'No' to appraisals

Oxford University may be forced to abandon plans for compulsory staff appraisals after its ruling congregation voted overwhelmingly against the idea.

More than 500 of the 3,500 academics who are allowed to vote packed Oxford's Sheldonian Theatre to debate the issue on Tuesday. A motion to reject proposals for a mandatory system of regular appraisals on the grounds that this would threaten academic freedom was carried by 351 votes to 153.