Daily roundup: Scottish votes at 16, teachers on EBacc and youth violence in Westminster

Young people aged 16 and older are a step closer to being able to vote in a referendum on Scottish independence. The Scottish government has announced that a deal between the UK government and Scotland to hold a referendum has almost been reached. Scotland’s desire to extend the vote to 16 has previously been opposed by the UK government. But Scotland office minister David Mundell told the BBC: "It will be up to Scottish Parliament to determine who can vote in the referendum in Scotland, and also the date and the nature of the question."

Less than a quarter (23 per cent) of teachers in England back proposals to replace GCSEs with the English Baccalaureate, according to a YouGov survey. Almost 700 teachers responded to the poll, which found 74 per cent oppose the change and believe grades should be based on a combination of a final exam and coursework. “The results of this survey clearly show that at the moment [Education Secretary] Michael Gove has a steep hill to climb in terms of getting teachers onside with his vision of the exam system,” said YouGov associate director Ian Neale.

London Mayor Boris Johnson and Home Secretary Theresa May have been urged to invest £500,000 in measures to tackle gangs in Westminster or face potential “flare-ups”. Labour councillors at the Conservative-run authority, have written to the politicians requesting the cash, claiming that recent improvements in serious youth violence statistics are at risk of being reversed when external grants run out at the end of the financial year. “If, after a period of only 12 months or so, attention and resources are taken away from the anti-gangs strategy, the problems are certain to flare up again,” Paul Dimoldenberg, leader of the Labour group, said.

Children in care in Leicestershire have achieved record GCSE results, the authority has announced, with 43 per cent of students achieving five A* to C grades this year. Leicestershire County Council said its 400 children in care received one-to-one tuition, mentoring and youth work, in order to raise their aspirations and attainment. Ivan Ould, lead member member for children and young people's services, said: "These are great results and I'd like to congratulate the young people on their achievements.”