Daily roundup: Free schools approved, child health contract in Devon and concern for Lancashire primary schools
Neil Puffett
Friday, July 13, 2012
The next wave of free schools, a contract for children's health services in Devon, and concerns over primary school standards in Lancashire, are all in the news today.
A further 102 free schools have been approved to open in England from next year, The Independent reports. The announcement, made by Prime Minister David Cameron, attracted criticism from the National Union of Teachers, which decribed the government's actions as a “systematic dismantling of the English education system”.
Richard Branson's Virgin Care looks on course to win the lucrative contract to run NHS and social care services for children and young people in Devon, after being named preferred bidder for the £130m contract, The Guardian says. The deal, which starts from March 2013, will run for three years, but critics say it heralds the breakup of the NHS.
Schools commissioner Elizabeth Sidwell has caused a stir after suggesting that 32 Lancashire primary schools should become academies unless they improve. According to the BBC, Conservative councillor Geoff Driver said the statement “distorted” the picture in the county.
With the Olympic Games just two weeks away, a call has gone out for more people to give their spare time or money to community sport initiatives. Statistics released today by charity Give More show that 43 per cent of people think there will be more crime and antisocial behaviour without enough community sport volunteers, with 19 per cent of people saying a lack of activities was one of the main causes of last year’s riots.
Some schools in east London are breaking up for the summer today - two weeks earlier than planned, the BBC reports. Newham Council says the Olympic Games will cause disruption and has brought forward the end of term from 26 July.