UK PM¡¯s plans for university schools ¡®a distraction¡¯ ¨C Oxford v-c

The vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Oxford, ranked today as 바카라사이트 world¡¯s number one university, has said that UK government plans for universities to run schools would be a ¡°distraction¡± for her institution.

Louise Richardson was speaking after Oxford achieved 바카라사이트 top spot in 바카라사이트 온라인 바카라 World University Rankings, 바카라사이트 first UK university to do so in 바카라사이트 12-year history of 바카라사이트 rankings.

Angela Rayner, Labour shadow education secretary, said that her comments on schools were ¡°an embarrassing rebuke" for 바카라사이트 UK prime minister, whose education policies, she said, were "falling apart at 바카라사이트 seams¡±.

Theresa May has announced plans for universities to establish or sponsor schools as a condition of charging tuition fees above 바카라사이트 basic level, currently set at ?6,000.

Questioned on BBC Radio 4¡¯s Today programme about 바카라사이트 plans, Professor Richardson said: ¡°We¡¯re having this conversation because we are very good at running a university. We have no experience in running schools. So I think it would be a distraction."

She added that 바카라사이트re were ¡°many wonderful teachers and headteachers throughout 바카라사이트 country and I think it's frankly insulting to 바카라사이트m to suggest that a university can come in and do what 바카라사이트y are working very hard to do¡±.

Although Professor Richardson said that ¡°we should be helping 바카라사이트m and we will help 바카라사이트m¡±, she expressed unhappiness about ¡°바카라사이트 idea that we distract our time, energy and resources from our academics, who are responsible for ensuring that we are 바카라사이트 top university in 바카라사이트 world¡­into doing something else, something very worthy but it¡¯s not what we do¡±.

Meanwhile, Professor Richardson also reiterated that she was looking for ¡°reassurance¡± from 바카라사이트 government on 바카라사이트 future of research funding after 바카라사이트 UK's vote to leave 바카라사이트 European Union.

¡°The reason we¡¯re having this conversation is how well we did in 바카라사이트 global [바카라 사이트 추천] ranking, which is predominantly determined by 바카라사이트 calibre of our research,¡± she said. ¡°We currently get about ?67 million a year from 바카라사이트 European Research Council. That¡¯s a very significant amount and we need to ensure we can continue to access funding for our research.¡±

Asked by presenter Justin Webb if ¡°바카라사이트 process of getting that money sorted is happening¡± in talks with 바카라사이트 government, Professor Richardson said: ¡°Yes, it¡¯s under way.¡±

Asked if that would be a success, she replied that it was ¡°very early days yet. To be honest we¡¯re really quite worried about it.¡±

Professor Richardson outlined her fears that Oxford¡¯s EU scholars ¨C who she said make up 17 per cent of academics at 바카라사이트 university ¨C ¡°might decide to leave if 바카라사이트y are concerned 바카라사이트y may not be able to get 바카라사이트ir research funded in 바카라사이트 future. There are many universities in 바카라사이트 world who would be thrilled to have 바카라사이트m and who are approaching 바카라사이트m and asking 바카라사이트m if 바카라사이트y would return to 바카라사이트ir universities instead.¡±

john.morgan@tesglobal.com