How can non-selective state schools support their brightest students? The failure to do so is holding back the educational achievement of many less priviliged pupils Read more
Is the idea of bringing all three ‘blue light’ services under the watch of police and crime commissioners just political kite flying by home secretary Theresa May? Or does it deserve serious consideration? Read more
The Treasury is reluctant to confirm how much the Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards is costing the taxpayer, but it could be up to £1m. Let’s hope it proves worth the money Read more
New Labour’s education policies relied too heavily on targets and stripped academic subjects of content. Now, Michael Gove’s GCSE reforms mean pupils in England will no longer be working to make politicians look good Read more
There’s a lot of excitement at the prospect of the government – and now the Opposition – putting a cap on Annually Managed Expenditure. But there’s nothing new about the Treasury controlling AME Read more
Community budgets that pool funding for services could dramatically improve mental health provision. This ‘whole place’ approach should be backed in the Spending review Read more
School ballots – or ‘lotteries’ – have had a bad press. But they could be a useful instrument for levelling the educational playing field and improving social mobility Read more
The Care Bill is a good start when it comes to reforming long-term care funding. But joining up health and social care budgets is the next vital step Read more
The Social Value Act could have a huge impact on community wellbeing – but only with genuine local involvement and an imaginative and unfettered approach Read more
Public sector procurement needs to become increasingly commercial in its approach. Better market intelligence and contract management are key to doing it smarter Read more
Insightful and topical opinion on public policy and finance issues from high-profile experts and our experienced journalists.
Latest vacancies