• Research Briefing

    Careers services

    This note outlines the current provision of careers services in England, then briefly outlines some of the services that have been replaced and also includes some comment from experts on current careers services.

  • Research Briefing

    Education: Historical statistics

    The organisation of every stage of education has undergone significant change over the last century. These changes have fundamentally altered most aspects of education. Historical indicators are therefore particularly interesting, but also problematic. Very few series are consistent over more than a few decades. The definition/size of different stages of education (primary, secondary, further/higher), school leaving ages and examinations have changed markedly as have state organisation and funding. As key concepts in education change so do the types of statistics collected. The increased role of the state in the first half of the 20th century also widened the scope of official education statistics.

  • Research Briefing

    Free schools

    This note provides background information on free schools. The main purpose is to outline the Government’s policy on various aspects of the free schools programme, and indicate where more information may be found.

  • Research Briefing

    What has happened to school-related quangos?

    As part of the Government’s programme of public bodies’ reform, which affects all Government departments, the Department for Education has abolished a number of school related quangos. Four new Executive Agencies within the Department for Education have been established and have taken on some of the responsibilities of those NDPBs

  • Research Briefing

    Sponsored Academies: Statistics

    Under the last Government the first academy was set up in 2002. Their number increased steadily over the following few years and reached more than 100 by the end of 2008. The rate of growth was even faster in the following two years. At the start of February 2012 their number stood at 337; 329 secondaries and 8 recently opened primary schools.

  • Research Briefing

    Education Bill: Committee Stage Report

    This is an account of the House of Commons Committee Stage of the Education Bill. It complements Research Paper 11/14, prepared for the Commons Second Reading debate, which examines the range of matters covered by the Bill. As originally presented, the Bill sought to make provision relating to the National Assembly for Wales’ framework powers. However, these clauses were removed from the Bill following the ‘yes’ vote in the Welsh Devolution Referendum. A Government amendment to clause 13 (reporting restrictions on alleged offences by teachers) was agreed to without a vote. This inserted new schedule 11B into the Education Act 2002, and was introduced to secure compliance with a European Electronic Commerce Directive. Several minor and technical Government amendments were also made to the Bill. The Opposition tabled many amendments, a considerable number of which were pressed to a division, but none was successful.

  • Research Briefing

    Education Bill [Bill 137 of 2010-11]

    This paper has been written for the House of Commons Second Reading debate on the Education Bill [Bill 137] on 8 February 2011. The Bill seeks to implement the legislative proposals in the Department for Education’s schools White Paper, 'The Importance of Teaching', and measures from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills relating to skills and the reform of higher education funding. It is therefore a very wide-ranging Bill.

  • Research Briefing

    Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) Statistics

    The Government announced in the Spending Review that the Education Maintenance Allowance Scheme (EMA) in England will stop at the end of academic year 2010/11. No new applications will be accepted from the start of January 2011. EMA currently provides up to £30 per week for students from low income households to encourage them to stay in education beyond the end of compulsory education. This note includes data on expenditure, the number of recipients, types of students who receive EMA and looks at the evidence on its impact on participation. The EMA section of the Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA) website gives information about eligibility criteria and how to apply. It also includes data on take-up and research into the impact of EMA and the effect of some of the changes to the scheme. It looks at the scheme in England only.

  • Research Briefing

    The future of school-related quangos

    The Coalition government decided to abolish several school-related quangos. At the time of writing, these are: the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA), the General Teaching Council for England (GTCE), the School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSSNB), the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (Becta), the Teachers TV Board of Governors, and the Teenage Pregnancy Independent Advisory Group (TPIAG). QCDA, GTCE and SSSNB are statutory bodies. This Standard Note provides background on these bodies and on future arrangements to cover those functions that are to be continued.

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