I am a UK teacher and academic (Mr B Solomon) well known to my many awesome students over the years and I can see how a Swindon Institute of Technology IOT can benefit our Students lives. Carol Kitching, principal at New College, said: “This truly innovative and collaborative bid will go a very long way towards improving and sustaining STEM skills and knowledge and contributing to the economic growth and success of Swindon’s economy. We are delighted to be a partner in this exciting project.” https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/17366736.first-look-at-proposed-21m-swindon-institute-of-technology-well-know-in-march-if-its-got-the-green-light/ Swindon Advertiser has reported that "Based on North Star Avenue, the proposals are backed by some of Swindon’s biggest employers. They include Nationwide, BMW Group, Excalibur Communications and Recycling Technologies. Between them, the firms will contribute £1m to the project." Steve Wain, principal of Swindon College, said: “Putting this bid together has been an uplifting experience. It is great to see everyone working so closely together to make this bid as strong as it can be. “Collaboration is the most efficient and effective way to provide employers and our communities with the high-level skill training they need to secure well-paid sustainable employment in local industry. “Our employers are committed to meeting their current and future skills needs by employing as many people from the local area as possible and see how the IOT can achieve that.” Last year, it was announced the Swindon College-led consortium was one of 16 projects shortlisted by government to bid for cash to set up an institute of technology. If successful, the £21m Swindon scheme will see the conversion of Swindon College’s tower block and technology buildings. The institute of technology, which would be backed by Oxford Brookes University and Cirencester College, will offer high-level technical qualifications in advanced manufacturing and engineering, life sciences, digital sciences and creative media. Director of Swindon & Wiltshire Initiative Ian Larrard is hopeful against tough competition " we are one of 16 established further education institutions out of 35 that have progressed to stage 2. We desparetly need to gain this Bid given youth unemployment rates. We will offer technical specialist skills and training, project management, advanced engineering, manufacturing and digital and life sciences" www.businesswest.co.uk

Staff at Queen Margaret University are in dispute with the university over proposed cuts (40 FTE posts). This makes up nearly 10% of QMU posts and, if carried out risks serious damage to the university, its staff, students and the wider community. This is in order to save £1.65m over the next two years, which is primarily needed to meet commitments to the bank. UCU argue that such devastating cuts will impact on the university’s ability to continue to run high quality courses and train tomorrow’s public sector staff, including the NHS. The university also has a creditable record on widening access; 36.6% of students are the first in their family to study at university and 37.6% are mature students; 12.4% of our students come from 20% of the most deprived backgrounds in Scotland, whilst 28.9% of our students come from the lowest 40%. Uniquely, 79% of our students are female, thus making our university a vital asset in the alleviation of gender inequality in wider society. The staff at QMU are committed to maintaining and improving our record on providing education for those who otherwise may not have the opportunity. The proposed cuts risks all of this. The University Court (the governing body) has said that there is no alternative. We believe this to be false. There are a large number of courses and modules that have been suspended with little justification. There are also many ideas amongst the staff for growth. There is a large contrast between what could be carried out at QMU and what is being carried out. Lack of communication, bureaucracy, and a senior management/top heavy structure are stifling potential growth. The unions have been conducting an alternative portfolio review, and an alterative manifesto for the university. Growth can only be achieved through the work of the staff, which is why we call on university management, in conjunction with QMU trade unions and the students union, to seriously explore alternative proposals. We call on MPs, MSPs, councillors, trade unions and the wider public to support staff at QMU. Please sign the petition to show your support.

Some councillors and local lobbyists have persistently blocked school children from their own playing fields, resulting in Cotham School paying over £100,000 in legal fees and still not having their own useable pitches. It has to stop. School staff and workers must be protected against harassment from deep-pocketed and time-rich local lobbyists, and be left in peace to carry out the work of running a highly successful and popular secondary school.

To work on in the Aviation industry as a Aircraft Maintenance Engineer you are required to hold either an A or B licence. For many years Brighton MET formally Northbrook College (Shoreham Campus) ran the EASA 'A' Licencing programme through part 147. Recently, MET decided to shut down the courses due to a series of unfortunate events. We are petitioning to reinstate the course.

The option to invest in Early Help Services and keep all children's centres open should be considered now that a decision on the unitary authority has been made. With the council said to make savings of £18.2m per year (Net 5 year revenue of £45.4m) when the new authority is formed, the decision should be delayed until then. By closing all 35 children’s centres, the Council wish to make a saving of £3.1m in early help overall. However, if they are saving £18.2m per year with the unitary, then why not wait until this is in place and look at investing in Early Help services to improve them? All options on the current consultation involve making cuts and are inadequate. In addition, there is no 'other' option (see question 18 consultation) when having to decide what their preferred choice is, people are feeling as if they have been forced to chose an option they don't necessarily agree with. Investing in children, prevention and health will lead to savings overall and in the long run. Closing children’s centres in the long run will affect children, their families and could lead to isolation and an increase in mental health issues. For more information, see link https://www.buckscc.gov.uk/services/care-for-children-and-families/improving-early-help-services-for-children-young-people-and-families/consultation-process/ (public consultation closes 11pm 13th December 2018)

Only two years after the last round of devastating cuts to our children's centres, many children in Lambeth are in danger of losing out on essential early years support. The Council have announced plans for a borough-wide restructure, which threatens five centres with closure. Another seven centres will have their provision cut in half under these proposals, and many staff are faced with losing their jobs. Children's Centres are a vital service for parents and their children in our local area. They combat isolation and loneliness which many of us experience when on maternity leave or looking after early years children. They provide support and guidance from professionals as well as a chance to mix with a range of families you didn't know before.

Countless students struggle with issues of isolation and distraction, feeling overwhelmed by everything around them during their transition to university. For students with an autism spectrum disorder, these struggles are magnified and are an every day struggle. There are many difficulties that people with autism may face when transitioning from school to university and we are urging universities to be proactive in bettering their existing services as well as introducing new ones. We are not trying to help students overcome an autism spectrum disorder or get around it. We are campaigning the university to help ensure that students with autism are achieving their full potential during their studies. We are beginning this campaign at Cardiff University, with the aim to expand it across all Russell Group universities.

Libraries matter to communities. To make informed decisons about libraries the Council needs to know what people think. But this consultation will not do that. The consultation is stuff full of jargon. The language is confusing. It should be in plain English. Readability of text can be measured using a SMOG test. That's "Simple Measure of Gobbledygook". The Sun newspaper has a SMOG value of less than 14. The Express is less than 16. The Guardian and Telegraph is around 17. The SMOG value of Worcestershire County Council's consulation is an amazing 44! Ordinary people have little chance of understanding it. But a good consultation should be about getting ordinary people's views. The Council should therefore abandon it and do it properly!

Kent County Council are planning to cut the opening hours at 99 libraries. Libraries are a vital source of learning and education. They are a vital public good we cannot do without. People of all ages can enjoy borrowing and reading books, DVDs and CDs, using the internet, reading newspapers and speaking and spending time with others. The plans could mean large numbers of libraries opening for less time. Library chiefs have already drawn up suggested opening hours and some could see big reductions. For more information on the libraries facing cut in opening hours across Kent, see this article: All the Kent libraries facing a cut in their opening hours in cost-cutting move: https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/kent-libraries-facing-cut-opening-2260765#r3z-addoor

Libraries are a vital source of learning and education in our communities. They are a vital public good we cannot do without. It is deeply worrying that the Council plans to cut the hours of Newington Library and all Thanet libraries per year drastically. This means forced redundancy, early retirement and non filling of vacant posts. In effect this would mean losing people who are passion for what books can bring to people's lives. We call for the Council to halt its plans and rethink its approach. We must protect our library services.

The New School Butterstone was originally founded in rural Perthshire, as a safehaven for education for young people with complex needs such as asperges and autism. These students come to Butterstone having found mainstream education challenging, and find that they are able to get on and thrive in an environment tailored to their needs. Smaller classes, individualized lessons and like minded students. WHAT will happen to these young people now? Will they simply be segwayed back into mainstream education in large classes, where they will be misunderstood, ignored and left at a disadvantage. We shouldn't be loosing places like 'The New School...' we should be gaining them, and learning from them. Please sign and help!

a large percentage of the worlds population are deaf or hard of hearing. Many of them learn BSL as there first language however are not able to communicate with non deaf people without a struggle.