Britain slips in literacy league

England’s footballers are often hailed as role models, but it looks as if children have been following their example only too closely. Like the England team, the nation’s schools have been dropping down the international performance rankings.

On Thursday it was revealed that primary school pupils have slipped to 19th place in an authoritative survey of reading ability in 45 countries. In 2001 England was in third place.

The survey of 4,000 children was part of a five-yearly check by a group called Progress in International Reading Literacy Study. Russia boasted the best child readers, followed by Hong Kong and Canada. Bulgaria, Hungary, Latvia and Belgium were all ranked higher than England.

Reporting on the findings, the Times Educational Supplement predicted more bad news for the schools secretary, Ed Balls, when figures for secondary education were published this Tuesday.

The survey of 15-year-olds by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development ranked children from 57 countries on their ability in maths, English and science. Preliminary results for science show the UK has dropped from fourth place in 2000 to 14th.

Balls said of the literacy survey: “Parents are saying it is difficult to strike a balance between play at home and schoolwork.”

Loss of dental care

More than a quarter of a million people have lost access to a National Health Service dentist since the system was reformed last year.

The Department of Health admits that 266,000 fewer people had NHS dental treatment since a new contract for dentists was introduced in April 2006. Many dentists decided to leave the NHS rather than work under the new contract, which was nonetheless defended by Dr Barry Cockcroft, the chief dental officer. “Changes on this scale were always going to be challenging for the NHS,” he said. “As more and more new services get up and running, we expect to see increasing numbers of patients accessing services.”

There’s no rest for the workers

The culture of long working hours is beginning to tighten its grip once more after 10 years of decline. Figures from the latest Labour Force Survey show that one in eight UK workers puts in more than 48 hours a week – the maximum allowed under the EU’s working time directive. In London, the figure is one in six.

But despite these gruelling hours for some people, Britain is well down the list of Europe’s hardest workers. We put in an average of 36.9 hours a week, which sees us in tenth place. The Greeks work hardest, putting in an average of 42.7 hours. Even the French work harder than we do, grabbing seventh place.

Stiles face axe

Country stiles and kissing gates may soon be a thing of the past because the government says they pose an obstruction to the disabled on footpaths.

Councils have been reminded that the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 requires public bodies to make “reasonable adjustments” for disabled access. Many councils have identified stiles and kissing gates – which swing open and shut between a V-shaped fence – as impossible for wheelchair users and very difficult for parents with pushchairs.

Cattle farmer John Collen, chairman of the National Farmers’ Union in Suffolk, said: “Kissing gates do a splendid job keeping livestock secure and allowing public access. It is difficult to see what alternatives there could be.

“A lot of footpaths are unsuitable for wheelchairs. Are we going to see paths across fields hard-surfaced?”

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: “Where a kissing gate or stile is a historic feature, there is no reason why it could not be left, alongside a structure easier to use for those with mobility problems.”

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