Daily roundup: Careers guidance, council cuts, and smoking
Derren Hayes
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Call for government to extend National Careers Service; research shows cuts affecting deprived areas more; and Lords back bid to ban smoking in cars, all in the news today.
A report by the IPPR North has called on the government to extend the remit of the National Careers Service (NCS) to help schools build their capacity to provide independent careers advice and guidance. The think tank also recommends that the NCS should perform a brockerage role for schools to help them buy in careers services from third party providers. The report says schools need to develop stronger links with local employers if they are to ensure pupils can access a wider choice of employment opportunities.
The most disadvantaged communities in England are facing the biggest local government cuts, Labour has claimed. The BBC reports that research by the party shows that between 2010/11 and 2015/16, percentage cuts will be 10 times greater in the most deprived areas than in those least deprived.
Smoking in a car that is carrying children could be banned after the House of Lords backed controversial plan to outlaw the practice. The Daily Mail reports that peers unexpectedly backed a proposal by Labour which would give ministers the power to make it a criminal offence in England.
Teachers' unions have hit out at proposals to keep schools open until 6pm for up to 45 weeks a year. Christine Blower, general secretary of the National Teachers Union, says the suggestion made by Paul Kirby, David Cameron’s former policy adviser, would be “counterproductive”, while Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, says the government should have “more sense”.
Teenagers aged 14 and 15 are most likely to adopt risk-taking behaviours and share too much online, a study has found. Research by McAfee and the Anti-Bullying alliance found that young people are putting themselves in potentially harmful situations and placing themselves at risk of cyberbullying.
Offenders with learning disabilities are not getting the support they need from police, probation and prosecution services, an inspection has found. The BBC reports that the Care Quality Commission and inspectors for the services estimate that 30 per cent of those going through the criminal justice system have learning disabilities, but many police custody sergeants were not trained to spot them.
