Author Archives: Paul Bradshaw

About Paul Bradshaw

Founder of Help Me Investigate. I'm a visiting professor at City University London's School of Journalism, and run an MA in Online Journalism at Birmingham City University. I publish the Online Journalism Blog, and am the co-author of the Online Journalism Handbook and Magazine Editing (3rd edition). I have a particular interest in Freedom of Information and data journalism.

How to: find out about pupil place shortages in local schools

TweetIn some places of the UK primary school pupils are expected to rise by up to a fifth in the next few years, with new funding announced this week to help local authorities cope with the rise. But if you … Continue reading

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Hundreds of academics on zero hour contracts at midlands universities

Tweet Help Me Investigate’s Nicole Froio has been looking at the use of zero hour contracts in Midlands universities. She reports in the Birmingham Mail:

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Full Fact publishes education data for factchecking

Tweet The factchecking site Full Fact has launched a new section on its website hosting key data on education. The Full Fact Finder covers 5 areas: immigration, health, the economy, crime and the law – and education.

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Useful education links for July 11th through August 8th

Tweet These are the education links we found interesting between July 11th and August 8th: How our school leavers fare – by school and by postcode| TheDetail.tv – Academics’ bin diving ’caused by zero-hours contracts’ | News | Times Higher … Continue reading

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Tip: finding leads in university council minutes

TweetThe minutes of meetings at public institutions are an often-overlooked source of possible story ideas and leads. Local authorities and hospitals regularly have their board meetings scrutinised by reporters – but university council meetings are less closely followed.

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Useful education links for June 6th through July 5th

Tweet These are the education links we found interesting between June 6th and July 5th: Education ministry gives go-ahead to two-thirds of Christian faith schools – But only one in five Islamic and Hindu schools approved, say DfE figures released … Continue reading

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Useful education links for April 23rd through May 21st

Tweet These are the education links we found interesting between April 23rd and May 21st: Academy chains decide where children go to school | Education | The Guardian – Academy critics say the underlying issue is that trusts are allowed … Continue reading

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When is a leak not a leak: An investigation into children’s home data

Tweet While working on a story relating to children’s care homes, Beth Ashton stumbled across some data that shouldn’t have been public. What she did next illustrates the ethical and legal issues facing journalists and public bodies dealing with sensitive subjects. A few … Continue reading

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University complaints – get the data

TweetLast week we reported on complaints to universities ranging from one for every five thousand students to one in every fifty. The data behind that, says @UnileaksUK, raises questions about the body which handles complaints where a student is unhappy with the … Continue reading

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Useful education links for April 13th through April 22nd

TweetThese are the education links we found interesting between April 13th and April 22nd: Suffolk teachers take time off over stress of Ofsted visits – Telegraph – The statistics have been released by Suffolk County Council following a Freedom of … Continue reading

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What information do universities record – and what might be requested?

TweetTimes Higher Education reporter David Matthews wrote about “stumbling blocks” to university transparency this month – and in the process highlighted some useful tips for those wanting to investigate higher education. Here are the highlights: Who makes the decisions? Most … Continue reading

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How education changed under Thatcher – Peter Wilby

TweetWriting in The Guardian Peter Wilby provides a brief history lesson on the education system in Britain and how it changed under Margaret Thatcher – particularly universities (“[previously] run on similar lines to the BBC”) and schools curriculum, selection and funding. It’s a … Continue reading

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