Category Archives: Investigation

How we did it: looking at the data behind academic zero hour contracts

TweetResearch by the University and College Union (UCU) revealed that more than half of British 145 universities have staff on zero hour contracts: a controversial arrangement that doesn’t guarantee pay or continuous work hours. According to figures from FOI requests, … Continue reading

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International Students Myth 5: If the PSW exists, all foreign graduates will want to stay

TweetIn the final part of this series on common misconceptions about international students and visa laws, Nicole Froio looks at whether foreign students want to stay in the UK. International Students Myth 5: If the PSW exists, all foreign graduates will want to … Continue reading

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International Students Myth 4: Scrapping the Post Study Work visa means there will be fewer illegal immigrants in the foreign graduates’ pool.

TweetIn the fourth of a five-part series on common misconceptions about international students and visa laws, Nicole Froio looks at the Post Study Work Visa. Myth 4: Scrapping the Post Study Work visa means there will be fewer illegal immigrants in the foreign … Continue reading

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International Students Myth 3: Laws should be tighter because some students stay illegally in this country after graduating.

TweetIn the third of a five-part series on common misconceptions about international students and visa laws, Nicole Froio looks at the law and international students. Myth 3: Laws should be tighter because some students stay illegally in this country after graduating. There are no … Continue reading

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International Student Myth 2: It costs too much to have students in the UK

TweetIn the second of a five-part series on common misconceptions about international students and visa laws, Nicole Froio looks at the cost of international students. Myth 2: It costs too much to have students here Foreign students usually come from wealthy families, … Continue reading

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Students and phone sex: “Why not work as a phone sex operator and pay your way through University”

Tweet Reporting from Phone Sex and Students. Rewritten and subbed by Nicole Froio. As the number of students working on sex phone lines increases one says that it is an important way to help pay her tuition fees while at university.  … 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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Academies present schools with greater opportunity to “innovate” says committee member

TweetReporting by Emily Jeffery, editing by Nicole Froio Painsley Academy in North Staffordshire received academy status last August. At the same time it also achieved a record-breaking 100% of year 11 students receiving grades A*-C in their GCSE’s. Painsley shared the … Continue reading

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How are university student complaints handled? Unileaks crunches the numbers

TweetThe OIA (Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education) has published its first set of complaint figures for the individual institutions who subscribe to its Scheme. The figures show rates varying considerably with some universities having as few as one … Continue reading

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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.

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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

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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.

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