University participation will fall if fees rise
The papers today cover rises in higher education participation. But the Institute for Fiscal Studies show that any fee increase would reduce participation.
Public Services
Council misinterprets Disability Discrimination Act over school trip
Highland Council cancelled a school trip for Crown Primary School. The council has been criticised for misinterpreting the Disability Discrimination Act.
Cameron’s marriage tax on the ropes
The Tory marriage tax plans are in further confusion this morning as it emerged that just 1 in 20 couples would benefit. The policy would cost £800 million.
University numbers up but percentage of successful applicants down
Hidden away in today’s figures showing a rise in the no. of university applicants & students is the percentage of unsuccessful applicants – up from 22.4 to 24.7
The NHS – is it truly national?
The Nuffield Trust’s report into the state of the NHS since devolution has painted a picture of a health service that has fragmented across the four nations.
Future of US healthcare reform in doubt
Republican Scott Brown’s stunning victory in the Democratic stronghold of Massachusetts is a dramatic setback for President Obama’s plans for healthcare reform.
New arthritis drug could pave way for ‘medical apartheid’
A new drug to treat rheumatoid arthritis has been approved for use in Scotland but not in England and Wales, raising fears of a ‘medical apartheid’ in the UK.
More money planned for education in Wales
There will be a full-scale review of how education funding in Wales is allocated to schools, colleges & universities, the Welsh Education Minister has announced
Tory teacher plans will have little or no impact
David Cameron’s education plans are practically the same as three years ago – and his headline measures on teacher training will make little or no impact.
Without league tables, pupil performance improvement is almost impossible to gauge
With the publication of the latest league tables, as usual, the NUT have welcomed impressive results, while the right-wing press bemoan “falling standards”.