This summer over 350* young people will be forced to marry someone against their will and as a result may not return to their classrooms next academic year. Ahead of the summer holidays, the Government’s Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) is urging teachers to be alert to students who may be at risk of forced marriage.

With more universities than expected imposing the highest level of tuition fees permitted under the new structure, many young people will be thinking long and hard before committing to the levels of debt that a degree will now require. This means it is more important than ever to demonstrate that the vocational path can be a rewarding alternative to a degree course, both personally and financially.

While it is no surprise that the government has accepted the recommendations of the Wolf Report, it is perhaps unique in being adopted as a whole without any tweaks or alterations. Like most of my colleagues in the vocational learning sector, I am largely in favour of this outcome, which will provide a clear roadmap for the future of vocational training in the UK, although I do have some reservations.

Entries for the SLA Library Design Award 2011 have now closed with the number and quality of entries exceeding expectations.

This is the first year of the Award, sponsored by Demco Interiors, which coincides with the publication of the ‘School Library: A Plan for Improvement’ report that clearly evidences the importance of a school library in improving literacy and reading.

Liz Wilkins, Senior Leader, Adobe Education UK comments: “Wedneday’s Spending Review revealed that whilst direct funding to schools will be protected, there will be a knock-on effect from the loss of key educational initiatives, such as Creative Partnerships which fosters long-term partnerships between schools and creative professionals. Initiatives such has this are likely to impact on creativity in learning. This is worrying when recent research from Adobe shows 77% of UK employers and University lecturers place high value on creativity in school leavers.

On the eve of the Government Spending Review, a report published today (19 October 2010) by Antidote – a charity and social enterprise that empowers schools to improve teaching, learning and behaviour - provides evidence that giving schools the tools and freedom to stimulate change from within can be the cheapest and most effective way of bringing about a step change in academic achievement and behaviour.   

Commenting on the impact of the Comprehensive Spending Review on higher education institutions, Rachel Taylor, director of higher education at PwC, said:

Commenting on the Government’s announcement to withdraw funding from the Creative Partnerships programme, Paul Collard, Chief Executive of arts education charity Creativity, Culture and Education (CCE), said:

Each school is being given the opportunity to nominate two students to attend the star-studded event at the Liverpool ECHO Arena on Wednesday 20^th October.

The Minister of State for Schools Nick Gibb MP will speak about discipline in schools at the Conservative Party Conference on 4th October 2010 at a fringe event held by Teacher Support Network and Parentline Plus.  The breakfast meeting entitled Sparing the rod: building a broad coalition to improve school discipline, will bring together politicians, charities and other key education sector figures to consider the impact of bad behaviour in schools.

Culture Minister Ed Vaizey has been interviewed by two teenagers on the Government’s plans for youth dance and culture.