News from Ireland North & South

The hot topics -
updated daily to keep you fully informed about the latest news and views.

 

Kidnap gang fails in ransom bid.

Police have launched an appeal for information on a gang who abducted a woman from south Belfast last week.

Teens rush to join vote register.

A record number of 17-year-olds in Northern Ireland have registered to vote, the Electoral Office has said.

Ryanair in new Aer Lingus offer.

The budget airline Ryanair is to make a fresh takeover offer for the Irish flag-carrier Aer Lingus.

Families face winter fuel poverty.

Thousands of children may be living in fuel poverty this winter and a leading charity wants assembly members to adopt a strategy to tackle the issue.

Fire damage school to stay closed.

A Portadown school damaged in a malicious fire at the weekend will remain closed on Monday.

 

Education News in the UK

The latest news in Education across the UK

'Soft' A-level warning for pupils.

More needs to be done to warn pupils that choosing a "soft" A-level subject could limit their choice of university course, a think-tank says.

Only two top universities publish a list of "non-preferred" subjects, the Policy Exchange report claims.

In January, the Russell Group of top research institutions warned that state pupils especially could be hampered by choosing "soft subjects" at A-level.

The report says universities and schools must make things clearer.

It says that only Cambridge University and the London School of Economics publish lists of less-preferred subjects, while other universities offer no clear advice about subjects that could count against students.

However, many do provide information on what A-level subjects and grades are required for each particular course.

Grant targeted at poorer students.

Scottish teenagers who would qualify for £10 or £20 weekly grants could lose out under proposals to spread funding to more of the most needy.

The Scottish Government plans to extend £30 education maintenance allowances to more training and community projects including those involving volunteering.

In a consultation on post-16 choices, the move is seen as an alternative to England's compulsory learning to 18.

Four fifths of Scots EMA recipients get the higher £30-a-week grant.

"The rationale behind this is supported by recent English research which found that lower payments (particularly the £10) have little impact on participation rates," the consultation document says.