Policy Statements and Initiatives

DfEProspective teachers will have to sit new tougher tests in English, mathematics and reasoning before they can start training. The changes – recommended by an independent review group of leading head teachers & education experts – would see calculators banned from the new mathematics tests and pass marks in English & mathematics raised.
 
Chaired by top head teacher Sally Coates, the Skills Test Review Panel’s recommendations include:
* the pass mark for the English & mathematics tests is raised again, to the equivalent of GCSE grade B
* a new test for verbal, numerical & abstract reasoning is introduced, recognising that good teachers need to respond quickly & appropriately to often unpredictable demands.
Press release & links
 
BIS: Professor Sir John O’Reilly has been appointed as the new Director General of Knowledge & Innovation at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). 
 
BIS’s Knowledge & Innovation Group leads the department’s relationships with the higher education sector.  It also fosters links between the UK’s university, science and & base and industry to support economic growth, both through the development of a skilled workforce and through the transfer of new technologies & innovation.
Press release & links
 
HMT: The second wave of ‘City Deals’ invites 20 cities & their wider areas to compete for deals that would see Government devolve powers in exchange for responsibility for delivering growth locally.  Cities from the successful first wave of deals secured groundbreaking powers including the ability to ‘earn back’ tax from the Treasury, devolved transport budgets and control of the skills budget for their city.
Press release & links
 
CO: A fundamental shift in the way government operates, which sees the Efficiency & Reform Group ‘enforcing financial controls across all departments and driving a business-like approach in Whitehall’, has accelerated savings, putting the Government on track to save £20bn a year by 2015.
Press release & links
 
ScotGov: A new campaign designed to encourage Scots to sign up to the NHS Organ Donor Register has been launched. The TV & radio campaign starts as the latest figures show that over 40% of Scots have now joined the NHS Organ Donor Register – the highest percentage in the UK.
Press release & links
 
DefraBy the end of 2015 all palm oil used in central Government food & catering services will come from environmentally friendly sources, Environment Minister Richard Benyon announced last week. Government, supermarkets, manufacturers, charities & WWF have also joined forces to work towards ensuring that, by 2015, all palm oil used in everyday food & products such as soaps, biscuits & cosmetics is responsibly-produced and does not contribute to deforestation.
 
The Government will also set up an advice & information service to help UK businesses & government procurers work towards 100% sustainable palm oil.  This includes a helpline, web pages, newsletters and seminars.  Latest figures show that in 2011 the UK imported 450,000 tonnes of palm oil & palm kernel oil.
Press release & links ~ PR from WWF ~ CBI comment
 
DECC: Registered providers for social housing were able to bid for up to around £156,000 under the third phase of the Government’s Renewable Heat Premium Payment social landlord competition (RHPP) launched in August 2012.
 
Successful bidders will be able to use this funding to install kit such as biomass boilers, solar hot water panels and heat pumps, helping make tenants’ homes warmer, cosier and much more energy efficient.  It is anticipated that over 1,000 social housing tenants will benefit under this scheme.
Press release & links
 
MO: The Met Office, Department of Health, and Health Protection Agency have launched the Cold Weather plan for England 2012 which aims to prepare for, alert people to & prevent the major avoidable effects on health during periods of severe cold in England.
Press release & links
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