All posts tagged: England

Time for the morally deficient Church of England to be stripped of its privileges

Time for the morally deficient Church of England to be stripped of its privileges

Published by skeptic

The independent review led by Keith Makin into the Church of England’s handling of allegations of serious abuse by John Smyth has brought to light the Church’s systematic failings in addressing sexual abuse within its ranks. Between the 1970s and 2010s, Smyth subjected as many as 130 boys and young men in the UK and Africa to physical, psychological, and sexual abuse, including brutal beatings with a cane for ‘sins’. Victims reported being beaten so badly they were forced to wear nappies to stop the bleeding. Smyth used ‘Iwerne camps’— Christian holiday camps for children aiming to promote evangelicalism in the Church—to access many of his victims. The Makin review found ‘clear evidence’ that the abuse perpetrated by Smyth was ‘covered up’. Key figures criticised in the review included the soon-to-be former Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, who the report said ‘could and should’ have reported Smyth to authorities when details were presented to him in 2013. Despite acknowledging that the review made clear that he had ‘personally failed to ensure Smyth’s horrific abuse was …

why this test taken by six-year-olds in England just isn’t needed

why this test taken by six-year-olds in England just isn’t needed

Published by skeptic

At the end of year one, when they are five or six, all children at state schools in England must take a test called the phonics screening check. The check measures their ability to use synthetic phonics – an approach to teaching reading – to blend sounds together to read words. If they don’t pass, children take the test again in the next school year. However, recent research from think tank the Education Policy Institute suggests that there is no evidence that the phonics screening check leads to improvements in reading later in a child’s school journey. In addition, the report found no evidence that the check has narrowed attainment gaps in reading – such as the difference in results between children from richer and poorer backgrounds – by the end of primary school. The Education Policy Institute report argues that, according to data from the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (Pirls) which takes place every five years, results do not provide any indication that the phonics screening check has positively affected the reading …

New dock gates at Bristol Port designed to boost West of England flood defences

New dock gates at Bristol Port designed to boost West of England flood defences

Published by skeptic

New custom-made dock gates at Avonmouth Port will boost West of England flood defence efforts. The upgrade is part of the Avonmouth Severnside Enterprise Area (ASEA) ecological mitigation and flood defence project, designed to protect the region from growing flood risks. Once complete in 2026-27, the 17 km of defences will shield 2,500 homes and businesses from tidal flooding and create 12,000 new jobs across the West of England. Bristol City Council, South Gloucestershire Council and the Environment Agency are leading the ASEA project and contributing £6.8 million towards the new gates. The Bristol Port Company (BPC) managed the procurement and installation, using a specialist company in the Netherlands to manufacture the gates, which serve navigational and flood protection purposes. The previous gates, which were nearing the end of their life, formed the main entrance to Avonmouth Port. The new gates are designed to meet latest flood defence standards, capable of withstanding a one in 200-year tidal flood event, with allowances for rising sea levels due to climate change. Councillor Andrew Brown, Chair of the Economy …

Abortion safe access zones come into force in England and Wales

Abortion safe access zones come into force in England and Wales

Published by skeptic

In a major victory for a longstanding Humanists UK campaign, safe access zones around all hospitals and clinics providing abortions in England and Wales are implemented from today. The move means people accessing or providing abortions can do so free from harassment and intimidation. Humanists UK has campaigned on this issue as part of the ‘Back Off!’ campaign – which it helped to launch in 2015 – and welcomed the implementation as a crucial step towards protecting abortion care access. Safe access zones will make it an offence to influence, obstruct, or harass anyone within a 150-metre radius around any premise providing abortion services, and anyone found guilty of breaking the law will face an unlimited fine. This covers acts such as handing out leaflets, protesting against abortion rights, shouting at individuals, or physically restricting someone’s access to a clinic or hospital. Instances will be dealt with on a case-by-base basis, with police and prosecutors evaluating the intent and recklessness of the person involved. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has published clear guidance to prosecutors …

Pioneering Alzheimer’s drug rejected for widespread use in NHS in England | UK News

Pioneering Alzheimer’s drug rejected for widespread use in NHS in England | UK News

Published by skeptic

A new pioneering Alzheimer’s drug has been rejected for widespread use in the NHS in England. The announcement comes as the UK’s medicines regulator said that donanemab could be licensed for use in the UK. However, the health spending watchdog, the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE), said that it “does not currently demonstrate value for the NHS”. It is the second time a new Alzheimer’s treatment has been rejected by NICE in a matter of months. Manufactured by pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly, donanemab, also known as Kisunla, is a targeted antibody drug that slows down the early stages of Alzheimer’s. Along with another new Alzheimer’s drug called lecanemab, it has been billed as a huge step forward in research because they both target a known cause of the disease – instead of just treating the symptoms. Image: A doctor indicates to a brain scan of someone with Alzheimer’s disease. Pic: Reuters Commenting on new draft guidance rejecting the drug, Helen Knight from NICE said: “For NICE to be able to approve a …

The best luxury hotels in the Cotswolds

The best luxury hotels in the Cotswolds

Published by Sam

From gracious old farmsteads and magnificent manor houses to an ancient coaching inn creaking with Tudor character, the top luxury hotels in the Cotswolds combine a wonderful sense of history with contemporary style and outstanding modern British cuisine. Whether near picturesque Broadway in the north of the region or close to Bath in the south, location is a key attribute to them all: some offer serene escapes in acres of their own rolling parkland; others sit amid superb gardens; and several take over classic honey-stone villages that look as if they have been beamed in from a halcyon era of the past. They all excel in providing creature comforts, whether crackling fires by kick-back sofas, canopy beds with soft throws, or suites with terraces and hot tubs. Facilities are top-notch too, ranging from beautiful bars and quiet terraces to blissful spas with inviting pools and even an opportunity for equine adventures. Read on to discover our pick of the best luxury hotels in the Cotswolds. Source link

Crucial topics are missing from teens’ education on sex and reproductive health in England

Crucial topics are missing from teens’ education on sex and reproductive health in England

Published by skeptic

Comprehensive sex and reproductive health education aims to promote positive attitudes toward sex and reproductive health, and empower young people to make informed decisions. But decent sex and reproductive health education is still lacking in many parts of the world. This leaves significant gaps in young peoples’ knowledge and understanding. We have carried out research to figure out what young people in England are missing in their sex education lessons. We reviewed the relationships and sex education (RSE) curricula across the UK. We found that, in England, much of the focus of sex and reproductive health education is on pregnancy prevention. Much less emphasis is given to reproductive health topics such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, fertility and the menopause. We also carried out a survey of 931 students aged 16-18 across England. We found students were missing key aspects of reproductive health knowledge. Students are not being adequately informed about fertility, despite the RSE curriculum guidelines stating that students must be taught “the facts about reproductive health, including fertility, and the potential impact …