Daily roundup: GCSE changes, working mothers, and child abuse victims

New-style GCSEs will be graded from one to eight rather than A* to G, the government has announced. The BBC reports that by 2015 GCSEs will move from coursework and continuous assessment to exams at the end of two years, with
pupils facing “more rigorous content”. Shadow Education Secretary Stephen Twigg has accused the government of creating "uncertainty" for pupils and parents.

Children’s performance at school is not harmed if their mothers work during their early years, researchers have found. The Independent reports that a study by the University of London’s Centre for Longitudinal Studies found that those born in the 1970s, 80s and early 90s whose mothers worked during their early years had, on average, slightly lower literacy and numeracy scores than those whose mothers did not. However, the disadvantage disappeared for children born since the mid-1990s.

Child victims of sex abuse will be able to pre-record their evidence to juries in criminal trials - including cross examination by defence barristers - under a pilot study being introduced by the government. The initiative will be trialled in Leeds, Liverpool and Kingston upon Thames, and if successful introduced across England and Wales. Justice Secretary Chris Grayling believes the move will spare children being cross-examined in an "aggressive and intimidating court atmosphere" without compromising a defendant's right to a fair trial, reports The Times.

Adults staying at hotels with children could be asked to show proof of their relationship as part of proposals being considered by government to tackle sexual exploitation. The Telegraph reports that Conservative MP Kris Hopkins wants police to be able to impose orders on certain hotels and bed & breakfasts to force them to carry out checks on adults checking in with children. He made the call during the second reading of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill.

Ten London youth projects are to share £41,000 to further develop services for young people in the capital. The money from Project Oracle, a competition led by the Social Innovation Partnership, was awarded to organisations that could best show how their work had improved the lives of children and young people. Winners were Southwark Youth Offending Team, St Giles Trust, Dance United, My Social Innovation, StreetDoctors, StreetChance, Swift project, Khulisa UK, Chance UK and Street League.

The number of children running away from care in Suffolk has risen by 75 per cent in four years, Freedom of Information figures show. Suffolk County Council said 71 young people ran away in 2012, compared to 41 in 2009. The council had 780 looked-after children in 2012 and 715 in 2009. The local authority told the BBC that the increase reflected improved data collection and not necessarily more children running away from care.