Reform The Week

9 May 2008

Reform – The Week

Against a backdrop of dramatic local election results and a worsening economic climate, politicians from all parties are queuing up to put forward their proposals for renewed economic prosperity and value for money in public services. James Purnell, John Denham and Michael Gove are just a few to have done so this week. The test is whether their rhetoric will be translated into real reform.

Laura Kounine, Editor

Reformer of the week

Chris Parry, the head of the Independent Schools Council, for challenging the Government on their approach to the independent sector. “The sectarian divide is quite severe – there’s an ideological problem between the two sectors. Like the cold war, you have misconceptions of what’s going on on the other side.” Reform’s report Shifting the unequal state: From public apathy to personal capability has showed that a more open approach where the state funds both private and state schools leads to greater social mobility.

Reactionary of the week

The nine councillors elected in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria who are opposing plans to close three of the town’s secondary schools and open a new academy in September 2009, which will be sponsored by, amongst others, BAE systems. The academy model has been demonstrated to positively impact education in deprived areas. Opposing the closure of failing schools will merely perpetuate an environment in which parents are unable to exercise genuine choice over where to send their child to school.

Good week for

Struggling readers

A new study by Dr Sue Buroughs-Lange, of the Institute of Education, has found that a year after undergoing Reading Recovery – at the heart of the Government’s multi-million pound Every Child a Reader programme – pupils are still a year ahead of those with similar difficulties who did not take part in the programme.

Savers

The Bank of England's decision to maintain interest rates at 5 per cent signals that the Bank does not yet think that the UK economy has slowed enough to bring inflation back to target in the medium term. Whilst good news for savers; homeowners facing rising mortgage costs will not be so pleased. Official figures released today show a 16 per cent rise in the number of home repossessions over the past year. With falling house prices, low consumer confidence and flagging retail sales, the Government may be rueing the day the Bank of England was given responsibility for setting interest rates, as its room for manoeuvre is restricted. It remains to be seen whether the announced £10 million package of housing measures will help homeowners or prove value for money.

Autonomy

Boris Johnson’s election and immediate changes as Mayor of London and Wendy Alexander’s defiance of Gordon Brown’s line on the Scottish independence referendum show that local autonomy is alive and kicking. This has increased calls for decentralisation and locally elected mayors.

Bad week for

ASBOs

New Home Office figures suggest that new penalties – from ASBOs to fixed payment notices to behaviour contracts – to tackle anti-social behaviour have run their course. Anti-social behaviour has not diminished since 2000 (on the British Crime Survey) and figures show that the number of ASBOs awarded by courts fell by nearly half between 2005 and 2006. Reform will be issuing a report on a new approach of encouraging lawfulness.

Surveillance

Detective Chief Inspector Mike Neville, Head of the Visual Images, Identifications and Detections Office Unit, claimed that CCTV had helped to solve just three per cent of crimes. Mr Neville described the situation as an “utter fiasco” suggesting that criminals were rarely deterred by the presence of CCTV cameras because they assume they are not working. The revelations raise questions about the role that surveillance should play in the detection of crime.

Maths education

Research by Education Data Surveys reveals that a growing number of schools are facing a shortage of qualified maths teachers. Author of the research, Professor Howson, advocated the use of rationing as a means to ensure that “every school had its fair share of qualified maths teachers”. Reform’s forthcoming report The Value of Mathematics, launched on 2 June, will examine standards and attainment of maths education over time and put forward suggestions for reform.

Quote of the week

“It's not just ‘how much do I get’, but ‘do I get a fair return for what I put in?’”

John Denham, Secretary of State for Innovation and Skills, Guardian.

Reform’s week

Reform held a seminar with Richard Tice, Chair of Governors of Northampton Academy, discussing the future of education. It was well attended by both policy makers and educationalists.

Further coverage on Reform’s report Demand for a new era: the future of health. The magazine GP reports on the issue of demand and how the NHS will not be able to cope unless it focuses on value for money.

Reform is recruiting for a New Media Politics Executive to help drive forward Reform’s new media offering, by developing an interactive website that where policy research can be shared and contributed to online. The New Media executive will also be responsible for Reform’s e-communication, blogosphere outreach and support of Reform’s Communication and Events Manager. Please go to http://www.reform.co.uk/jobsatreform.php for further details.