Rumour has it that the Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) is facing the axe. According to the Times Educational Supplement, university education departments are claiming that the government is planning to ‘kill off’ undergraduate teacher training. Whilst the claim has yet to be confirmed, it has brought a pressing matter to the fore. Since the inceptions… [Read More]
The recession is likely to drive a radical restructuring of London’s health economy, was the message conveyed by Professor Steve Smith (CEO of Imperial Healthcare NHS Trust) and Sir Robert Naylor (CEO of UCLH NHS Foundation Trust) at a seminar organised by Civitas today.
Alexander, Rose, et al can debate what schools should teach as much as they like, but no amount of tinkering with the National Curriculum will improve academic standards until and unless a far more important cause of poor educational attainment today is addressed.
The Eastern members of the European Union are holding a mini-summit prior to all EU Heads of States and Governments convening an emergency summit on 1st March 2009 to discuss protectionism, writes Kyial Arabaeva. Mr. Mikolaj Dowgielewicz, Poland’s Europe Minister, told Poland’s PAP news agency: ‘We want to send a clear message that we support… [Read More]
In the latest issue of Prospect Phillip Blond makes a case for localism, but he seems to think his proposals require a rejection of liberalism, whereas in fact they are simply the natural outgrowth of liberal ideas. In particular he is grossly mistaken about some of the characteristics he attributes to liberalism. His article has provoked considerable criticism, including my defence of… [Read More]
Today the ‘biggest review in forty years’ of the primary curriculum, the Cambridge Primary Review, published its two-part special report today under the remit ‘The condition and future of primary education in England’. As ‘[i]n our [the Primary Review’s] evidence, the curriculum attracted more comment than any other issue,’ the Review findings, which are based… [Read More]
One of the most pervasive beliefs in government is that quality in the NHS is a function of individuals who need buttons pressed and levers pulled by targets to deliver optimal performance. This is misguided. The most intractable problems in health care—the lack of communication, leadership, and teamwork; the lack of integration; and the lack… [Read More]
The exclusion of the Dutch MP, Geert Wilders, from the UK has provoked a number of thought-provoking pieces, particularly in the Economist and the FT. His ideas, I hasten to add, attract absolutely zero sympathy from me – his views are extremist themselves and guilty, in particular, of distorting debate by portraying the most reactionary… [Read More]
Last week, Merseyside’s Wirral Council announced the planned closure of almost a half of its 24 public libraries. Many other local authorities are soon likely to follow suit as they seek to reduce public spending in wake of the country’s current economic down-turn.
Professor Adrian Smith, a civil servant who is currently director general of science and research, has found himself in hot water – ostensibly for expressing his true assessment of the new Diploma courses.