Daily roundup: Female genital mutilation, call to decriminalise drugs, and the LGA on healthy school food

Ofsted inspectors are to question head teachers about what they are doing to protect pupils against female genital mutilation, the Independent reports. They will ask schools to provide evidence on safeguarding procedures and that staff are trained to identify “at-risk” pupils. The proposal to ask schools about genital mutilation in inspections is a response to fears that British schoolgirls may be being taken to their parents’ home countries each year to undergo the procedure.

A cross-party group of peers has said that the possession and use of all illegal drugs should be decriminalised, the BBC reports. The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Drug Policy Reform (APPG) argue that decriminalisation would make purchasing less harmful drugs and ‘legal highs’ safer, particularly for young people. Baroness Meacher told the Today Programme: “At the moment 60 million ecstasy tablets are sold every year to young people, all through criminal gangs and the illegal dealers. If young people are going to buy these things, is it not better that they know exactly what is in them?”

The Local Government Association is urging the government to introduce a single food standard to ensure all students have access to a nutritious lunch. Academies and free schools are currently exempt from legislation that controls children’s access to unhealthy food in council maintained schools. Research by the Children’s Food Trust has shown that nine in 10 academies are selling junk food to pupils. It found that academies can make between £3,000 and £15,000 a year from selling junk food.

A survey by the charity Career Academies UK has revealed that only 13 per cent of students think that university is worth fees of £9,000 per year, while the number of those considering going to university has dropped from 78 to 59 per cent. In addition, 60 per cent of respondents said they had found it “very hard” to get work experience. David Walke, director of policy at Career Academies UK, said: “It is alarming that students are struggling to find work experience at a time when so many young people are unemployed and figures show that university applications are falling sharply.”

Pupils from state schools do better at University, but are less likely to translate their academic success into a graduate job, according to a study by Bristol University, reported in the Observer. Between 2009 and 2011, more than 20 per cent of state school pupils who graduated from Russell Group and 1994 Group universities achieved first-class degrees, against 18 per cent of those from the independent sector. But only 58 per cent of state school educated graduates found a professional job, compared with 74 per cent of those from independent schools.

And finally, protest groups campaigning against the closure of Battersea Park Adventure Playground held a rally at the site in Wandsworth yesterday. The rally marked one week of ‘occupation’ on the site by protestors from Occupy London. A Wandsworth Council survey showed nine out of 10 parents and carers are opposed the plans. Legal papers were served yesterday relating to a possession order for the site. Works are expected to go ahead this week.