Plans to raise school leaving age criticised

The Government’s ambition to raise the compulsory school leaving age to 18 by 2015 is likely to fail to improve skill levels unless more is done to improve efficiency in the classroom, a study by the Organisation of Economic CoOperation and Development (OECD) found.

The OECD said that education standards remain comparatively low, especially given higher spending levels, and called for an overhaul of Britain’s target-driven approach to raising standards which, it says, has created perverse incentives for teachers to play the system.

The report added: “It should also be kept in mind that education participation is a relatively poor proxy for skills, and that a focus on qualifications can hide problems of poor usage and overqualification.”

Privacy for children

New guidelines have been issued to Britain’s 240,000 GPs to give children the chance to be seen alone by doctors. The General Medical Council guidelines follow research saying that a third-party presence deters many young people from asking for help, and that they feel they are not being taken seriously.

Boris to take on Ken

Boris Johnson will take on Ken Livingstone in next year’s London mayoral contest after triumphing in a primary election in which just over 20,000 voters took part. Mr Johnson, the MP for Henley, secured 15,661 votes to become the Tory candidate. His closest rival, Victoria Borwick, polled 1,869 votes.

Age cases on rise

The Employment Tribunals Service, already struggling to cope with too many equal pay claims, is now facing a deluge of age discrimination cases. More than 200 new claims a month are being submitted, according to research. The Employers Forum on Age said this figure will rise by up to five times next year.

Deep-cleaning to kill bugs ‘not necessary’

Government promises to “deep-clean” hospitals in the fight against superbugs and insist that doctors wear short-sleeved shirts are ill-informed, and would not affect risk of infection (Nigel Hawkes writes). In an editorial The Lancet said: “They would be better employed making sure doctors, nurses and visitors wash their hands properly.”

It said that the policy outlined by Alan Johnson, the Health Secretary, banned long-sleeved white coats and wristwatches, “presumably leaving doctors to gaze expectantly for a convenient wall clock when timing an event or taking a pulse”.

Embassy £300m sale

The Canadian High Commission has put a corner of Grosvenor Square in Mayfair, London, up for sale with a £300 million asking price. The eight-storey mansion, MacDonald House, one of the commission buildings, is likely to be turned into a hotel or luxury apartments, expected to sell for upwards of £10 million each. More than 20 property developers have already shown interest.

Boxer murder case

Two men appeared before West London Magistrates’ Court charged with the murder of the former heavyweight boxing champion James Oyebola, 47, who died after being shot in the head and leg at the Chateau 6 club in West London on July 23. Rene McKoy, 19, and Kanyanta Mulenga, 22, who are both unemployed, are to appear at the Old Bailey on January 3.

Rat bite kills father

A father of three died after being bitten by his family’s pet rat. Matthew Wareing, 36, from Uckfield, East Sussex, was scratched and nipped but did not immediately seek medical attention and died after being taken to hospital with shortness of breath. Roger Stone, the West Sussex Coroner, recorded a verdict of accidental death. Rats can carry up to 14 dangerous diseases.

Hope for MS sufferers

A pioneering new treatment that could help thousands of multiple sclerosis sufferers to “recover” from the incurable disease is being tested for the first time on a group of British patients at Frenchay Hospital, in Bristol. They will be injected with their own bone marrow stem cells, which researchers hope will repair damaged areas of the brain and spinal cord and “reverse” their physical decline.

Crown makes a mint

A Charles II crown coin was sold for £207,200 at auction in London yesterday, well above the £120,000-£150,000 estimate. The last time one was auctioned, in May 2003, it sold for £138,000. It was made by Thomas Simon (1618-65), a Royal Mint engraver, in a competition with Philip Roettiers, a goldsmith from Antwerp. They had to produce a trial five-shilling piece, with the King choosing the winner.

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