Refugees and asylum seekers face post-16 education lottery

Refugees and asylum seekers face a lottery when applying for further education in England, leaving many without the opportunity to gain the skills and qualifications they need to integrate into British society, the Refugee Council states in a new report funded by the Nuffield Foundation. 

Borrowing to take the strain until the election. More pain on spending, jobs and tax after the election

The IFS Green Budget, funded by the Nuffield Foundation, is published today. Main findings include:

James Banks appointed Trustee of the Nuffield Foundation

The Nuffield Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor James Banks to its Board of Trustees.

New qualification needed to improve England’s poor participation in mathematics post-16

The solution to England’s poor participation rate in post-16 mathematics education could lie in a new qualification that provides a clear and attractive alternative for students who don’t currently go on to study AS or A level Mathematics, according to a comparative study of mathematics education in seven countries, published by the Nuffield Foundation today.

In memory of John Lewis

We note with sadness the death of John Lewis, a teacher, examiner and curriculum expert, who was an influential figure in the Nuffield Science Teaching Project in the 1960s and 70s. 

Sharp social-class divide in university entry rates also found in state schools

State school students in England who have university-educated parents are five times more likely to reach higher education than those from disadvantaged backgrounds, a study funded by the Nuffield Foundation has found.

It has long been known that pupils from independent schools are more likely to gain university places than those in state schools. But new research by academics at the Institute of Education, University of London, demonstrates how big a part family background also plays in determining which state-educated pupils go on to university.

Government and industry should do more to encourage social responsibility in biotechnology research and innovation

The Government and industry should take steps to ensure that research and development of new biotechnologies is carried out in accordance with socia

Teresa Williams Social Research Association interview

Teresa Williams, the Foundation's Director of Social Research and Policy reflects on her motivation, aspirations and achievements in this profile on the Social Research Association website.

Exploring the mandatory life sentence for murder

A new book based on work funded by the Nuffield Foundation examines the mandatory life sentence for murder.

Life after parental separation: research challenges law change proposal

Government plans to amend the 1989 Children Act by introducing a presumption of shared parenting are well-intentioned but misguided, say the authors of new research into childhood experience of family break-ups.

Courts should retain their current discretion to put the needs and wishes of individual children first when considering contact disputes between parents, say researchers, who have surveyed the opinions of hundreds of young adults with experience of family break-up.