-
News
-
Resources
-
Events
Media Digest 18 July 2012
18 July 2012
Report paints grim picture of England's most troubled families
David Cameron's troubled families director-general Louise Casey – who has been tasked with turning round the lives of the 120,000 most dysfunctional by 2015 – was interviewed on the BBC’s Today programme this morning, and had an interview published in the Guardian. Her report into England's most troubled families apparently details sexual abuse and welfare dependency going back generations. Casey conducted more than a dozen in-depth interviews to compile her report on the challenge the government faces. She found that experiences were often passed from generation to generation, such as domestic and sexual abuse, teenage pregnancies, police call-outs and educational failure.“The prevalence of child sexual and physical abuse and sometimes child rape was striking and shocking,” the report said.“It became clear that in many of these families the abuse of children by in many cases parents, siblings, half-siblings and extended family and friends was a factor in their dysfunction.”
Louise Casey calls for new approach on 'troubled families'
Louise Casey says a "whole-family" approach is needed to help reduce the social problems for struggling families in England.
Gove approves three free schools to be run by groups with creationist views
The education secretary, Michael Gove, has approved three free schools run by groups with creationist views, including one with a document on its website declaring that it teaches "creation as a scientific theory". Andrew Copson, chief executive of the British Humanist Association (BHA), said he was concerned that the government's scrutiny of free schools was inadequate. "Grindon Hall Christian school is a classic example of the so-called 'teach the controversy' approach, often used by American creationist groups to get creationism taught in schools," Copson said.