Equality guidance
Guidance to help schools in England and Scotland to protect their pupils from discrimination and promote equality has been published by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
The Schools Technical Guidance outlines the requirements under the Equality Act 2010 and explains how those working in schools can “create an environment where pupils of all backgrounds and abilities are able to learn and progress”. It tackles areas including admissions, education provision, extra-curricular activities, after-school and homework clubs, sports activities and school trips, as well as access to school facilities such as libraries and IT facilities.
The Commission is still developing guidance materials on rights, responsibilities and good practice under the Equality Act 2010. Visit: www.equalityhumanrights.com/legal-and-policy/equality-act/equality-act-codes-of-practice-and-technical-guidance
Scholarship fund
Scholarships worth £6,000 are to be given to the dependants of teachers by the Teacher Support Network and its sister charity Recourse. Twelve awards of £500 will be available to spend on continued education, books, tools, instruments or equipment, or for travel costs.
Applicants must be aged 16 to 25, be on a low income or benefits, and one or both parents must be a serving or former teacher of the inner or greater London area.
The scholarships are possible because of John James Cutler, a retired schoolmaster from Ealing who left provision in his will for “Cutler scholarships”. The deadline for applications is 12pm on August 30. Visit: www.teachersupport.info
Education statistics
The number of 16 to 18-year-olds in full-time education has fallen for the first time since 2001. Figures from the Department for Education (DfE) show that 67.2 per cent were in full-time education in 2012, compared to 68.6 per cent in 2011. A DfE statistical release put the drop down to a 4.3 per cent fall in the number of 18-year-olds going on to higher education institutions.
Figures also show a small rise to 5.8 per cent of 16 to 18-year-olds in part-time education, while the proportion not in education, employment or training (NEET) fell to 9.6 per cent in 2012. For 16-year-olds, the proportion counted as NEET rose from 5.5 to 5.8 per cent.
Autism and HE
The University of Bath is running a free summer school for young people with autism who are thinking of going to university. The residential programme will allow autistic students to experience aspects of student life. Autism is estimated to affect about half a million people in the UK and the 1990s saw a surge in diagnoses in children who are now approaching university age. The summer school will run for the first time from September 10 to 12. Visit: www.bath.ac.uk/psychology/autism-summer-school.html