According to new research more than two thirds (67%) of parents in the West Midlands think their children should begin learning basic numeracy skills before starting primary school. The national research, conducted by Yorkshire Bank, surveyed 1,500 parents of children aged three to five across the UK and looked at attitudes towards numeracy and methods by which it can be introduced before they start school.

Youth 4 Excellence CIC with their team of seven young volunteers have organised its seventh Annual Celebrating Youth Excellence Awards ceremony to take place at the Holiday Inn, Smallbrook Queensway, Birmingham on Saturday 19 September 2015. The black tie community event will celebrate the outstanding achievements and positive contributions of young people (13-25), parents, organisations and educators across the West Midlands.

As parents prepare their children for going back to school, a new study has shown that one in two British adults believes school days were ‘the best days of their lives’. The survey, commissioned by Sainsbury’s, delved into the life experiences of 2,000 adults to reveal the nation’s 30 most vivid school memories.  Topping the list were school assemblies and competing in the annual sports day, with 70 per cent of 25-34 year olds reminiscing about their relay races.

Thousands of children in Wolverhampton will be eligible to receive free school meals again this autumn. All Key Stage 1 – Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 – pupils in state-funded schools in England are eligible for a healthy, cooked lunch, at no cost to parents or guardians. It means more than 8,300 pupils in Wolverhampton will be able to get a main course and dessert every weekday during term time throughout the coming school year.

Eight trade apprentices have been supported and trained during a programme of building more than 600 homes across West Browmich. The project to build the homes in Greets Green has seen the apprentices working through a two-year NVQ Level 2, with continued employment with their sub-contractors.

Across the UK, PwC received its highest ever number of applications this year, with over 41,000 students applying for over 2,400 graduate, school leaver, paid internships and work placement positions. Following the firm’s decision to scrap UCAS scores as an entry criteria for its graduate roles, applications have increased 15% on the same period last year.