The Scout Association's government-funded youth work programme has resulted in 1,553 young people and 315 adult volunteers joining the movement from some of the UK's most deprived areas, such as Newham in London, Salford and Burnley. The association's 2014 Census shows membership has grown by 100,000 over the past decade, but that more adult volunteers are needed to ensure 40,000 young people on waiting lists can join. It is launching a plan to recruit a further 58,000 young people, as well as 18,000 more adult volunteers, by 2018.
Juveniles convicted of a second offence involving a knife would receive a four-month mandatory detention order under plans drawn up Justice Secretary Chris Grayling. The BBC reports that adults would face a mandatory six-month jail term for the same offence.
An army of workers are being recruited to explain to primary pupils how lessons relate to their future careers. The scheme aims to send up to 100,000 people, "from apprentices to chief executives", into schools in England to talk about their jobs, the Telegraph reports. Primary Futures, developed by the head teachers' union NAHT, has already run a series of pilots across England, with one of the first seeing a senior paramedic visit Athersley South Primary in Barnsley.
A 15-year-old boy has been charged with the murder of a teacher who was stabbed to death in front of her pupils at a school in Leeds. Ann Maguire, 61, was attacked in a classroom at Corpus Christi Catholic College, Halton Moor, on Monday. A committal hearing was held at Leeds Youth Court yesterday, with the case to be heard at Leeds Crown Court today, where the boy will appear via video-link, the BBC reports.
The Department for Education has appointed groups of councils to become special educational needs (SEN) pathfinder champions. The authorities – designated by region – will hold a strategic role and will advise other councils on how to prepare for SEN reforms made under the Children and Families Act, which take effect in September.
A specialist children’s centre in Brighton that caters for more than 70 disabled children is at risk of closure due to a lack of funding. According to The Argus, Camelia Botnar will be forced to close in the summer unless a new benefactor is found.
