, 14 May, 2009

This note provides statistics on the number of fires in schools, and the costs and benefits of sprinkler system installation. It also looks at current regulation governing sprinkler systems in schools.
Research Briefing

Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill: Committee Stage Report

Wednesday, 22 April, 2009

This is a report of the House of Commons Committee Stage of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill. It complements Research Papers 09/14 and 09/15 prepared for the Commons Second Reading debate.
Research Briefing

Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill: provisions for children, education and learners (Bill 55 of 2008-09)

Wednesday, 18 February, 2009

This paper is one of two which examine the main proposals of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill 2008-09. It deals with the provisions relating to the dissolution of the Learning and Skills Council, the transfer to local authorities of responsibility for funding 16 to 18 education and training; the education of offenders; the creation of the Young Person’s Learning Agency and the Skills Funding Agency; and the legal identity of sixth-form colleges. The paper also covers the new regulatory body for qualifications (Ofqual); and a new agency to carry out the non-regulatory functions currently performed by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. The Bill seeks to strengthen the accountability of children’s services; amend intervention powers in respect of schools which are causing concern; provide for a new parental complaints service; change the school inspection arrangements; create a new negotiating body for school support staff pay and conditions; and address issues related to pupil and student behaviour. See also Research Paper 09/14.
Research Briefing

Adult Education

Monday, 19 January, 2009
- Research Briefing
- Education
Research Briefing

Schools causing concern

Wednesday, 26 November, 2008

This note refers to recent school improvement strategies, existing powers of local authorities to intervene where schools become a cause for concern, and outlines proposed changes.
- Research Briefing
- Schools
Research Briefing

Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) current issues

Thursday, 06 November, 2008
Research Briefing

Impacts of immigration

Friday, 25 July, 2008

This paper examines reports and evidence on the effects which immigration is having on communities and public services throughout the UK.
Research Briefing

Education and Skills Bill, Session 2007-08: Report and Third Reading in the Commons

Friday, 06 June, 2008

Total results (page 35 of 37)