Flexibility between vocational and academic routes essential
Today’s publication of the Wolf Review of vocational education has invited the inevitable lazy headlines about too many ‘dead-end’ courses, writes Sally Hunt.
Public Services
Holyrood vote exposes Tory splits on free prescriptions
The decision by MSPs to provide for free prescriptions north of the border not only sees the enactment of a key SNP manifesto pledge, but highlights the divisions within the UK Conservative party on the issue of free prescriptions.
The idea £9k fees would be the exception was always a pipe-dream
As Exeter University, the first outside the Russell Group, declares its intention to charge the £9,000 top fee for its degree courses the government’s plans to change the higher education funding landscape continue to unravel at an amazing pace.
Baroness Williams hits out at NHS reforms
Senior Lib Dem peer Shirley Willimas has said she can’t support the government’s NHS reforms, calling the scale of the reforms “too great” and leaving “too many questions unanswered”.
Healey seeks clarity on Lansley’s plans to turn NHS into a “genuine” market
Shadow health secretary John Healey MP to the Secretary of State Andrew Lansley MP seeking clarity on the coalition’s plans to turn the NHS into a “genuine” market with price competition.
The worrying lack of power of the university fair access regulator
Ministers are now aware of the lack of powers that OFFA has, which leaves them with a couple of problems, writes Sally Hunt, general secretary of the University and College Union.
Yet more evidence of cuts to schools and hospitals
There was more evidence today of the impact of the coalition’s cuts to education and the health service, with school building repais slashed and hospital bed numbers set to be culled by 20,000.
Another day, another false economy: The avoidable bed-blocking crisis
Following the revelation yesterday that more than 50,000 NHS jobs face the axe, a report out today shows how funding cuts are leading to an “intolerable” bed-blocking crisis.
Bitterness and acrimony over Northern Ireland budget
Ulster Unionist Party health minister Michael McGimpsey has been forced to deny that he intends to resign following a series of high profile spats with ministerial colleagues on the Stormont Executive.
Cameron’s “public sector revolution” – yet more NHS closures
In addition to the 3,000-plus hospital job cuts outlined by Left Foot Forward on Friday, further evidence emerged today of the savage cuts being inflicted on the NHS.