In England, Free Schools were announced as a dramatic way in which government policy has changed such that it is now possible for groups of parents, organisations or charities to start their own schools. They are seen as an attempt to stimulate to "supply side" of the quasi-market of schools, but they are not the first such initiatives.…

This factsheet, the first in a series on innovation and growth, provides an overview of the benefits of innovation vouchers, and gives some examples of how universities and Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) are including them in their European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) strategies. [For the second factsheet in the series,…

This consultation document proposes a method for allocating the additional resources for rewarding, retaining, and developing staff in higher education in England, announced as part of the Government's Year 2000 spending review. The Government set aside 50 million pounds for the financial year 2001-2002, rising to 110 million pounds in 2002-2003,…

Intended for individuals involved in research policy and funding in England's higher education system, this HEFCE report is a fundamental review of research policy and funding in the context of several issues addressed by the 1996 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). The report summarizes conclusions reached by the committee enjoined to oversee…

This document contains descriptions of 38 projects that were undertaken between 1985 and 1989 by English university continuing education departments. The projects were considered innovative and were funded under new arrangements that required competitive bids or encouraged high student enrollment and low unit costs. The project descriptions appear…