X-ray plan for young asylum seekers

X-ray plan for young asylum seekers
The government looks set to pursue much-criticised plans to x-ray the teeth and wrist bones of young asylum seekers to assess whether they are under 18, in its forthcoming strategy for unaccompanied minors.
The document, due in the next few days, will propose the medical procedures, which have been roundly criticised by campaigners, alongside plans to disperse young asylum seekers out of London.
Source:- The Guardian, Friday 5 January 2007, page 7

Women missing from politics, boardrooms and courts
Just one in five council chief executives are women, compared to 38 per cent of NHS chief executives, figures from the Equal Opportunities Commission show.
The research underlines women’s under-representation in the highest ranks of politics, the public sector and business.
Source:- The Guardian, Friday 5 January 2007, page 9

Peace deal in care battle
A war hero who wheeled his wife of 56 years out of a nursing home after they were forcibly split up yesterday settled his battle with care chiefs.
Source:- Daily Telegraph, Friday 5 Jan 2007, page 13

Care home deaths
Three older people have died and more than 70 have fallen ill after a virus struck two nursing homes in Criccieth, North Wales. Two residents died at the Bryn Awelon home and the third at the Pla Gwyn home.
Source:- The Times, Friday 5 January 2007, page 4

‘Cripple’ insult
A school has been forced to apologise after a senior teacher told a 14-year-old disabled pupil to “move, cripple” as he passed her in the dining hall. Amy Wild, who attends Reddish Vale Technology Collge in Greater Manchester, uses a wheelchair.
Source:- The Times, Friday 5 January 2007, page 4

Pupils fail in final two years
A minister admitted yesterday that 200,000 children were going backwards in their final two years of secondary school.
Source:- Daily Telegraph, Friday 5 Jan 2007, page 6

Scottish news

Nurture classes hailed as success for pupils
A pioneering initiative by Glasgow Council to give pupils with behavioural problems lessons in social skills before they start formal learning is to be expanded after a new report heralded its success.
The local authority intends to extend the so-called nurture classes into nursery and secondary schools in the wake of new research which found the scheme improved behaviour and academic performance.
Source:- Daily Herald, Friday 5 Jan 2007

Welsh news

Wellbeing schemes help marks in school
Schemes which improve children’s emotional wellbeing also have a positive effect on their academic achievement according to new research.
The study, which was launched at the British Psychological Society’s annual conference in Glasgow, has been welcomed by Welsh experts.
Source:- Western Mail, Friday January 5 2007