Published on
15 February 2011
Posted in Education
From a guest blogger: The Guardian notes that universities ‘could be forced to direct more of their income towards widening access if they fail to meet new targets for admitting state school pupils’. Specifically, it is being suggested that universities may be asked to lower entry requirements for students from poorer backgrounds. Ironically perhaps, it […]
Published on
14 January 2011
Posted in Education
For the first time, annual school league tables have measured the number of pupils achieving five GCSEs at grades A*-C in ‘traditional’ subjects comprising the new English Baccalaureate qualification. The result has been that recent increases in academic achievement have been exposed as a sham, as it is revealed that only 15.6% of pupils have […]
Published on
11 January 2011
Posted in British Politics, Culture, Education, Marriage & Family, Public Policy
Frank Field, the MP chosen to be the government’s so-called ‘poverty czar’, has recommended, in his much-anticipated report on poverty and life chances, that schools should offer parenting GCSEs in an attempt to curb widespread family breakdown in the UK. Readers may feel that this is a faintly ridiculous suggestion, or perhaps a step too […]
Published on
4 January 2011
From a guest blogger. Based on a talk given at the final session of the Thomas More Institute’s reading group entitled ‘University: Training for the “Rat Race” or Forming Virtuous People?’. The value of higher education is often assessed in strictly utilitarian terms. Will having an education to university degree level increase my lifelong earnings? […]
Published on
18 November 2010
Posted in Education, Music & Art, Thomas More Institute Events
Based upon an introductory presentation given at a session of the Thomas More Institute’s Young Persons’ Reading Group on the purpose of a university education. The presentation, and this article, are intended as a summary of and commentary upon an excellent article by Patrick J. Deneen to which we direct our readers: ‘Science and the […]
Published on
9 November 2010
Posted in Education
From a guest blogger: In The Republic, Plato struggled with the question of what relationship the State should have with academia, and settled on the concept of philosopher kings. It is right, thought Plato, that there are some who focus on seeking the truth in all matters. To these should be ordained the right to […]
Published on
22 October 2010
Posted in Education, Thomas More Institute Events, Virtue
Based upon an introductory presentation given at the first session of the Thomas More Institute’s reading group entitled ‘University: Training for the “Rat Race” or Forming Virtuous People?’. Recent years have witnessed the increasing popularity of a new subject amongst the smorgasbord offered at colleges of further education in the UK. ‘Critical thinking’ is of […]
Published on
15 October 2010
Posted in Education, Political Economy, Public Policy
An article from the BBC sums up the impact of the Browne Review: ‘Make no mistake. If Lord Browne’s blueprint is put into practice it will mean fundamental changes for higher education in England. Allowing universities to charge whatever they want will mean unleashing the forces of competition – which will mean winners and losers.’ […]