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The structures/systems required to ensure the quality of individual learning programs in further education (FE) in Britain and the coherence of learner achievement were examined through a study in which data were obtained from a survey of students in individual learning programs at two FE colleges and a literature review. At both colleges, personal tutors played the key role in ensuring ongoing guidance/support and access to central college services for all students. Neither college allocated personal tutors to part-time students, however. The subject tutors who acted as personal tutors for part-time students did not necessarily know about possible progression routes or central services within their college. Existing systems for part-time students did not systematically collect information about student purpose, and there was no central system for ensuring coherence for students studying units from different courses or across qualification routes. Most students considered the help they received in choosing their courses adequate; however, only 55% considered the various parts of their program to be linked together properly. (Concluding this document are checklists for evaluating coherence of student purpose, program design, and the learning experience and assessment. Appended are the student questionnaire and a summary of questionnaire responses.) (MN)

Modern Apprenticeships, which were introduced in 1994, allow young people in the United Kingdom who do not want to commit to full-time further education the chance to achieve a National Vocational Qualification in their field while continuing in employment. The different models for delivery of Modern Apprenticeships that have been developed in further education were examined in a study of 12 further and higher education colleges delivering one or more Modern Apprenticeships. The sample, which was selected to reflect a cross-section of program sizes, occupational areas, geographic locations, and college settings, represented more than 25 different Modern Apprenticeships. Data on models of delivery, funding matters, partnerships and competition, and progression were collected through two site visits of each college and a questionnaire administered to college representatives. Each college supported more than one delivery scheme. Modern apprentices were employed predominately by small- to medium-sized enterprises. It was concluded that delivery of Modern Apprenticeships could be facilitated by General National Vocational Qualifications. In 75% of colleges, funding was allocated on an outcome basis. (Appended are the numbers of current registrations of modern apprentices on schemes offered by colleges in the project and the study questionnaire.) (MN)

The article offers advice on the written examination paper by the Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners (MRCGP) in Great Britain. The paper consists of 12 examiner-marked questions that tests the candidate's abilities in several broad areas in medicine. The author recommends the reading of medical journals and familiarizing main issues discussed in the editorials, and looking at the MRCGP website for useful comments by examiners in previous examinations.

The article covers issues related to education in Great Britain as of December 2005. Fifty secondary schools will receive an emotional intelligence guidance that can help children learn about manners, respect and good behavior from the Department for Education and Skills. A questionnaire that can determine whether or not a child has autism was developed by Professor David Skuse of the Institute of Child Health. The Sure Start programme of the government has been criticised by the periodical "The Sun."

The article discusses research on safety and efficiency of telephone consultations on occupational health (OH) matters. Compared to face-to-face meetings, the benefits of telephone consultations include reduction in appointment waiting times, less travel costs, and convenience for clients and OH practitioners. It acknowledged rapid expansion of OH practice supported by electronic communication and processes. The adoption of telephone consultations within OH by the corporate sector is noted.

The article reports on a scheme to change collection of data by handling out the responsibility to general practitioners (GPs) in giving out questionnaires for the choice and booking to patients in Great Britain. An incentive will be given to GPs because they will be the one to hand in the papers rather than the Department of Health posting them to patients. Moreover, the new procedure was due to the survey that showed a third of patience manage to receive the questionnaires.

The article presents information that invites general practitioners (GP) to participate in a national research study into the sexual health of Great Britain. The role of GP would be to select name and address of patients from their lists and send out a sexual health questionnaire for them. Among the authors of any published research papers, the lead GP from each surgery will be included.

Provides tips for students when answering an examination paper in the foundation stage of the Graduate Diploma for purchasing professionals in Great Britain. Examinations that require candidates to apply knowledge to a situation in a case study; Necessity for candidates to realize which skills are being tested before attempting to answer the question; Benefits of using short but precise words in answering the questions.

A procedure for the assessment of Low Frequency Noise (LFN) by Environmental Health officers has recently been developed in the UK. The development of the assessment method included laboratory test, interview-based questionnaires and field measurements. The results of the field measurements are presented in the form of frequency analyses and time histories. The examples are likely to be of particular interest to Environmental Health officers involved in the assessment of low frequency noise complaints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports on a selection of written parliamentary questions on education from the Great Britain House of Commons and the House of Lords. According to Secretary of State for Education and Skills there are 18 maintained secondary schools that offer the International Baccalaureate. Of these, nine submitted results for 16 to 18-year-olds for publication in the 2004 Performance Tables. It was also reported that the Department for Education and Skills has not issued specific guidance to primary care trusts or local education authorities on the employment of school nurses, as school nurses come within the remit of the Secretary of State for Health.