Cribsheet 19.04.11

Universities come clean on fees, teachers vote to strike

Today's the deadline for universities planning to charge over £6,000 in fees to tell Offa how they're going to help disadvantaged students. Jeevan Vasagar has calculated that the average tariff among the 60 who've already declared is £8,679.20, with three-quarters opting for the full £9,000. Here's the full list of what we know so far.

David Willetts says the hike in fees is going to bring real benefits to students and their parents:

"We should never forget the importance of competition by quality. Many parents and students will be worried about how many seminars they will get, what arrangements there are for work experience and how much coursework will be set. Universities will be publishing more data than ever before so that parents and students can compare performance and choose where to apply for accordingly. The money will go with the choices the student makes."

Liam Burns, NUS president-elect, says the new system is idiotic:

"The Office for Budget Responsibility and the Institute for Fiscal Studies provide evidence that it will cost the taxpayer more, as well as loading graduates with debt, while independent studies show that when presented with the prospect of upwards of £40,000 of debt many will decide not to take the risk. Still the government ploughed ahead with this idiotic system and thousands upon thousands of young people will suffer as a result."

More education news from the Guardian

• Not content with student activism and giving Michael Portillo the runaround on TV, the marvellous Josie Long (@josielong) is starting a charity to help disadvantaged young people get to university, and to tackle student debt, and to raise the profile of arts courses.

"We've go an idea to coincide with the royal wedding because prince thingy studied history of art - and he probably left debt-free.
I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't have a student loan."

She says her Hackney-based charity ultimately aims "to reinstate free education for all at a tertiary level" - and to be as unrealistic as possible.

"I'm almost perversely pro stupid degrees now. I don't care if you are studying beer management. Good for you - you enjoy yourself. Have three years of absolute flowering."

Meanwhile Mike Baker finds Villiers Park Educational Trust helping cash-strapped students in Wiltshire and East Sussex to find places at top universities.

• Strikes could close schools as early as June, Jeevan Vasagar reports, after teachers at the Association of Teachers and Lecturers's annual conference backed a ballot for industrial action over the government's proposed changes to pensions. We're about to launch the story.

• Fran Abrams looks at a row brewing over what attitude academies will take to the teaching unions and to national pay agreements. Lord Hill, the minister responsible for academies, has made it clear that they will be able to set their own pay and conditions. Both Nasuwt and the ATL are preparing to launch legal cases against schools that fail to consult them fully on plans to convert to academy status.

• Further education colleges are training stewards for the Olympics - and they're getting security industry qualifications.

• Blended learning is a buzzword in education these days, a mix of face-to-face and online instruction. Lucy Tobin discovers that students on Portsmouth University's master's in international criminal justice include a Japanese postgraduate working in Afghanistan, a Czech working in London and British police officers working in the UK, Europe and North America.

• The University of the Arts London, the biggest art university in the country, is facing up to a collapse in public funding. David Batty finds out how it's planning to survive.

• If you're looking for something arty to do with your small children, may I remind you of the Easter crafts series we ran a couple of weeks ago. Red Ted Art, who compiled the series for the Guardian, has also got a bunch of royal wedding activities on their own site.

Guardian views

Mike Baker Academies and the Ebacc are proving irresistible - but what will happen to the casualties?

Nigel Seaton We should stop the system of classifying degrees because it's so unfair to students.

Research revelation

What do the Chinese like about Europe? The University of Nottingham is leading a team that's been finding out. And here's what they've discovered: David Beckham, Louis Vuitton, VWs - and democracy.

Education news from around the web

• A survey of 653 staff carried out by the ATL union has found traditional playground games like British bulldog and conkers are disappearing from many of England's schools, the BBC reports.

• The government must fix Britain's education system to encourage companies to invest here, the Confederation of British Industry tells the Telegraph. John Cridland, CBI director general, says:

"Education and skills is probably the most important thing that government can do to provide the framework for investment. We don't want skill shortages and weaknesses in our education system becoming a constraint."

• Informed education (@informed_edu) blogs on the behaviour controversy. While some (Katharine Birbalsingh, Victoria Coren) are horrified by worsening pupil behaviour, others (including Ofsted) say the problem is decreasing. This is what the blog has to say:

"The big behaviour debate serves very little purpose. It becomes a destructive pawn in political games that do the education sector a disservice.
I strongly believe people should just focus on what works, share good practice among teachers and parents, and expect nothing but the best from every child, and for every child."

• The China Daily website reports that China now sends the largest number of students to study overseas, with a record 1.27 million studying abroad at the end of 2010, according to the latest statistics from the ministry of education.

About 285,000 of them were new students who began their overseas studies last year, up 24% over 2009. Self-financed students make up the largest group of those going overseas, and more than 90% chose to study in the top 10 destinations - the US, Australia, Japan, the UK, South Korea, Canada, Singapore, France, Germany and Russia. Thanks to James Eyre, who teaches in China, for the link.

• The Independent Florida Alligator has a piece on the wilder fringes of academic endeavour in the US.

"Cornell offers a course called Tree Climbing, the University of Wisconsin offers Elvish, the language of Lord of the Rings, and Alfred University has a class called Maple Syrup Making."

But the Alligator is knocked out by Underwater Basket Weaving, offered at Reed College in Portland, Oregon, and at the University of California at San Diego. Thanks to @gsgschools for the link.

On the Guardian Teacher Network

Virtual outings for the Easter break: A great way for children to visit a real farm if they can't actually get to one, a zoo project lesson plan for 11-14 year-olds and a visit to a virtual zoo for pre-schoolers.

On the Higher Education Network

Why UK higher education institutions should invest in technology: It can seem expensive, but even simple innovations can have a big impact on your institution, students and working life, argues JISC's Professor David Baker.

Education seminars from Guardian Professional

Getting the best education for children in care

The Guardian's one-day seminar in association with Tact (the UK's largest fostering and adoption charity) will provide an overview of the UK education system and strategies for dealing with the challenges faced by looked-after children and their carers.

26 May, London.

Making the most of media opportunities to enhance your school's profile

Whether it's sharing good news or handling a crisis, headteachers and school management teams need to be able to handle the media in all of its forms. This one-day seminar in association with the NAHT is essential for new and aspiring heads as well as established school leaders who wish to update their knowledge. It includes a session on social media.

13 June, Birmingham and 20 September, London.

Distinctiveness and branding in higher education

Higher education institutions will struggle in the marketplace unless they stand out from competitors and make sense to stakeholders. The Guardian's half-day seminar in partnership with the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education will explore what it takes to develop and maintain a distinctive brand that attracts students, staff and funders. Participants will hear from experts, examine case studies and have the opportunity to network with peers.

28 June, London.