School pupils are benefiting from reforms which led to the recruitment of staff from a wider range of backgrounds and with different skills and life experiences. A report today from Ofsted says the impact has been greatest among underachieving students. It recommends, however, that schools put more effort into training their wider workforce.

Read more on TRAINING NEEDS OF WIDER SCHOOL WORKFORCE HIGHLIGHTED…

The leader of the Local Government Association will meet the Housing Minister, Margaret Beckett, today to press for changes to the Government’s draft policy on eco-towns. Margaret Eaton, who chairs the LGA, will stress that the developments should not be forced through where they are not wanted and it has warned the Government its approach may be illegal.

Read more on LGA LEADER MEETS MINISTER OVER ECO TOWNS CONCERNS…

The reorganization of children’s and adult services resulted in most councils setting up separate directorates to replace the former education and social services. But 10 per cent of councils chose to combine both roles in a single director post. This report from the Improvement and Development Agency presents research findings on how the combined model is working.

Read more on THINK FAMILY, THINK COMMUNITY: ROLE OF DIRECTORS…