Full: Students living with mental, and/or physical, disabilities have certain needs which requires suitable accommodation. For example, a student suffering with ASD who is unable to complete day-to-day tasks will often be provided with ensuite accommodation in a smaller flat. DSA (Disabled Students Allowance) used to ensure that disabled students would not pay more for their accommodation due to their needs. However, for the past few years this responsibility has been passed over to universities. For the past 3-4 months I have been contacting the University of East Anglia (almost twice a week) in order to confirm that my peers and I will receive an accommodation discount as we have before. They have been reluctant to answer, and it is clear that nobody is responsible for ensuring that disabled students are not discriminated against. These discounts vary, but can reach sums over £1200. It's simply not fair to charge disabled students extra due to their disabilities. The first representative of UEA I spoke to informed me that it was unlikely the discounts would go ahead this year. This is clearly in breach of the Equalities Act 2010, and I am truly worried that the Conservative government has failed to protect disabled students as this problem is not occurring just at UEA. Most recently the University of East Anglia has informed me that students with disabilities will be offered accommodation in the Village, and the sole reason for this is because of its price it seems. Despite being situated far from central campus, and not being able to meet the needs of those with physical and/or mental disabilities the University views this as the best option. I was offered accommodation which suits my needs within the main campus, but now I'm being told that in order to receive a fair discount I will have to move to a room which may not be adequate. They can't guarantee perfection, but they could act in the interests of students. If students remain in the suitable rooms, they will not receive a fair discount. I'm calling on the government to impose a frameworl upon universities. Universities have been acting with discretion, and have failed to advertise that discounts are available. Reducing expenditure seems to be at the forefront of university policy, as opposed to supporting students and facilitating their learning. There needs to be clear guidelines for all universities to adhere to. I will be sending this petition to the Minister for Universities, the Education Secretary, Leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Vice-Chancellor of UEA, and the Director of Student Services at UEA.

They say our children deserve a great education but if they are hungry and thirsty during school hours because their dinner money doesnt stretch far, how on earth do they expect our children to focus and concentrate?? They run schemes for primary schools so why ate high schools any different and why should people be discriminated for their income or employment status? Every child matters.

We would like you to reconsider the decision made in closing the school entrance gate based on Handsworth Wood Road and re-instate the caretaker at the start and end of the school day as in previous years. The walking time to school has significantly increased with the closure of the Handsworth Wood Road entrance gate - a 10 minute walk has now become a 30 minute journey. This has also resulted in increased congestion during peak hours on an already busy Church Lane as well as contributing to an increase in carbon footprint as even more parents drop and pick students to and from school. Furthermore, since the school has a responsibility towards safeguarding its students - does this not include their journey to and from school? Especially at a time when parents are hugely concerned about grooming gangs and their often discreet operations targeting students near Girls' schools in Birmingham. We do understand that the government has cut school budgets and currently balancing the school budget is an extremely challenging if not impossible task. But, as parents the safety of our daughters is paramount and we need assurance that the school journey is as accessible as possible. We hope that this petition will help you to review your decision and allow your students to feel safer by providing an easier route to school as well as focus their energy on their schoolwork rather than their lengthy journey times.

GCSE grades are being downgraded by the pursuit of A* only results. Children are being made to feel that their achievements are not good enough, and are just being taught what is needed to pass the exam, rather than a good understanding of the subject. Time and money would be better spent ensuring a wide ranging education, and not just exam passing. Children who need additional help could benefit from this wasted money being spent helping them to pass GCSE. The pursuit of A* at GCSE levels to such a degree is clearly for the schools benefit and not for the children's.

There is no evidence that becoming an Academy improves the outcomes of our children & young people. Schools that have transferred from the democratic control of the Local Authority can find themselves in a far worse position. Wakefield City Academies Trust (WCAT) has said recently, it was unable to "facilitate the rapid improvement our academies need, and our students deserve". The Department for Education (DfE) said many of the schools within the trust were performing below the national average. We demand that: The Department of Education allows Local Authorities to take back democratic control of the academies in their area, that used to be part of the Wakefield City Academy Trust. That the Treasury compensates schools who are in deficit, or are financially worse off due to the financial mismanagement of WCAT, and provides Local Authorities the finances to complete the transfer and provide continuing support for these academies. Our children’s education should not be used as a political football and we want democratic accountability to be returned to our communities."

Many families across the UK are already struggling financially. Just this week, many pupils were turned away from various Local Comprehensive Schools due to not wearing the updated and inflated priced trousers/skirts available only at exclusive school wear shops (this is also in breach of the 'Competion act'). Children are being excluded and left feeling humiliated and oustricised because they're from poorer or struggling families who are getting further into debt trying to purchase these ever changing requirements. This not only deeply affects a families finances, but also adds to stress within the family home, creating knock on effects. Schools were once about education, not business and profit making. A smart uniform displaying one logo on the blazer/jumper was enough and didn't affect a childs education - PE kits were also once plain and simple - Legislation states that Uniform should be affordable for all. We are asking you to join us in this cause and help make it illegal for schools to force these unnecessary changes, and keep the cost of uniform affordable for all. A plain smart uniform is adequate enough.

Coventry Council are making the families of disabled children pay £600 a year for transport to and from school. This service used to be free, but now families are being forced to fork out. The wellbeing and education of disabled children is being put at risk. Disabled children should not be punished for going to school.

The current valuation of the USS pension scheme is critically important to its members, as the results may well lead to significant benefits cuts or large contribution increases. The assumptions and methods that USS have used in their valuations are causing huge amounts of controversy, and led to the biggest strike in higher education for a generation. The 'Academics for Pensions Justice' campaign, resourced through donations by 2,000 USS members, are demanding that USS provides full disclosure of the data, assumptions and modelling approach underpinning the 2017 valuation. It is imperative that those wanting to scrutinize the workings, including the Joint Expert Panel established in the wake of the strike action, are able to do so. The current lack of transparency is indefensible and should be of huge concern to all USS members, who have every right to see the workings behind any figures USS produces and need to be sure that any claims of unsustainability are put under proper scrutiny.

Previously a drugs calculation exam had to be passed in the second year of the midwifery course. In 2014 this changed to August of the third year, at a time when students are about to complete their degree. The exam is the only assessment that has a 100% pass rate and due to the timing of this exam any minor errors/human error will result in failing and due to the timing will result in students not being able to retake the exam in time to graduate or qualify with the rest of their cohort. The pressure on the student of exam conditions and the high pass rate causes a natural risk for human error. Failure of the exam is not due to lack of knowledge and is not true to practice as drug administration has procedures in place to check doses and drugs before administration as it is known that human error can occur. Most midwifery students have already been offered employment prior to the exam after successfully completing rigorous interview processes which includes successful completion of a drug administration test at the trust where employment has been offered. This employment is in jeopardy pending a fail result in the exam. Competent future midwives are impacted hugely by this late exam which could be rectified if moved or changed to an earlier date. If you agree with the unfairness of this exam being so late in the academic year please sign this petition and your signature will be passed to the university.

Children are being forced to carry an obscene amount of textbooks

I am 12 years old and in my second year of secondary education. It has been on my mind for some time that the school curriculum doesn't provide kids with many of the life skills which will be vital to us as adults. Such as; Basic first aid Politics, how to vote Mental health awareness including self care and it's importance Interview skills, writing a cv Social skills - about empathy and respect for others. Awareness of physical and emotional abuse. Recognising signs of gas lighting etc. Sex education should include much more about relationships, self respect and emotions. We should learn about current events and how they affect us. Feminism, equal rights. Law Human rights, how many people can name all 30? Financial issues should be incorporated into our maths lessons, such as: How bank accounts, mortgages and ISAs work Basic Money management and household budgeting We have PSHE days now and then (one each term) but we spend much of these days socialising with friends, watching dvds etc. There is not enough time dedicated to learning these key skills. The basics should be taught from primary school age. We are constantly spoken to about what we want to do when we are adults, but we don't learn the basic skills to get us through those years, we only seem to learn how to pass exams and then what? Thanks for taking the time to read this. Please sign and share this petition so we can change things for future generations in the UK! Jake Pritchard 

By increasing education, interest will likely be developed, which can counter the abysmally low youth turnouts at elections. A better informed public can help boost election results.