Ideas for making improvements to services and to create real benefits for local communities are at the centre of new consultations on themes for future rounds of the Beacon Council Scheme, which recognises local authorities that provide excellent services and that are willing to show others how they do it.This new consultation aims to find the remaining three themes for round seven of the scheme and up to 10 themes for round eight. The process is designed to gather the views of individuals and organisations interested in service provision and to develop themes that will encourage shared best practice and bring about tangible improvements.

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The impact of house price increases on first time buyers is highlighted in new research today. The figures from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation show the South West of England and London are least affordable districts for young homebuyers.In the South West, faster than average house price rises, have led to the region moving even higher up the table of areas where young earners find it hard to get a foothold on the property ladder. Four of the five least affordable districts in England – Christchurch, North Cornwall, Torridge and West Somerset – are in the region.

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This OECD report compares international levels of participation, attainment and spending among OECD member states. It shows that the UK invests heavily in early years provision compared to other OECD countries and participation in education by under-fives is high, with 81% of three to four year olds taking part. In primary and secondary education the UK enjoys an above average position for literacy and science at age 15. Performance in mathematics is also above average. The report highlights the continuing historical challenge of getting more 17-year-olds to stay in full-time education, but also shows that the number of adult learners is above the OECD average. The UK has the highest number of 30-39-year-olds in formal education of all the countries that the study observed and above average numbers engaged in workplace training.The report ‘Education at a glance 2004 – OECD Indicators 2004’ is published by the OECD and is available from +33 1 4524 9366.

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