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HUMOROUS WEB FILMS TO ENCOURAGE TEENAGERS TO QUIT
Figures to be published in Towards
Sustainability - SMMT's eighth annual sustainability report - will
show annual CO2 emissions from UK car and CV manufacturing have
fallen 36.5 per cent from 2.14 to 1.36 million tonnes in just four
years. This improvement follows figures in SMMT's new car CO2
report, published in July, which revealed average new car CO2
emissions fell 12 per cent in a decade, saving an estimated one
million tonnes of CO2 each year.
In addition to charting progress on environmental measures, Towards
Sustainability highlights sector economics.
This year, it will show the value of
Britain's largest manufacturing sector which employs more than
850,000 people and has a turnover of £48.5bn.
However, despite the improvement in sustainability and importance of
the sector to jobs and the economy, government and opposition
parties are currently battling to out-green each other with a series
of disproportionate and unworkable policy measures for auto makers
and their customers. SMMT has called for an end to the hollow
gestures which undermine confidence and send a message that
threatens jobs and investment in UK plc.
"In the hunt for a good sound-bite, politicians are losing
sight of good policy, Ideas like banning petrol cars or
slapping £2,000 on the purchase price of a new car might make
headlines, but they offer little in the way of practical solutions
to the very real issue of limiting climate change." said
SMMT chief executive Christopher Macgowan.
The automotive sector is Europe's largest investor in R&D, spending
€20bn annually, or four per cent of turnover in bringing cleaner
technologies to market. But in parallel with the development of
cleaner vehicles, industry argues that cost-effective complementary
measures like wider biofuel distribution and congestion reduction
must be at the heart of government policy.
This integrated approach also means developing measures that help
improve driver behaviour, a point made last week in a report
published by the Commission for Integrated Transport.
According to CfIT, measures like
eco-driving and better speed limit enforcement could save 1.7
million tonnes of carbon dioxide by 2020 alone.
Towards Sustainability will be launched on 9 October 2007, available
to
download. |
Double top for Gilmour Juniors
TALENTED children at a Liverpool
school have double cause for celebration after two outstanding
achievements.
Gilmour Junior School, L19 has received the highest possible marks
in its latest OFSTED report. It follows hot on the heels of the
school earning the Artsmark Gold Award for excellent provision in
the arts.
The school achieved the maximum score in every category of its
OFSTED inspection. Inspectors called the school "outstanding",
highlighting the quality of leadership and management and commenting
that everyone “works enthusiastically and purposefully to
ensure pupils get the most out of their education.”
Inspectors also praised the school’s “vibrant learning
environment” and “exciting opportunities”
which are helping children “develop into happy and confident
young learners.”
And the praise didn’t end with OFSTED. Arts Council England has
given the school another boost by awarding it the Artsmark Gold
Award for the second time. Artsmark is a national award scheme which
recognises schools with a high level of provision in art, dance,
drama and music.
Head teacher Peter Gibbons said:- “Everyone at the school is
absolutely delighted with this double boost. Gilmour is a wonderful
school where everyone works in partnership and it’s really pleasing
to earn national recognition for the achievements of our pupils,
parents, staff and governors.”
OFSTED inspectors were quick to highlight the part pupils at Gilmour
play in the development of the school. They praised the wide range
of initiatives pupils get involved in, including anti-bullying
strategies, healthy eating projects and recycling schemes.
Artsmark Gold is the highest level of achievement a school can
receive from Arts Council England. It is awarded to schools which
integrate first class arts provision into the curriculum and
successfully raise the profile of the arts in the school and local
community.
Councillor Paul Clein, executive member for children’s services,
said:- “This is an excellent achievement for Gilmour Juniors,
highlighting all the fantastic work that is going on at the school.
I’m delighted OFSTED has praised the stimulating and exciting
learning environment which is raising pupil attainment across the
board.
The school also does a lot of great work to encourage young people’s
development in the arts, and the award from Arts Council England is
also thoroughly deserved.” |
