Just recently Reading Council announced it had bid for a £23m “crucial” funding grant to help it cope with an increasingly growing demand.  It said an estimated 360 extra places will be needed for each forthcoming year.  Despite this the Labour-dominated council commented that not a single child was denied a place this year after investing around £2m into the education sector.

The Tory spokesman for Reading however criticised the plans.  Conservative councillor, Isobel Ballsdon said Labour had “made life difficult for themselves by leaving it so late”.

She added the “main failure had been the historic lack of forecasting”

Concerns have been raised by Sport England over the playing fields which will be lost in the process.  They said the temporary structures may eventually come to be used as permanent classrooms unless suitable and alternative accommodation isn’t provided.  This they argue would impact an already declining number of sports fields across the country.

Applications from four primary schools were considered last week at a meeting of Reading Borough Council’s planning committee.  One double-stack modular classroom at Ridgeway Primary School, Whitley was approved for construction by councillors and will provide accommodation for up to 120 additional pupils.  Louisa Johnson- a planning officer on the committee said, “A rising population in Reading has seen has seen an increasing demand for primary places.

“As a result, the local education authority needs to increase the number of primary school places.”

In the 2011 census, Reading showed a 34% increase in children aged 0 to four over the last ten years.  Much of this has been down a massive population boom across the UK.  Another factor has been the immigration levels in the county.  Around 18percent of the population in all of the county of Berkshire is non-UK born.  Most of the residents are either young families or singles.

According to research by the London School of Economics, it was found neighbourhoods which had experienced mass immigration over the last 10 years had a significantly lower level of crime.  Rates of small crimes such as car theft, vandalism and burglary had fallen since the arrival of migrants from Eastern European countries including Poland, Hungary and Czech Republic.  In the report which is to be published this year by Harvard University, it was also found that the relationship between levels of violence and the arrival of foreigners into an area was “close to zero and insignificant”.

UK- A union leader has warned many of the UK’s talented headteachers are losing their jobs because they cannot hit the government’s target to improve a school in just a few weeks.

General Secretary Brian Lightman, of ASCL (Association of School and College Leader) attacked the government’s school improvement policy saying it was now “career suicide” for an aspiring head to take an underperforming school.  He said the education secretary Michael Gove’s decision to put a timeframe on the improvement of a school has resulted in 120 heads having lost their jobs to date.

The criticism comes amidst a growing crisis in the education sector.  According to official statistics since 2010 there has been a dramatic increase in the number of openings for heads, deputy and assistant heads.  However reports are showing that schools are actually struggling to find teachers who are willing to apply for the vacancies.

At the union’s annual conference last week, one headteacher reportedly told the education secretary she would be “committing career suicide”, if she stayed within her role in an attempt to try and improve her school.  She said school inspections which only assessed over a few weeks are making the assumption she was not a “quality leader”.

Union leader Brian Lightman said aspiring heads would have a much better chance at turning a school around if they were given a realistic timeframe in which to work.  However the pressure for “immediate results” was shunning away even the most ambitious leaders from risking their careers, he said.

Compounding the issue is a grave concern over the acute shortage of primary and secondary school places.  In a report by the National Audit Office (NAO), more than a quarter of a million new school places will be needed by 2014.

Christine Blower, General Secretary of NUT, National Union of Teachers said “This damning report makes clear that the Department for Education has not kept its eye on the ball. They have badly under-estimated the cost of delivering new places.”

Speaking after the conference, Mr Lightman said more than often after an Ofsted inspection, the two options taken are either to replace the head, or to turn it into an academy.  Figures released last year showed there were around 2,500 academies in the UK, an increase in ten-fold since 2010 when the number was just 203.

A law passed in America this week will permit school teachers in South Dakota to carry guns at work. In December last year twenty children and six adults were killed in a shooting spree at a Connecticut primary school and the bill comes in the wake of this tragedy, which has prompted renewed debate on US gun laws. Whether arming teachers will prevent future massacres in American schools is already proving contentious.

Under the new law teachers will not be forced to carry a gun, but school districts in South Dakota can choose whether to equip willing staff with firearms. Those who do elect to be armed will be referred to as “school sentinels” and will be enrolled on training programmes delivered by a law enforcement commission.

Scott Craig, a Republican who sponsored the bill in South Dakota, has stated that schools cannot afford to hire full-time police officers, hence the move to arm teachers and other members of staff. In Utah teachers have been legally allowed to carry guns for twelve years and similar legislation is being discussed in other states, including Kansas and Georgia.

Whilst supporters of the Republican initiative argue that it will make schools safer, there are many school representatives who claim that the introduction of guns in the classroom will present an increased danger to staff and students alike. Concerns centre on accidental shootings, inadequate training in emergency situations, and the possibility that heated confrontations between teachers and pupils could end in disaster.

America has a violent history of gun crime, with several massacres taking place at university campuses and school sites in recent decades. The recent Connecticut killings have brought the issue back to the political forefront, but it is a matter on which the USA remains divided.

President Barack Obama is amongst those proposing tighter gun controls across America. Organisations such as the National Rifle Association, however, continue to argue that increased numbers of guns will lead to increased safety for the population.

The new law will come into effect in South Dakota from 1 July this year.

Such is the case with one atheist parent who confessed for two years he faked being Christian to ensure his son was granted a place at the local Church of England school just across the road from home.  Andrew Penman from Woking, Surrey revealed how every Sunday him and his wife would obediently go to Sunday service at the local Anglican Church so they would be spotted amongst the believing folk.

He said, “I faked being a Christian to get my children into the local Church of England primary school. My plea: guilty. I am an atheist.”

However Penman is not alone in the ploy being used by others from the same town.  Within the same Church are other parents who also do not follow religion but occupy pews in the Christian Church.

Council investigations have shown the number of suspicious applications to have increased almost eleven fold over the last five years.  Last year more than 1,000 admission forms in 91 councils across the UK were investigated for fraudulent or bogus information.  Other concerns that were raised were due to fake baptism certificates,  incorrect or sometimes non-existent addresses and in some cases falsely claiming a child already at the school was a brother or sister, in order to benefit from the ‘sibling rule’.

According to Buckingham University Professor Alan Smithers, competition for a good education has become fierce as a result of the current recession and parents wanting their kids to get the best start possible.  The incredibly high fees charged by independent schools mean fewer parents can afford them, he said.  “We also have a much more qualifications-based society. You have to have the grades to get to a top university or get a job.”

In a recent survey by ING Bank, more than 40 percent of families said they would move to be nearer to their child’s school.  As a result more families are selling their homes and relocating to where they are guaranteed to be within the school’s catchment area.

The Conservative led coalition’s promise of easing the competition by operating free schools run by parent and teacher groups, charities and faith groups has done little to ease the burden.  Less than 80 of these schools are operational throughout the UK.

Processed beef products and frozen mince meat from Sodexo; a food supplier to the academies, were removed from the school kitchen after high levels of horse DNA were found in samples of meat.  Some of the meat was to be used to cook lasagne, whilst the processed products were ready to cook and serve to the children.

In its statement the company admitted meat being supplied to both schools had been contaminated, after conducting tests on batches of meat.  However it declined to name the source of its meat whilst it carried out its own investigation.

A spokesperson from the company said, “Despite repeated guarantees from our suppliers our sampling has identified frozen beef products which tested positive for equine DNA.”

Principal Ian Golding said the academy has written to all parents advising of the revelations.  He said, “We can confirm that with immediate effect all frozen and processed beef products have been withdrawn from the academies as a precaution.”

The Southampton schools are the latest in the UK to be affected by the horse meat scandal.  Last week concerns were raised after traces of horse DNA were found in fresh and frozen meat supplied to schools in Bath and Somerset.  After investigating the supplies from the Newport based firm Welsh Bros Foods, Bath and Somerset Council suspended all their meat supplies to the schools.

Beef was also off the menu yesterday at schools in Walsall, in the West Midlands.  Sandwell Council ordered all meat supplied to schools in the borough, after it learned of the allegations against Welsh Bros Foods.  The company was also a supplier to the schools in the county.

The British Council has reported that not enough schools in the UK are teaching Mandarin Chinese and that young peoples’ future prospects and the nation’s economy will suffer as a result. The recent study, in collaboration with HSBC, showed that only 9 per cent of high schools and 3 per cent of primary schools offer lessons in Mandarin.

China became the world’s second biggest economy in 2011 and is now preceded only by the USA on the global economic stage. With effective communication essential for developing business and trading relationships, it’s unsurprising that the British Council is emphasising the necessity of young people in the UK mastering China’s most widely-spoken language. There is concern that unless more Mandarin is taught in schools, the UK will soon struggle to compete with other countries due to a lack of language skills.

The British Council’s report coincides with general worries that fewer students are pursuing modern foreign languages at A Level and university. Grades awarded for French and German A Levels have fallen by 13.6 per cent and 24.3 per cent respectively since 2007, although there has been a 5.8 per cent increase in pupils studying A Level Spanish. Compared to over 72,000 pupils who took GCSE Spanish last summer, however, only 2,541 sat for a GCSE in Mandarin Chinese.

Of the 800 teachers questioned for the survey in September last year, 2 per cent revealed that their schools had ceased to offer Mandarin lessons. Just 1 per cent said that they were hoping to start teaching the language.

It has been suggested that one reason behind the stagnation of Mandarin being taught in schools is that head teachers presume it will be too linguistically challenging and will therefore negatively impact on league tables. Other reports conversely indicate that many pupils find it no harder to learn than French and take great pleasure in mastering Mandarin Chinese characters.

The government is considering making modern foreign languages compulsory from the age of seven, with Mandarin and Latin potentially being offered alongside more traditional European languages. Whether this will positively impact on how many students subsequently pursue Mandarin to a high level of proficiency, however, remains to be seen.

As Google’s Samsung Chromebook continues to top Amazon’s bestseller list in the UK and elsewhere, demand for the Chromebook also continues to grow among the education sector.

Starting at £195 ($249), the Samsung Chromebook is one of the cheapest laptops on the market, and through its Chromebook for Education initiative Google is making strides in providing schools across Europe and the United States with inexpensive laptops that allow students to access educational web resources.

See the Chromebook here

Since Samsung Chromebooks first exploded onto the market Google’s Chrome for Education initiative has pushed the use of the laptop in schools, citing their low cost, ease-of-use, and wide variety of third-party educational apps designed exclusively for its OS device as reasons why schools can benefit from using the Samsung Chromebook. In fact, this June Google announced that Chromebooks were being used in over 500 school districts across Europe and the U.S.

The low prices may initially have been the draw for schools interested in the Chromebook, but many schools have found that the lack of software licenses to purchase coupled with Google’s powerful Chrome browser has offered both students and administrators the type of educational support needed. For example, students can take advantage of Chromebook apps such as Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Docs, Labs, and Video; Chrome web browser; 8.5 hours of battery life; and a quick eight second boot up. Additionally, administrators and teachers can set user groups, configure network access, and modify settings and security according to different user groups.

A great review of the Chromebook….

Chromebook laptops had a slow start when they were initially introduced in limited quantities in late 2010, but the Chromebook for Education initiative has ensured that schools were among the first group of computer users to take advantage of the inexpensive laptops. And now according to media reports other consumers are following suit with some retailers reported to be selling out of the laptops for the holiday season.

See the Chromebook here

These were the findings that came from a two-part study which analysed the mathematical and literacy skills of primary age pupils in over 60 countries.

Children between the ages of 9-10 and 13-14 took part in two global worldwide research projects called Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), and Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS).  The data recorded trends in mathematical, science and literacy levels in primary school pupils.

Northern Ireland was placed as the highest performing English speaking country at primary level reading, outranking Ireland, England and Canada.  They outperformed England who ranked 11^th place in primary literacy and 9^th maths.

The Education Minister for NI, John O’Dowd described the findings as “truly impressive.”  He said, “It is also clear that the policies we have been implementing in recent years are working and that our young people are reaping the benefits.”

However the success ratings were overshadowed by Northern Ireland’s poor performing secondary level sector.  In February this year, an examination evaluation by the LibDem and Tory coalition in England described secondary performance as “failing”.  The PIRLS and TIMSS reports highlighted the vast differences between the two different levels, as the secondary has continued to spiral downwards in league tables.

Northern Ireland has been under the media spotlight recently after it saw a week of protests and rioting for the hosting of the Union Jack outside the Belfast City Hall.  Loyalists battled with police after Belfast City Council voted not to fly the flag everyday.  Around 40 people have been arrested in connection with the disruptions, when a largely peaceful demonstration turned into a riot scene, evoking memories of the days of Troubles.  Nearly 35 police officers were injured as a result.

A peace vigil was held today outside Belfast City Hall in response to the clashes.  Around 1,000 people attended the gathering which was the second day to end the violence.  Hundreds of people linked arms for a 5 minute prayer.

The man believed to be in his twenties and reported to be from Connecticut, walked into the suburban elementary school, situated 60 miles from New York, carrying two handguns.  He then shot and killed 18 students in a classroom, including the teacher who also happened to be his mother.  The shooter then shot seven other adults at the school before killing himself.

State police were called shortly after 9.30am, by Newtown police, who immediately arrived on the scene and began an “active shooter search”, according to Lt. J. Paul Vance of Connecticut State Police.

President Obama was informed of the incident about an hour after the fatality occurred.

The White House press secretary, Jay Carney told reporters, “I can just tell you that as a father, incidents like these weigh heavily on him,”

The US has seen unprecedented numbers of fatal shootings this year alone.  Fifteen mass shootings have happened in 2012 leaving 84 people dead.  Five people were killed in February at a health spa in Norcross, Georgia, after a man got into an argument and opened fire inside the facility.  In April, a 43 year old former Oikos University student walked into his old school and shot dead seven people, “execution-style”.   In August this year, former US soldier Wade Michael Page opened fire outside a Sikh temple killing 7 including himself.

The fatal shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School has ranked itself amongst the worst incidences involving firearms at schools in the country’s history.

Previously in 2007, the fatal shooting at Virginia Tech University, Virginia by a gunman left 32 people dead and 17 wounded in separate attacks.  The gunman was also found dead at the scene.

Despite spiralling gun crime the US continues to have the right to bear arms enshrined within its Constitution.  According to the Second Amendment of the Constitution, “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed”.

This statement dates back to 1791; the days of the lawless Wild West, where Rule of Law was enforced by local authorities.  In contrast, the Dunblane massacre of 1996 in Scotland saw the UK amend its unwritten Constitution to pass the Firearms Act (1997), outlawing the ownership of handguns.

Buy The Amazon Kindle HERE

With traditional print textbook costs for 2012 college students running anywhere from £350 to £750 ($600 to $1,200 approx), students are looking for cheaper alternatives.

Introduced by Amazon in 2011 as a simple e-reader, Kindles sparked interest in higher education by offering a way for learners to access the books they need without the hefty price tag of traditional textbooks. First generation Kindles sold by the millions and paved Amazon’s way to entering the tablet market.

Today, Amazon’s #1 seller, the Kindle Fire HD, is an android based, wi-fi capable reading machine with a high spec High Def screen. An amped up E-reader running on an Android 4.1 operating system, a.k.a Jelly Bean, and offering state of the art audio and video, the Fire is reaching out to consumers in all arenas, including hard to reach college kids.

With a price tag of £169 ($199) for the HD model, students who typically prefer tried and true traditional print are giving e-readers a second glance. Considering that most digital textbooks are available for purchase or rent at less than half the cost of paperback copies, some students are willing to pay now to save later.

According to research done by The Pew Research Center in 2012, 56% of people who use e-books use them for academic or work purposes. Out of that number, 36% use their device everyday. PRC’s study of people 16 and older shows that 41% used devices like the Kindle Fire for over half of their reading needs.

Buy The Amazon Kindle HERE

PRC also indicated that tablet use or e-reading is attractive to students for several reasons. The majority of those polled preferred e-books because of instant accessibility and portability, whereas others chose book selection as their number one motivator for buying an e-reader or tablet.

For any college student, choosing the right path is critical to making educational funds last. Opting for e-reading not only saves money, but valuable time. While not everyone has jumped the digital divide, many are looking into the idea as more affordable products like the Kindle Fire are introduced into the marketplace.