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Reports that investigations are being carried out on the Bilston Community College, England, and its association with Ellel Ministries, an exponent of `deliverance' ministry. Influence of group over the school; Comments from the Right Reverend Dominic Walker, the Bishop of Reading and Church of England's chief adviser on exorcism; Background information on the group; Information on the programme `Healing in the Kingdom of God.'

Reports that following the plans by the government of Great Britain to introduce tuition fees, thousands of students has abandoned plans to enter university. Comparison of the number of university applications in 1998 to those of 1997; Comments from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service; Indepth look at the situation.

Looks at the forward-looking links between colleges and school `post-16 centres', with focus on the partnership between Manchester College of Arts and Technology and Newall Green high school. Benefits of this partnership between the two schools; Comments from Barry Morrison, head-teacher at Newall Green.

Reports on a letter sent by college heads to the Further Education Funding Council (FEFC) about funding for colleges in London, England. Amount to be given to London colleges per year under plans due to be discussed by an FEFC committee; Excerpts from the letter.

Discloses that the Further Education Development Agency (FEDA) would be at the center of plans to expand and improve colleges in Great Britain. FEDA's plan to close the former further education staff college near Bristol, England to create new headquarters in London; Possibility of job losses as a result of the move; Publication of the first inspection report into the agency.

Focuses on British colleges' views on the performance tables released as of November 21, 1997. Alleged failure to cover the majority of college courses; Decision making issues.

Reports that local governments in Great Britain are preparing to abandon control of continuing education as part of a trade-off to end disputes with colleges over student enrollment. Councils' gain of seats on college boards; Colleges' gain of representation on school districts' committees; Other details of negotiations; Introduction of a common funding formula for 16 to 19 education.

Cites the annual report of the chief inspector of colleges Jim Donaldson in Great Britain. Continuing education college principals' inability to get the best value for money because of the number of qualifications on offer; Introduction of a system of modular courses which would help colleges save money; Urging for government reform of the 17,000 qualifications; Praise of colleges for coping with the budget crisis.

Reveals that British colleges have the potential to aid economic development in their areas, but have little idea how this is possible, according to a study by the Further Education Development Agency. Collaboration with businesses, other public sector bodies and the community; Difficulties in getting a seat at a table at some of the larger partnerships and boards.

Reports that government officials have warned that small continuing education schools could be closed under plans to end competition with colleges regarding enrollment in Great Britain. Creation of a common funding system to end rows over unequal budgets; Transfer of planning powers to the Further Education Funding Council.

Points out British colleges' lack of success in drawing more people into education. Working peer, Helena Kennedy's conducting of a study on improving ways to improve recruitment of students into colleges; Importance of local partnerships to reach target groups.

Reports on the possible creation of thousands of extra places in British universities from 1997 to 2002. Education and Employment Secretary David Blunkett's efforts to ease off cap on student numbers; Provision of increased opportunities to the youth; Denial of deleterious effect of charging of tuition fees and abolition of student grants on college recruitment.

Cites a survey of continuing education by `The Times Educational Supplement' magazine in Great Britain. Difficulties faced by colleges in handling the boom in A-level courses; Rejection of large numbers of students in enrollment; Establishment of lengthy waiting lists; Contemplation of withdrawing minority courses to accommodate demand within their budget ceiling.

Reports on the results of a study into consequences of the increased competition among colleges in Great Britain. Misleading recruitment information being given to students, who are sometimes directed to ill-suited courses; Better support for students; Greater opportunities for ethnic groups and other minorities.

Reports on the trend among British universities of recruiting students who chose vocational qualifications instead of traditional A-levels. Freshmen undergraduates' concerns on the lack of depth of vocational courses; Percentage of students who applied to higher education through vocational qualifications route.

Reports that the continuing education colleges in Great Britain will be the focus of a massive expansion in higher education under the Sir Ron Dearing committee's recommendations. Urging to lift the cap on student numbers in Higher National Diploma and Certificate-level courses; Student numbers in degree courses; Other proposals that would benefit colleges.

Reports that British education minister Kim Howells has launched a drive to provide schools and colleges with information resources about the education and the economy. National database; Consultation process; Information gap about deprived areas; Need for information to implement closer links between higher and further education.

Discloses that a dispute has broken out after college funding chiefs backed the first large-scale merger of further and higher education institutions in Great Britain. Further Education Funding Council regional officials' approval of plans for the merger of Derby University with neighboring High Peak and Mackworth colleges; Expansion of further education in Derbyshire; Guarantees in the merger proposal.

Reports on the progress being made in implementing the Tomlinson Report on special needs teaching in Great Britain. Plan to deny funding for specialist colleges for disabled people if they do not set up complaints procedures; Launching of a training drive to improve education for people with special needs; Delay of key recommendations of the Tomlinson Report.

Discloses that school inspectors have given low marks to the management of the Airedale and Wharfdale College in Yorkshire, England. Financial crisis faced by the college; Poor quality of information-gathering; Strengths of the college's administration.

Discloses that some British college principals are involved in an illicit trade in black market students that could cost taxpayers millions. Move by under-performing colleges to annex threatened courses from cash-strapped neighbors to help meet recruitment targets; Experiences of some principals who have been approached by colleagues seeking extra students.

Reports that Staffordshire, England-based Staffordshire University has developed a web of links with 33 colleges across the West Midlands. Aim to build a regional university; Collaborative projects.

Reports on the launching of a research project to gauge the value of British further education colleges to their local communities. Promotion of colleges' role in the government's proposed regional development agencies.

Focuses on the British government's call to colleges to implement a tripartite system of regional planning for post-16 education. Probe into how a regional planning framework may be based; Association of Colleges' approval of the idea of greater regional work.

Reports on the plan of Great Britain's Labour Party to reorganize college and sixth form funding in May 1997. Authorities who have expressed interest in the scheme; Promise to colleges of a central role in the welfare-to-work program launched in May 1997.

Reports that the British Further Education Funding Council (FEFC) has launched a full-scale inquiry into standards over colleges' franchising practices with business and community groups. Funding for cash-limited further education and training budget; Review of quality assurance arrangements.

Reveals British colleges' lack of support for the Conservative Party. Response to Labour Party's education spokesperson David Blunkett's pledge expansion in further education; Tories' cuts on the colleges' budgets.

Probes the financial crisis in Stoke-on-Trent College, England. Amount of debt; Governors' publication of their own version of the fiasco; Ineffectiveness of the college's marketing strategy.

Focuses on the row over tax on education in Great Britain. Customs and Excise officials' insistence on the absence of value added tax (VAT) on course fees; Educational organizations' probable payment of VAT on school equipment and supplies.

Focuses on problems in British college campuses. Disruptions; Violence; Drug use; Colleges' silence over problems due to desire of maintaining reputation; Guidelines for senior managers on how to handle problems.

Reports on British college principals' launching of a defense for franchised courses. Response to government's review of franchises; Deleterious effect of funding cuts on links forged with industry.

Highlights the British Further Education Funding Council's (FEFC) issuing of revised guidance that lifts a ban on colleges that sign new deals after the end of January 1997. Illegality of imposing a cut-off for new contracts; Non-consultation of colleges regarding the cut-off.

Highlights the construction of the Lichfield University College in Staffordshire, England. Provision of further and higher education; Financing from the European Regional Development Fund; Provision of courses aimed at small to medium-sized businesses.

Focuses on the impact of the rising students seeking legal actions against colleges in England. Common complaints dealt at the office of Jack Rabinowicz, chairman of the Education Law Association; Internal procedures employed by colleges in dealing with complaint; Scarcity of court cases which does not prompt great attention on the issue by John Brennan, policy director of Association of Colleges.