http://www.sfs-group.co.uk Latest Industry News from SFS Group - Insurance Cover for Independent Education en-gb http://www.sfs-group.co.uk/news-industry-19680099-latin_a_good_grounding_for_other_languages.htm Learning Latin can set students up to perform well when studying modern European languages, an expert has noted. Teresa Tinsley, director of communications at CILT, The National Centre for Languages, explained that many contemporary tongues are derived from modern ones. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 19:39:00 GMT http://www.sfs-group.co.uk/news-industry-19680089-government_abandoning_university_students.htm Cutting funding for universities will harm the very pupils the government has been encouraging to enter higher education. That is the suggestion of Sally Hunt, general secretary of the University and College Union (UCU), who argued that cuts announced this week will harm the quality of teaching on offer in England. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 19:38:00 GMT http://www.sfs-group.co.uk/news-industry-19680092-should_left_handers_be_taught_differently.htm An independent school head is organising a conference that will seek to determine whether left-handed pupils should be educated differently. According to the Times, Antony Clark of Malvern College has taken an interest in an apparent link between writing with the left hand and creativity. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 19:38:00 GMT http://www.sfs-group.co.uk/news-industry-19680086-boris_johnson_emphasises_importance_of_latin.htm The benefits of teaching Latin have been highlighted by London mayor Boris Johnson. Speaking at a City Hall event aimed at promoting the classics, he welcomed a survey showing nearly three-quarters of independent schools provide classical civilisation as a subject. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 19:37:00 GMT http://www.sfs-group.co.uk/news-industry-19679590-state_education_should_learn_from_independent_schools.htm The UK could produce more well-rounded pupils if state schools were given the opportunity for independence, it has been said. According to Anthony Seldon, headmaster of independent school Wellington College, establishments which are allowed to make a profit, select their pupils and choose their own curriculum provide a deeper and more intellectual education. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 18:30:00 GMT http://www.sfs-group.co.uk/news-industry-19679598-50_percent_of_independent_school_a_levels_graded_a.htm Over half of the A-level exams sat by pupils at UK independent schools are receiving A grades, according to a new report. Figures from Cambridge Assessment show that students at private schools are expected to excel when the new A* grade for A-levels is introduced this summer and are also dominating the countrys top results. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 18:30:00 GMT http://www.sfs-group.co.uk/news-industry-19679594-universities_should_be_free_to_set_fees.htm A leading education figure has claimed that the UKs top universities would benefit from being allowed to set their own tuition fees. Lord Patten of Barnes, who is the chancellor of the University of Oxford, said that the average cost of an undergraduates teaching at the education establishment is £16,000 – only half of which is funded by the government. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 18:30:00 GMT http://www.sfs-group.co.uk/news-industry-19679423-nao_predicts_repeat_of_student_loan_problems.htm It is not inconceivable that the problems experienced with student loans will not happen again, the National Audit Office (NAO) has claimed. The body has cast doubts on the ability of the Student Loans Company (SLC) to cope with the sheer number of student applications this year. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:50:00 GMT http://www.sfs-group.co.uk/news-industry-19679418-voice_universities_expected_to_do_more_with_less.htm It is increasingly becoming the case that universities are expected to accomplish more with less funding, an expert has said. Ian Toone, senior professional officer with Voice: the union for education professionals, stressed that more investment is needed in the sector, not less. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:50:00 GMT http://www.sfs-group.co.uk/news-industry-19679420-independent_school_pay_gap_closing__study.htm There is less of a disparity between the pay packets of those in state and independent schools, the results of a new study show. According to the Times Educational Supplements Pay Survey, the closing gap reflects the number of performance-related bonuses given to head teachers. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:50:00 GMT