Ex-manderin frets over education cash
The former senior civil servant who headed the education department when Labour came to power in 1997 yesterday expressed concern that education had been starved of new cash from the Treasury in the autumn statement. Sir Michael Bichard, who was permanent secretary at the department for six years and is now rector of the London Institute, warned the government not to be complacent about education when, despite the many achievements to date, there was still much to do in terms of raising standards. ( Guardian , Financial Times )
High demand jams PRO 1901 census site
The first British census to go online, showing the family details of 32 million people living in England and Wales in 1901, ground to a halt within minutes of its launch yesterday as millions of people simultaneously tried to trace their ancestry on the Public Record Office census website, www.census.pro.gov.uk
( Independent , Guardian , Financial Times , Daily Telegraph , Times )
Cloned pigs promise transplants to humans
Scientists have cloned five genetically engineered pigs with organs that are likely to be compatible for human transplant operations. The pigs, born on Christmas Day, have each had a gene inactivated which should reduce the risk of their organs being rejected by the human immune system. ( Independent , Guardian , Daily Telegraph , Times )
Bare-faced liars beware
Liars could soon be exposed by a new technique for detecting the blushes of expert fibbers whose dishonesty normally goes unchecked. American scientists have designed a high-definition video camera that can pick up the minute changes in heat given off by a rush of blood to the skin around the eyes when a person lies. ( Independent , Guardian )
Growing pain of raising a middle-class child
Raising a child to the age of 21 will cost middle-class families in London at least £317,857, according to new research published by The London Magazine yesterday. The figure, which amounts to £15,136 a year, includes child care, school fees, clothes, hobbies, pocket money and fees for a three-year university course. ( Daily Telegraph , Times )
Pupils should learn work skills at 13
Pupils might benefit from learning vocational skills such as plastering and wiring at the age of 13, says a senior Tory. Damien Green, shadow education secretary, said yesterday a trip to Holland persuaded him that there might be a case for starting vocational training a year earlier because children there felt their studies were worthwhile. ( Daily Telegraph )