Daily roundup 22 March: Teen pregnancies, flexible working and teaching 'super union'

The rate of under-18 conceptions in England is at the lowest level since records began in 1969. Data released by the Office for National Statistics shows that the under-18 conception rate was 21 per 1,000 in 2015, an 8.3 per cent decrease from 22.9 per 1,000 in 2014. In 1969 there was a rate of 47.1.


Dads who want to be more involved in the care of their children fear that asking for more flexible hours might damage their careers, the chairwoman of a new probe into the issue says. The BBC reports that Conservative MP Maria Miller said such requests can even lead to employers questioning their workers' commitment.


Teachers are to form a new "super union" after members of two unions voted to merge. ITV News reports that members of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) backed the link-up by more than two to one. The National Education Union will be formed later in the year and will represent 450,000 teachers and other education workers.


School governors have called on the government to press ahead with its new funding formula for schools in England - but say there is too little cash overall. The BBC reports that Emma Knights, chief executive of the National Governors Association, says the plan is fair but schools face underlying money problems. It comes a day after head teachers from 3,000 schools called for a rethink.


A government survey has revealed the body-image worries of young children - with a quarter of girls between eight and 11 worried about their weight. The Metro reports that government researchers say that they interviewed girls as young as six who wanted to diet - and little boys aged just seven who want a six-pack.


Play England is relaunching its "Quality in Play" quality assurance system, designed specifically for play providers. Developed by playwork practitioners to support supervised play and childcare provision for school-aged children, the tool is intended to help projects get "commission-ready", win tenders and secure funding.