Levelling up? - NationalWorld digital front page

NationalWorld can reveal the Tories have presided over a 42 per cent cut to council adult education, despite plans to use skills training to level up the country
The digital front page of NationalWorld for 13 May (Image: NationalWorld)The digital front page of NationalWorld for 13 May (Image: NationalWorld)
The digital front page of NationalWorld for 13 May (Image: NationalWorld)

The Government is promising an adult skills and education revolution is the way forward for left behind areas.

“Why then has it allowed council spending on adult learning to fall by more than two-fifths on its watch?” asks Data and Investigations Editor Harriet Clugston, as NationalWorld reveals the Tories have presided over a 42 per cent cut to council adult education spending in England despite the PM’s plans to use skills training as “rocket fuel” to level up the country.

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Boris Johnson used the Queen’s Speech at the opening of Parliament on Tuesday (11 May) to outline how his Government will bring forward new legislation to “revolutionise” education and training for older teenagers and adults.

The Tories' plans to use skills training to 'level up' - despite presiding over a 42 per cent cut to council adult education - leads tomorrow's front page (Image: NationalWorld)The Tories' plans to use skills training to 'level up' - despite presiding over a 42 per cent cut to council adult education - leads tomorrow's front page (Image: NationalWorld)
The Tories' plans to use skills training to 'level up' - despite presiding over a 42 per cent cut to council adult education - leads tomorrow's front page (Image: NationalWorld)

But analysis of government data by NationalWorld has exposed how Mr Johnson’s party has overseen a steady decline in spending in this area by local government, one of the key providers of mature learning.

Department for Education (DfE) records show spending on adult and community education by councils in England fell by 21 per cent between 2013-14 and 2019-20, from £395 to £311 million.

And when adjusted for inflation, the real terms spending drop rises to 42 per cent – a loss of £130 million for adults looking to level up their skills.

Mourinho on coping after Manchester United and Spurs sackings

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Jose Mourinho has opened up on how he deals with pressure as a top-level football manager as he prepares to take charge of AS Roma.

Mourinho was sacked as Tottenham Hotspur boss last month just days before Spurs were due to play in the League Cup final against Manchester City.

It followed on from his dismissal at Manchester United, where he left the club after winning the Europa League and FA Cup.

It didn’t take the famed manager long to get another job, with Serie A side Roma announcing he would take the reins in the summer, rejoining Italian football after his successful spell at Inter Milan which won him the Champions League for the second time in his career after stunning the football world with Porto back in 2004.

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Now Mourinho, in an interview with XTB.com, has opened up about how he deals with pressure, preparation, and the one game in his career where everything went perfectly.

See what the ‘Special One’ had to say here.

The online scams that could cost motorists

Driving is an expensive business at the best of times but for unwary motorists there is the added risk of being caught out by criminals trying to rip them off.

While car theft is a major concern, there are plenty of other more subtle scams that will still leave drivers out of pocket should they fall victim, many of which are carried out entirely online.

Cons can range from dodgy paperwork to sellers taking payment for non-existent cars so with the help of the motoring experts at Select Car Leasing, we’ve run down some of the biggest online scams.

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From too good to be true car insurance deals to fake Facebook car adverts and driving licences, read our full rundown on the tricks and traps to avoid.

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