The English independent schools sector, one of the most historic and well-reputed in the world, is at a fork in the road. After decades of fluctuating political pressure and public support, it has become clear that the future for the sector will not be able to look the same as its past. A new path… [Read More]
Marriage has undergone a remarkable decline in the UK. The marriage rate has fallen two thirds in 50 years; and in 2021, for the first time, more than half of babies were born to unmarried parents. We also see a growing ‘marriage gap’, in which those who are wealthier and more highly educated are much… [Read More]
The parish church has been a foundational part of cultural life in England for hundreds of years. England’s 12,500 parish churches are ‘treasure houses’ of national history, containing the memories of our ancestors as well as the rich architectural and musical heritage of Anglicanism. Parishes also bring together local communities, providing charitable services – including… [Read More]
China is becoming the most serious challenge to UK and the West, due to its economic growth, military strength, and fast-developing foreign policy in relation to its territorial claims and record on human rights. These developments are as significant a priority for new British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and his Labour colleagues as they… [Read More]
In this report, Civitas researchers surveyed a selection of small-to-medium-sized enterprise (SME) UK manufacturing companies to find out what their greatest challenges and obstacles are. The survey found that the two issues that most concern SME manufacturers are high energy costs and low availability of skilled workers. The Government has an obligation to address both,… [Read More]
In 2024, Labour leader Keir Starmer announced plans for primary teachers to supervise pupils brushing their teeth during the school day, to address rising rates of dental problems in young children. Meanwhile, teachers complain that increasing proportions of pupils begin primary school still wearing nappies – so that helping children to use the toilet also… [Read More]
The governance of the men’s football industry in England has been the subject of extensive debate and speculation since the publication of the Fan-Led Review into football in 2021. The majority of the 47 recommendations made in the initial review did, in some form, make it into the previous government’s Football Governance Bill. Most notable… [Read More]
The UK food export industry is in an enviable position. The potential for increased exports to the world is great. This is because attitudes are changing fast in parts of the world where our high food and farming standards are valued. This gives the UK a source of valuable competitive advantage in countries where exporters… [Read More]
Tolerance between people of different faiths is often encouraged under the heading of ‘British values’. This is arguably misguided, as it could be taken to imply that religious tolerance is a uniquely British value, not one found in other cultures. The insinuation, therefore, is that to encourage religious tolerance in schoolchildren in Britain today is… [Read More]
Childcare is a larger political priority in the UK than it ever has been before, and the target of unprecedented, and growing, levels of public spending. Despite this, there is little clarity on what the purpose of childcare policy is. Politicians and policymakers often talk as though childcare policy is a labour market intervention, designed… [Read More]