The new report of the independent Commission on Religious Education in England and Wales provides a clear answer: the rise of “no religion” doesn’t mean that religion isn’t important. Rather, the report makes a strong case that it is more important than ever that young people in Britain understand and engage effectively with diverse religions and worldviews. More...
Survey: state school teachers say much of their work is meaningless
It is no secret that teaching is facing a crisis. Recent figures show that the number of full-time, qualified teachers starting work in state schools has fallen since 2015 – from 45,450 to 42,430 in 2017. Meanwhile, 42,830 teachers left the classroom for good last year. More...
What it’s like growing up as a girl in the north of England
Girls today are frequently depicted as depressed, prematurely sexualised and victims of social media. But our research has found them to be eloquent, critical and supportive, loving friends within their peer groups. More...
Thousands of dogs have been killed unnecessarily due to misguided ideas about breeds
Thousands of dogs, regardless of their behaviour, have been unnecessarily killed as a result of misguided UK legislation introduced in 1991. Although this sad state of affairs has been known of by campaigners for many years, only now have MPs recognised the issue in a recent statement on the Breed Specific Legislation, which aims to protect the public from dangerous dogs. More...
International students on British drinking habits – ‘people don’t know when to stop’
Of the 2.3m students starting courses at UK universities each autumn, well over 400,000 are international students from non-UK countries. More...
Why we should give prejudiced students a voice in the classroom
In the space of a few years, Britain’s political landscape has changed. Now, generally, young people are proportionately more likely to have socially liberal and socialist views, and want to remain part of the EU. Meanwhile, older demographics proportionately voted for Brexit, and were said to be largely responsible for voting the Conservatives into office in 2017. More...
Why reformed A levels are not preparing undergraduates for university study
At the beginning of the university year, new students are busy adjusting to a life of lectures, whipping up their next meal (seven recipes with baked beans anyone?) and managing their time. More...
Universities must look at local employment markets when building their graduates’ skills
Students are often reminded that a degree is “not enough”, and that they will also need “employability skills” – a complex combination of personal attributes, discipline-specific knowledge and generic talents – to succeed after university. More...
University isn’t the be all and end all when it comes to employment outcomes
The underlying assumption is that employment rates are a direct outcome of how well students are taught in higher education. There is a wider acceptance that workers with graduate qualifications are a distinct group of “better educated” people, whose “advanced skills” should convey higher wages in the labour market. More...
How students use social media to choose their university
Previously, prospective students relied heavily on official university guides and rankings, but 83% of students now also use social media channels to help them make their university choices. More...