Foster family shortage puts children at risk
The Guardian
Thousands of vulnerable children could end up trapped in inadequate or inappropriate care because of a crisis in the recruitment of foster parents, the Fostering Network charity has warned. It says at least 8,750 new foster families need to be found across the UK in the coming months. The biggest shortfalls are in London, the north-west of England and Scotland.
CfE to be put to use in English free school
The Scotsman
Parents trying to set up one of the UK Government-approved free schools in Oxford want to use Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence. Oxford New School, which hopes to open in 2013 with an initial roll of 375 pupils, will use the curriculum alongside the RSA’ s Opening Minds framework.
Church hits out at call for shared-campus schools
The Herald
The Catholic Church has attacked suggestions that sectarianism in Scotland could be tackled by building more shared-campus schools. As part of its plan to tackle the issue, the Nil by Mouth charity called for the Scottish Government to engage with councils over the possibility of building more shared campuses across Scotland. However, Michael McGrath, director of the Scottish Catholic Education Service, said the problem of sectarianism was rooted in communities, not schools.
New residence for Highland children
The Press and Journal
A new #163;750,000 school residence for children who live in one of the most isolated parts of the Highlands is to open. The accommodation, in the grounds of Ullapool High in Ross-shire, will become home to nine pupils who live on the peninsula of Scoraig. They have previously been staying in local lodgings.
SNP plans a U-turn to train more teachers
Scottish Daily Mail
It has been criticised for major planning blunders that saw teaching graduates forced to leave Scotland to find work. But yesterday, despite official figures showing 84 per cent of new recruits are not in full-time jobs, the SNP announced a fresh drive to train even more. Education Secretary Mike Russell said more teachers were needed and he was “seeking to encourage those who have sought work outside of teaching back into the profession”.
