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Reports on the political theories of Charlie Jeffery, director of the Devolution and Constitutional Change program of the Economic and Social Research Council in Great Britain. Work experience as chair in politics at Edinburgh University; Arguments about the implications of devolution for the regions in England; Public demand for regional assembly in the country.

The article discusses the educational issue of raising the age in which a teenager in Great Britain can legally quit school, with particular focus on research conducted by the Institute of Social and Economic Research between 1962 and 1997 that suggests students who stayed on in school fared better than those that quit early. A timeline is presented detailing the issue of the school leaving age in Great Britain since 1870. Student Alan Chadwick also discusses his decision to stay in school.

The article discusses a research finding that sending disadvantaged students to affluent schools makes a significant positive difference in their exam scores. The analysis showed that the top three predictors of academic success were previous test scores, the socio-economic make-up of their neighborhood, and the pupil's peer group. Class and race were less important. The findings support Education Secretary Alan Johnson's call for opening up middle class schools to poorer pupils.

Comments on the social and economic challenges to schools in Great Britain. Refusal of problem children to conform; Contribution of parental help; Combination of crumbling inner cities, poverty, education market; struggle of parents to cope and demotivation of children.

Reports on the need for mass recruitment of social scientists in Great Britain to replace academics who are retiring, based on studies by the Economic and Social Research Council. Expected retirement of academics working in social work, sociology, economics, business and management studies; Decline in the number of masters students and doctorate students who become lecturers; Report on social sciences by the Commission on Social Sciences, chaired by David Rhind.

Focuses on the problems of developing social inclusivity in higher education in Great Britain. Approaches of the government toward demand for participation of students in higher education; Lack of enrolees from low socioeconomic groups; Implementation of changes by education and skills secretary Estelle Morris.