http://www.teachers.org.uk NUT News feed en http://www.teachers.org.uk/showwire.php?id=18697111 The Cambridge Pre-U will be adopted in 150 schools by 2011, it has emerged.And 50 of these will be offering the new qualification from this September.Comprehnsives, grammars, sixth-form colleges and independent schools will be among those giving pupils the opportunity to opt for this assessment.It is described as being a return to the more traditional A-level system and has been hailed by some as preparing students more adequately for university studies, giving the brightest students the opportunity to challenge themselves.Tim ... Wed, 23 Jul 2008 11:52:17 GMT Adfero on behalf of NUT <philk@synergynewmedia.co.uk> Link http://www.teachers.org.uk/showwire.php?id=18697108 Twice the number of vocational qualifications are taken in schools now than there were a year ago, a new report suggests.According to vocational pressure group Edge, there are now 155,000 of these taken in schools, reports the BBC.However, schools still only provide 4.75 per cent of those offered in the UK as a whole, outdone by private firms, colleges and employers.David Hemsworth, lead researcher for the report, noted that schools need to acknowledge that these can be offered to pupils ... Wed, 23 Jul 2008 11:52:01 GMT Adfero on behalf of NUT <philk@synergynewmedia.co.uk> Link http://www.teachers.org.uk/showwire.php?id=18697103 Intervening in the Sats chaos could 'compromise accountability' of those involved in discussions, schools secretary Ed Balls has said.Speaking in the House of Commons yesterday, Mr Balls argued that public interest could be jeopardised if he became caught up in talks between the marking firm at the centre of the controversy, ETS, and the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority.The minister faced a stream of questions from opposition politicians as he announced the most recent result figures.Around one-fifth of primary schools are ... Wed, 23 Jul 2008 11:51:48 GMT Adfero on behalf of NUT <philk@synergynewmedia.co.uk> Link http://www.teachers.org.uk/story.php?id=3053 This document outlines the key legal requirements on drivers and operators of school minibuses and describes the support teachers should be given before they agree to drive a school minibus. ... Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:00:00 GMT National Union of Teachers <philk@synergynewmedia.co.uk> Link http://www.teachers.org.uk/story.php?id=4432 Commenting on Ed Balls and Christine Gilberts letters to the House of Commons schools Select Committee, Christine Blower, Acting General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, Europes largest teaching union said; ... Tue, 22 Jul 2008 04:11:20 GMT National Union of Teachers <philk@synergynewmedia.co.uk> Link http://www.teachers.org.uk/showwire.php?id=18695600 The former rector of Imperial College will lead a Conservative Party investigation into the testing system in England, it has been announced.Sir Richard Sykes is due to consider which other testing systems could be appropriate to be implemented in the country. Shadow education secretary Michael Gove said: "It is vital that we have a testing and examination system which enables our young people to compete with the best in the world."The Tories will be conducting their own inquiry in response ... Tue, 22 Jul 2008 03:27:11 GMT Adfero on behalf of NUT <philk@synergynewmedia.co.uk> Link http://www.teachers.org.uk/showwire.php?id=18695597 Christine Gilbert, Ofsted's chief inspector, has suggested that the range of what is taught in schools is being limited due to the pressure of tests.Many schools that are looking to boost results are "teaching to the test", she argued.Subjects such as history and geography are being abandoned in favour of the core subjects that will be assessed in the lead up to exams, added Ms Gilbert in a letter to the Commons' children, schools and families select committee."In some schools ... Tue, 22 Jul 2008 03:26:57 GMT Adfero on behalf of NUT <philk@synergynewmedia.co.uk> Link http://www.teachers.org.uk/showwire.php?id=18695592 A reduction in class sizes in Wales would provide a "golden opportunity" to provide more newly-qualified teachers with jobs, the National Union of Teachers (NUT) has suggested.Secretary of the union in Wales David Evans made this assertion in response to new figures suggesting a high number of graduates of teacher training in the country are failing to secure jobs, reports the Daily Post.In response to questions from the Conservatives, education minister Jane Hutt told the assembly that 195 newly-qualified teachers ... Tue, 22 Jul 2008 03:26:37 GMT Adfero on behalf of NUT <philk@synergynewmedia.co.uk> Link http://www.teachers.org.uk/story.php?id=4430 The Fairer Futures Project is an exciting new project to support the Union's equal opportunities work so that the Union can reduce inequalities faced by teachers at work. This project is funded by the Department of Trade and Industry from the Union Modernisation Fund, part of the Government's commitment to support the trade union movement. ... Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:19:59 GMT National Union of Teachers <philk@synergynewmedia.co.uk> Link http://www.teachers.org.uk/showwire.php?id=18693167 Those who are training to become teachers are better qualified than ever before, new figures suggest.According to the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA), the proportion of trainees with a 2:1 or a first has soared over the last year.And furthermore, 90 per cent of trainee teachers are being employed within six months of completing their training, stated the TDA's chief executive Graham Holley."It is encouraging to see that the quality of our new teachers remains high and that ... Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:25:55 GMT Adfero on behalf of NUT <philk@synergynewmedia.co.uk> Link http://www.teachers.org.uk/showwire.php?id=18693166 Designs for around eight in ten of new school buildings have been slammed by the government's architecture watchdog.According to the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (Cabe), of 40 proposed plans, the majority were "mediocre" or "not yet good enough", reports the Guardian.The government-commissioned watchdog conducted a detailed review of all of these designs."Ultimately it should not be acceptable for public money to be used to procure poorly designed schools," Cabe's chief executive Richard Simmons told the paper, which ... Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:25:37 GMT Adfero on behalf of NUT <philk@synergynewmedia.co.uk> Link http://www.teachers.org.uk/showwire.php?id=18693165 The demand for nursery places has rocketed as more mothers choose to return to work when their children are still young, new figures suggest.According to economic analysts Laing & Buisson , the nursery industry is now worth &amp;pound;3.8 million a year, as lifestyle changes mean more mothers opting to head back to the office, reports the Telegraph.Report author Philip Blackburn argued that an eight per cent boom in the UK's day nursery market is a result of mothers choosing to ... Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:25:22 GMT Adfero on behalf of NUT <philk@synergynewmedia.co.uk> Link http://www.teachers.org.uk/showwire.php?id=18693164 Children at Mosque schools will be given lessons about British citizenship, in the latest bid to tackle extremism.Pilots of the programme are due to be carried out in a number of towns across England starting this September, following training sessions for teachers that will take place over the summer.Lessons about how to combine the Islamic faith with being British will be taught alongside lessons about the Qur'an.Communities secretary Hazel Blears stated: "We have a responsibility to ensure our young people ... Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:25:04 GMT Adfero on behalf of NUT <philk@synergynewmedia.co.uk> Link http://www.teachers.org.uk/story.php?id=4417 Commenting on the future of this years Sats tests, Christine Blower, Acting General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, Europes largest teaching union said; ... Fri, 18 Jul 2008 09:46:06 GMT National Union of Teachers <philk@synergynewmedia.co.uk> Link http://www.teachers.org.uk/story.php?id=4416 From the beginning of September 2007 all primary and secondary maintained schools in England were given the legal duty to promote community cohesion. The Runnymede Trust is inviting teachers and staff in English schools to give their views in an on-line survey opinion on how they are coping with this obligation and whether it is having a positive effect. ... Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:00:00 GMT National Union of Teachers <philk@synergynewmedia.co.uk> Link http://www.teachers.org.uk/story.php?id=4415 Commenting on the survey by Which? magazine, Christine Blower, Acting General Secretray of the National Union of Teachers, Europes largest teaching union said; ... Wed, 16 Jul 2008 11:55:24 GMT National Union of Teachers <philk@synergynewmedia.co.uk> Link http://www.teachers.org.uk/story.php?id=4414 Send for your copy Your NUT Diary, full of information, guidance, essential facts and phone numbers all in an attractive pocket format. ... Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:00:00 GMT National Union of Teachers <philk@synergynewmedia.co.uk> Link http://www.teachers.org.uk/story.php?id=4410 Register your interest here ... Wed, 09 Jul 2008 12:00:00 GMT National Union of Teachers <philk@synergynewmedia.co.uk> Link http://www.teachers.org.uk/story.php?id=4408 What is the Fairer Futures project? The Union has received two year funding from the Governments Union Modernisation Fund for a project called Fairer Futures. The aim of this project is to generate greater involvement and participation of members in the Unions local structures by encouraging members to become active equal opportunities officers. ... Tue, 08 Jul 2008 05:04:22 GMT National Union of Teachers <philk@synergynewmedia.co.uk> Link http://www.teachers.org.uk/story.php?id=4407 Set out here for teachers and head teachers, advice on the forthcoming action conducted by Unite-Unison planned for 16 and 17 July. ... Tue, 08 Jul 2008 03:59:45 GMT National Union of Teachers <philk@synergynewmedia.co.uk> Link http://www.teachers.org.uk/story.php?id=4406 Commenting on the statement from the National Assessment Agency, Christine Blower, Acting General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, Europes largest teaching union said; ... Fri, 04 Jul 2008 02:30:17 GMT National Union of Teachers <philk@synergynewmedia.co.uk> Link