The future of diplomas
In the first of her regular articles, Frances Rafferty, former news editor of the TES, writes about the continuing controversy surrounding the new diplomas.

Closing the gap at the expense of schools
The Learning and Skills Council is due to be abolished in 2010. Ian Nash explains why its three replacements, the Young People’s Learning Agency, the Skills Funding Agency and the National Apprenticeship Service, have caused so much anger among adult education providers.

The quality of teachers
Diane Hofkins argues that quality of teaching is the key to creating a high quality education system. She also cites research suggesting that teachers should be involved in the development and evaluation of policy

Institutional autonomy and public accountability
John O’Leary casts a cynical eye on the Government’s announcement that it will undertake a series of reviews of higher education, questioning whether they will reveal anything new.

Youth, creativity and urban design
Chris Jude of the Stephen Lawrence Trust writes about the work of the Trust since its launch in 2007 and why she believes the online Signposter service could be the ideal tool to inform young people of the opportunities it offers.

Online guidance and information for the further education sector
Barry Kruger, Director of Knowledge and Intelligence at the Quality Improvement Agency, writes about the Agency’s planned expansion of its Excellence Gateway, which provides FE staff with a range of online guidance and information.

Modernising alternative provision
Our children’s services editor, Chris Waterman, reviews the Back on Track consultation, which sets out the Government’s proposals on how best to provide for young people who are unable, for a variety of reasons to complete their education in school.

Local elections
Results and analysis of the May elections in English metropolitan district and unitary councils, and Welsh unitary councils. Once again the Conservative Party was the main winner.

Higher Ground
John izbicki looks at unemployed graduates, a postgraduate disaster management course, a Masters in terrorism, eating bats and Leicester University’s high student satisfaction.

Letter from Scotia
Our Scotland editor, John Dobie, on teachers unions’ fears of impending job cuts and predictions of larger class sizes and fewer jobs for new teachers.

General Section

Children’s Health
The health risks of children’s obsession with fashionable clothes and technological gadgets, problems caused by over-praising children, food additives that are as damaging to children’s brains as the lead in petrol, the relationship between cannabis and mental illness, and the need to discuss infertility in schools.

Media Watch

Opinion

John izbicki argues in favour of giving homework to primary school children.

Obituary
Demitri Coryton looks at the life of Steve Sinnott, the late general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, from his early career as a teacher to his international work in the field of education.

Reference Section

Conferences
We report on a series of research seminars on developing professionalism for the vocational tutor, organised by Edexcel and the Centre for Post-14 Research and Innovation at the London University Institute of Education. We also report on events at the NUT and UCU conferences.

Document Reviews
Reviewed this month is The Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Children’s Plan, second report of session 2007-08 from the House of Commons Select Committee on Children, Schools and Families.

Document Digest

Reports Digest
Reports from LEAs and CSAs, produced by EMIE at  NFER, include those covering extended schools services in Barking and Dagenham, an integrated approach to youth crime prevention in Devon, governance of children’s centres in Hampshire, a framework for participation with children and young people in Kent, and a joint 14-19 strategy for vulnerable young people in Luton.

Research Section

Research Notes

More change in 14-19 education
Sue Rossiter, NFER Chief Executive, writes about the reform of 14-19 education, the Foundation’s Teacher Voice survey, and its research into the implementation and impact of diplomas.

Illuminating disadvantage
Professor John Bynner, of the University of London Institute of Education, reports on analysis of the 1970 British Cohort Study, which shows that falling behind in literacy and numeracy at an early age can have negative consequences on a person’s entire adult life.

Joint working between CAMHS and schools
Emily Lamont and Mary Atkinson of the National Foundation for Educational Research, write about their research for the Local Government Association on how funding for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services is currently being managed and the priorities for its allocation.

Research Abstracts

Research Digest

Parliament Section

The Government’s latest attempt to tackle skills
Our parliamentary editor, Nick Kent, reports on the abolition of the Learning and Skills Council and a debate in the House of Lords on increasing the number of apprenticeships.

Labour attacks SNP skills strategy
Arabella Hargreaves reports on a debate on skills strategy in the Scottish Parliament at the end of May.

Welsh higher education
We report on a Liberal Democrat debate on higher education in Wales.

School and community in Wales
We report on a short debate in the Welsh Assembly on school and community.

Parliamentary Questions
Answers to written parliamentary questions include those on pupil funding and special educational needs in the House of Commons, children with disabilities in the Scottish Parliament and work-based learning in the Welsh Assembly.

Phoenix
Honours and the TES.