Author Archives: Matt Burgess

Help Me Investigate Education are looking for a new editor

TweetWe’re looking for a new editor to help run Help Me Investigate Education, as I have a new job following my work on the website. Over the early months of this year we have explored education issues that have been at the forefront … Continue reading

Posted in Community question | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Half of new free schools will be created in London

Tweet Michael Gove has announced 102 new free schools which are going to open in the England in 2014.  The schools, which are state-funded independent schools, will join the existing 81 free schools which have already opened and aim to create 50,000 … Continue reading

Posted in Data | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

INFOGRAPHIC: Boys vs Girls absence figures for persistent offenders at special schools

TweetWe’ve analysed data from the Department for Education on the number pupils being absent from school in 2011/12 and have put together this infographic showing how boys who are persistent absentees at special schools miss more time than girls. Read … Continue reading

Posted in Data | 1 Comment

Imperial College London pulls auction of unpaid internship following student opposition

Tweet Imperial College London has pulled an unpaid internship which was up for auction at one of the country’s most expensive private schools.  Westminster School, which charges in excess of £7,000 per term, is running an online auction for internships … Continue reading

Posted in Leads | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

MAPPED: Department for Education spent more than £1m on hotels last year

Tweet MAP: The Department for Education’s spend across London hotels in 2012/13.  The Department for Education spent more than £1m of taxpayers’ money on hotel rooms for staff last year, including at 4* hotels in the heart of London.  The … Continue reading

Posted in Data | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Useful education links for 3rd-10th May

TweetThese are some of the education stories we found interesting between the May 3rd-10th 2013. Michael Gove attacks ‘infantilisation’ of school curriculum which encourages pupils to compare Nazis to Mr Men (The Independent) Education Secretary Michael Gove attacked the school … Continue reading

Posted in Links | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Department for Education faces scrutiny after responding late to one in five FOI requests

Tweet The Department of Education continues to perform poorly in responding to Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, according to recently published figures. The figures, published by the Ministry of Justice, show the department responded late to 21% of the requests they … Continue reading

Posted in Data | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

MAPPED: How many hours do children spend at school around the world?

Tweet Recently proposed reforms could allow UK state schools to stay open until 4:30pm each day with pupils taking shorter, four-week summer holidays to spend more time in the classroom. We’ve mapped the amount of hours pupils across the world spend … Continue reading

Posted in Data | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Factcheck: Schoolchildren ‘left behind’ by shorter school days?

TweetEducation secretary Michael Gove has called for longer school days and shorter school holidays to improve pupil performance and make life easier for working parents – but does the evidence support him? Matt Burgess and Emma Greatorex investigate.

Posted in Data, Investigation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

12,000 children miss out on chosen secondary school

TweetMore than 12,000 secondary school children have failed to get a school preference of their choice, figures have revealed.  Recently published data from the Department of Education shows the number of applications being made to secondary schools for pupils to … Continue reading

Posted in Data | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Mapped: how many children got their chosen school in London

TweetWe’ve mapped the number of children in each London Borough who did not get any of their chosen schools. While only 2.4% in the UK as a whole did not receive places at any of their preferred schools, the figures are much … Continue reading

Posted in Data, Investigation | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

INFOGRAPHIC: Secondary school applications and offers 2013

TweetWe’ve crunched data from the Department of Education on applications being made to secondary schools to put together this infographic on the winners and losers. Read more in our full article.

Posted in Data, Investigation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments