University fee increase given the go ahead
Agreements to improve access of poorer students into higher education have been approved by the Office for Fair Access (Offa). This means that 47 out of 123 institutions will charge the maximum amount...
View ArticleScience Minister Sets Out Plans for Business Investment in Universities
The Science Minister, David Willetts MP, yesterday set out the Government’s plans to leverage funding from businesses and industry to support the establishment of new graduate university institutions...
View ArticleHow well is practical science resourced in schools?
Practical work is a vital part of scientific teaching and learning. By giving students the opportunity to carry out experiments and assess evidence, the use of practical work in science enables...
View ArticleGCSE reform – have your say
GCSE reform has been in the pipeline since the publication of the 2010 Schools White Paper: The Importance of Teaching. Early proposals were for a newly named qualification (English Baccalaureate...
View ArticleWhen fieldwork makes a geographer but not a biologist: Part 2
In October of last year, two consultations were opened on A level reform and their content and assessment. Whilst the Department of Education sought views on the content of A levels, Ofqual had their...
View ArticleResults are in for A level reforms…
Earlier this year, the BES contributed to two responses regarding the recent consultations on A level reform and the way that A levels are assessed. In mid-April, the Department for Education (DfE) and...
View ArticleHow ‘practical’ are the new Science A-level reforms? The HOC Science and...
Earlier this week, the House of Commons’ Science and Technology Committee held a meeting to consider the new science A-level reforms which will be implemented next year. In late April, the Department...
View ArticleDeveloping the next generation of scientists and engineers by consolidating...
The Westminster Higher Education Forum connects policymakers in Parliament, Whitehall and government agencies with key stakeholders to discuss topical matters. Earlier this month, the BES attended the...
View ArticleA-levels … are they fit for purpose?
On Tuesday 15 July, the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee held a discussion meeting to consider the poignant question ‘A-levels – Are they fit for purpose?’ If the last 10 months are anything to...
View ArticleThe A-level and GCSE results are in …
The long awaited month which is August brought in variable results for A-level and GCSE students across the UK. The results verify the impact of this year’s notable changes in education policy and...
View ArticleMaking the UK “the best place to do science”
The Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE), of which the British Ecological Society is a member, has this week launched three policy briefings which together comprise a “toolkit” for government to...
View ArticleAudit of Practical Work: How Good is Undergraduate Training?
A new study undertaken by the Society of Biology and the Biochemical Society has concluded that whilst most university teachers across the UK are happy with the quantity and quality of practical...
View ArticleManaging the Career Expectations of Doctoral Students: New Royal Society...
The Royal Society has released a new set of guidelines that aim to improve the management of doctoral students’ career expectations. The document, aimed at students, supervisory teams, careers and...
View ArticleCaSE Cross-Party Debate: Politicians set out their stalls on science policy
With less than four months to go until the General Election, the UK’s political parties are beginning to flesh out their manifesto promises and establish the battle lines on key issues. On 14 January,...
View ArticlePolicy Lunchbox: The Royal Society Vision report – the next steps
Last summer the Royal Society published its Vision for science and mathematics education, setting out the Society’s view as to how to secure a world-class education system, especially with regard to...
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