Over half the applicants for the Charter Mark in 1998 failed to get the award for excellence in public service. This resulted in much work for the unsuccessful applicants as well as for the Service First Unit which vets applications. The problem is essentially one of communication. Applicants have difficulty in understanding precisely the criteria against which they will be judged and in relating the ‘rules’ to their organisation. 

Education Minister David Blunkett has published a 350 million pound strategy to tackle education black spots in six inner city areas across the UK. When implementation reveals what measures work best they will be extended to other areas.
The strategy embraces pre school children who benefit from the Sure Start nursery education programme to 16 and 17 year olds who will have the opportunity to attend university summer schools.