Archive for March, 2010
Borderline progress
Posted by Claire Daley in European Union on 31/03/2010
Turkey and Croatia began official EU accession talks in 2005, and yet their progress has taken very different paths, writes Natalie Hamill. Last Wednesday, EU Enlargement Commissioner, Štefan Füle, praised Croatia’s progress and said it could potentially join the EU during 2010. Just a few days later, the German Chancellor tried (but failed) to scrape together some encouragement for Turkey’s bid to join the EU bloc.
Bogus Use of Statistics to Discredit A-Levels as Index of Academic Potential
Posted by David Conway in Education on 30/03/2010
The mantra on which New Labour came to power in 1997 was ‘Education, education, education’, chanted because of the known link between life chances and educational qualifications. Despite all subsequent efforts and the colossal sums expended, it has failed to close the gap in terms of university participation rate between young persons from the most-advantaged and the least-advantaged backgrounds.
All I want for Easter is a well-behaved child and a handmade card
Posted by Anastasia de Waal in Education on 30/03/2010
Dear Teacher,
I do hope you enjoy wearing the Tiffany bracelet our precious Emily gave you at Christmas – she thoroughly enjoys her literacy lessons and we’ve see such great improvements in her reading.
‘Reform our libel laws, but not our NHS’?
Posted by James Gubb in Health on 25/03/2010
The budget has set the challenge. By 2013-14, the NHS will be expected to deliver annual efficiency savings of £15 to 20 billion. The financial year 2010-11 will be the last year until at least 2013-14 (if not further) when the NHS will receive real terms increases in funding. Whatever they say currently, it will not be very different under a Tory government.
EU Commission reaches same conclusion … for the sixth time
Posted by Claire Daley in European Union on 24/03/2010
On Tuesday the EU Commission criticised Bulgaria and Romania for their lack of progress in reforming their judicial systems, and for their failure to deal with corruption. This is the sixth time the Commission has reached this conclusion, writes Natalie Hamill.
Our Steadily Worsening State of Play
Posted by David Conway in Health on 23/03/2010
With election manifestos already likely to have been decided, it is unlikely any major political party will heed the call of the charity Play England to pledge that, if returned to office, they will increase children’s opportunities to play outdoors.
That will be a pity, for, in the last several decades, Britain has been steadily depriving children of safe open spaces in which to play, with profound adverse social consequences.