Abolition of the probationary year for British teachers in 1991 was short-lived, with new requirements for setting induction standards, monitoring performance, administering assessment, and deregistering new teachers introduced in the 1998 Teaching and Higher Education Act. A more imaginative and reality-based alternative is needed. (Contains 94…

Explains the growing importance of higher-level qualifications for adults in the UK, highlighting statistical trends in commitment to learning and qualifying-the result of taking part-time courses in higher education. Most part-time undergraduates fund their own tuition. Mature students' backgrounds and perspectives partly account for their rising…

Discusses the scope, present development, course offerings, and manpower utilization in the field of biochemistry. Indicates that the study of the subject is an intellectual challenge with unlimited opportunities. (CC)

This paper presents the results of a postal questionnaire survey carried out in the south-west of England into the teaching of braille to school-age children. It reports upon the qualifications and experiences of the school teachers and learning support assistants (LSAs) involved in this work. It also enquires into materials and resources…

This paper argues that the current skill strategies of New Labour (in England) and the Labour-led Coalition (in New Zealand) are part of a broader project to construct contrasting markets in education and training. On one hand, the skill strategies are helping to construct open education and training markets through creating institutional-based…

Discusses the meanings of patents for inventions and registered designs and trade marks and the training and duties of a patent agent. Indicates that harmonization of the industrial property is taking place with Britain's entry into the European Economic Cooperation. (CC)

Indepth interviews with informants revealed four interrelated policy tensions during development of the UK's General National Vocational Qualifications: the tendency to favor academic over vocational education, potential conflict between long-term strategic imperatives and short-term political objectives, employment and education departments'…

The secondary schools of England and Wales have laboured for a long time under a shortage of well qualified mathematics and science teachers. There are at last some signs that the situation is changing. (Editor)

Draws upon previously unused evidence to offer a revisionist view of the Emergency Training Scheme in England. Contends that published accounts mostly focus on notions of "challenge" and "response," without confronting associated issues of professional dilution. Concludes that the program implicitly fostered a devaluation of…

Purpose: This article analyses how higher education institutions (HEIs) have responded to government policy to increase the participation rates of students from lower social classes through their admissions policies. Design/methodology/approach: The article uses documentary evidence and interviews with institutional policy makers to examine HEI…

This report presents papers on the vocational qualifications systems in Sweden, France, the Netherlands, the Federal Republic of Germany, and England and Wales. An introduction (Russ Russell) looks at common themes. The paper on Sweden (Gun Cardell) addresses vocational education opportunities, curriculum and standards, costs, youth and…

Projected interpretation could play a much larger part as a service at multilingual conferences and as a teaching strategy if the switch is made from overhead projectors to word processors with accompanying monitor. (LMO)

From a safety point of view, there is a need to ensure that science teachers are appropriately qualified to teach their subject. Opportunities for accidents in school laboratories are legion and acquisition of skills and competence to obviate them is essential. (Author/RE)

Investigated levels of grammatical knowledge among 99 trainee primary school teachers in England and Wales. The study focused on clause and sentence structure to investigate the students' ability to apply their knowledge to analysis of children's writing and to explore the implications of proposed revisions to English in the national curriculum.…

This study investigated teachers' perceptions and practices concerning musical improvisation in the English primary classroom. A questionnaire survey was carried out with participants drawn from primary teachers--both generalists and specialists--working in various regions of England. The findings demonstrate a positive view of teachers'…