Today's news review looks at the annoucnement of a new Institute of Technology from Dyson and a highly speculative report into school funding.
Dyson
Today Dyson announced its new Institute for Technology that will offer the opportunity for 25 people a year to complete degree level apprenticeships. Dyson will be working in collaboration with Warwick University.
The application process opens tomorrow and the successful students will work for Dyson in their engineering or product development teams while earning their qualification. This story has been covered by the Times, BBC, Telegraph, the Guardian and the Sun.
Dyson is exactly the type of high quality specialist provider that the Department wants to support under the reforms in the Higher Education Bill. The announcement demonstrates that new providers entering the sector will be able to offer expert high quality courses and give students the opportunity to learn the skills they need to succeed in their chosen industry.
Universities Minister Jo Johnson said:
Few organisations embody the spirit of great British invention quite like Dyson - constantly pushing at the boundaries of innovation, and home to some of the world’s best engineers. The Dyson Institute of Technology will not only offer students the chance to study on cutting edge degree level programmes, it will also play a vital role in educating the next generation of much needed engineers.
Our reforms in the Higher Education and Research Bill, currently making its way through Parliament, will ensure students can choose from a wider range of high-quality specialist institutions that can seek their own degree awarding powers and meet students’ diverse needs; providing employers with the skilled graduates that will drive future productivity and the economic prosperity of our country.
NUT/ATL report
The NUT and ATL have issued a report today speculating that schools with the most disadvantaged children are likely to experience the biggest reductions when the Government reallocates school funding.
This is according to their own calculations using a formula of their own making. This story has been covered by TES, Schools Week and the Mirror.
The speculation created by this report is unfair to both schools and parents as the Government’s proposed funding formula has not yet been published. It is impossible to make these calculations until a formula has been consulted on and agreed. This national formula will be introduced from 2018 to 2019 after two stages of consultations that encourages all stakeholder areas to take part.
A Department for Education spokesperson said:
This would appear to be irresponsible scaremongering, based on figures that are entirely speculative. As the NUT and ATL’s own report admits, they do not even reflect the Government's proposed fairer funding formula for schools, which is yet to be published.
In reality the schools budget has been protected and in 2016-17 totals over £40billion, the highest ever on record. The government's fairer funding proposals will ensure that areas with the highest need attract the most funding and end the historic unfairness in the system.
You can find out more about how to apply at the Dyson Institute website