Policy Paper Research Articles

An Evaluation of Education Policy in England since 2010 and the Policy Consequences for Small Primary Schools

The fate of small primary schools (pupils aged five–eleven years old) in England is linked to education policy reforms. This paper presents an evaluation of selected education policy reforms in England since 2010 with suggested consequences for small primary schools. The research was undertaken using a qualitative research methodology that employed a document analysis method to create a Policy Document Analysis Frame (PDAF) for the policy evaluation. The implications of the policy reforms for small primary schools were examined through the conceptual lens of Educational Isolation. Educational Isolation identifies the limiting factors of place for a school’s access to the resources required for school improvement. Education policy reform is focused on school improvement. Small primary schools in England are typically located in rural neighbourhoods with sparse populations, resulting in an average of just over 100 pupils per school. The findings suggest that the contextual factors of place and size for small primary schools in England present disadvantages in relation to the selected national education policy reforms. The national funding formula, Multi Academy Trusts (groups of schools independently regulated but centrally funded by the state), and National Standards are the key policy reforms, driven by a neo-liberal ideology, that are suggested to have implications for the future of small schools. Recommendations are offered to the new 2024 Labour government that would support the re-instatement of small primary schools as an integral part of the education landscape in England.

Defining Long-Term Care in European Union Countries: A Review of Policy Documents

Defining Long-Term Care in European Union Countries: A Review of Policy Documents

Social Class, the Overlooked Element of Diversity within Higher Education: An Analysis of Policy Documents and Data Collection Practices by Russell Group Universities in the United Kingdom

Investigating the data that universities collect on the characteristics of staff and students offers an insight into which aspects of diversity they prioritise. We sent Freedom of Information requests to 24 Russell Group institutions asking them to report the data they collect on the class background and protected characteristics of staff and students. We also reviewed university equality policy documents using content analysis. Analysis showed that while all institutions collect data on the protected characteristics of staff and students, and 18 universities collect data on the class background of students, just one university collects data on the class background of staff. This is despite 10 institutions recognising class background as being an important component of diversity within their policies. We propose recommendations on what data universities should collect on the class background of staff, and how they can use these data to support intersectional diversity.

An exploration of community food pantries in Scotland: strategic and operational perspectives on addressing food insecurity and health inequalities

Introduction: Food insecurity and health are inextricably linked. Since 2008, Scotland has witnessed a proliferation of both food insecurity and emergency food provision. There is a recognised commitment from Scottish Government to ‘end the need for food banks’, however, the food aid landscape was ‘turbo-charged’ during COVID-19 leading to intense expansion and diversification of food-based projects, including the development of community food pantries (CFPs). These ‘new’ models are relatively under-researched, meaning we do not adequately understand their potential or realised impacts on food insecurity and health. This study aims to fill that gap.MethodsA qualitative methodology was used to collect and analyse data from in-depth interviews with 10 representatives from both operational and policy settings related to food insecurity in Scotland. In addition, we conducted an analysis of policy documentation from Scottish Government related to tackling food insecurity to understand how CFPs fit into its overall strategy to transition away from food bank use.ResultsWe found there were variations in conceptualisations of CFPs and how they operate, challenges related to addressing food insecurity at a community level and varied narratives around the role of community level interventions in tackling health inequalities. Choice and access to services were viewed as central components to the pantry model. However, there were significant challenges faced by CFPs, including territorialism, funding and food supply. Articulations of health were often multi-layered and complicated with strong recognition of the social determinants as well as acknowledgement of the limitations of tackling food insecurity and health inequalities solely at the community level.ConclusionsDespite a commitment to transition away from emergency food provision, CFPs in Scotland appear to face many of the same issues as food banks, particularly those which impact health. Urgent critique of their reliance on surplus food redistribution is required alongside investigation of how these ‘new’ models are experienced by the people who access them. Further expansion of these models should be viewed with caution and in the same vein as traditional emergency food provision: a symptom of, rather than a solution to, the problem of food insecurity.

Adult Education Program Implementers’ Understanding and Usage of Strategy Policy Documents in Addis Abab City Administration, Ethiopia

This study was targeted to assess adult education program implementers’ understanding towards adult education policy documents and usage of the documents in Addis Ababa City Administration. In order to guide the study qualitative method was applied. Accordingly, qualitative data was gathered using interview and document analysis. Qualitative data like views of respondents and result gained from document analysis were discussed by narrating the evidences/responses in words. As the findings of this study reveals, majority of adult education program implementers lack understanding about the policy documents of adult education sector; there is no established and sustainable awareness creation system and capacity building program for newly employed and other personnel; non-existence an established structure to lead adult education program according to the designed strategy documents are some of the results of the research. In order to overcome the challenges mentioned above adult education implementing organizations have to launch continuous professional development (CPD) program for implementers of adult education program. Consequently, implementers of the program can get first-hand information on the policy documents on one hand and they can also upgrade their profession on the other hand.

How are Brain Health Interventions Implemented in Clinical Settings Internationally? – A Scoping Review

Abstract Background It is estimated that 40% of dementia cases worldwide may be linked to potentially modifiable risk-factors. Evidence suggests multidomain interventions targeting a number of these risk factors can help prevent and delay the development of cognitive decline. However, the optimal way to deliver these interventions in clinical practice is less clear. We conducted a scoping review to explore the implementation of brain health interventions in a clinical setting. Methods A scoping review methodology was chosen to allow the consideration of publications from sources outside the confines of a systematic review. A search was conducted and applied to four databases: MEDLINE, Embase, CINHAL, PsychInfo. Grey literature in the form of National Dementia Policy Documents were also considered for inclusion. Publications related to the delivery of brain health interventions in a clinical setting available in English were included, while multidomain interventions delivered for research purposes only were excluded. Results were dual-screened, extracted by two independent reviewers, and reported in line with PRISMA-scr guidelines. Results Of 3,035 results, 2,109 remained following de-duplication. Fifty full-text records were screened, with 4 citations referring to 2 clinical services included in the review. The first service (Alzheimer’s Prevention Clinic (APC), Cornell and Puerto Rico) was established in 2013 while the second (Brain Health Scotland) established a clinical service in 2023. Both accept self-referrals and healthcare provider referrals and are distinct from existing memory clinic service models. Both services offered cognitive testing along with risk factor assessment. A detailed suite of interventions offered to patients in the APC was outlined targeting cardiovascular, lifestyle and nutritional risk factors. The clinical interventions offered in the Brain Health Scotland clinical service were not documented. Conclusion Within the limitations of the search strategy, there is a paucity of available information on existing, operational brain health intervention clinics, particularly those linked to memory assessment services.

Human Rights and Inclusion of Vulnerable Groups in Health and Well-Being Policy Documents Relevant to Children and Young People in Ireland.

Children and young people constitute a structurally vulnerable group who often experience specific barriers when trying to exercise their rights, including the right to health. The aim of this study was to examine core concepts of human rights and inclusion of vulnerable groups in a sample of national health and well-being policy documents relevant to children and young people in Ireland. Using EquiFrame, a validated policy content analysis tool, 3 policy documents were analysed in relation to their commitment to 21 core concepts of human rights and inclusion of 13 vulnerable groups. The Overall Summary Ranking of each policy varied: 'Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures'-Moderate, 'Sláintecare'-Moderate, and the 'Wellbeing Policy Statement'-Low. Across all three documents, Core Concept Coverage was high while Core Concept Quality was low. The findings demonstrate that these documents cover a wide range of human rights but fail to provide specific policy actions to address human rights or an intention to monitor human rights.

Qualitative assessment of evidence-informed adolescent mental health policymaking in India: insights from project SAMA

BackgroundThe importance of evidence-informed health policymaking is widely recognized. However, many low- and middle-income countries lack evidence-informed mental health policies due to insufficient data, stigma or lack of resources. Various policies address adolescent mental health in India, but published knowledge on their evidence-informed nature is limited. In this paper, we report results of our analysis of the role of evidence in adolescent mental health policymaking in India.MethodsThis paper reports findings from the document analysis of key policy documentation (n = 10) and in-depth interviews with policy actors including policymakers, researchers, practitioners and intermediaries (n = 13). Framework analysis was used, informed by the components of a conceptual framework adapted from the literature: actors, policy and evidence processes, nature of evidence itself and contextual influences.ResultsResults show that adolescent mental health policies in India were generally evidence-informed, with more key evidence becoming generally available from 2010 onwards. Both formal and informal evidence informed mental health policies, particularly agenda-setting and policy development. Mental health policymaking in India is deemed important yet relatively neglected due to competing policy priorities and structural barriers such as stigma. Use of evidence in mental health policymaking reflected differing values, interests, relative powers and ideologies of policy actors. Involvement of government officials in evidence generation often resulted in successful evidence uptake in policy decisions. Policy actors often favoured formal and quantitative evidence, with a tendency to accept global evidence that aligns with personal values.ConclusionsThere is a need to ensure a balanced and complementary combination of formal and informal evidence for policy decisions. Evidence generation, dissemination and use for policy processes should recognize evidence preferences by key stakeholders, while prioritizing locally available evidence where possible. To help this, a balanced involvement of policy actors can ensure complementary perspectives in evidence production and policy agendas. This continued generation and promotion of evidence can also help reduce societal stigma around mental health and promote mental health as a key policy priority.

Strategies for Land Economic Development in South Delhi District

This research paper examines the land economic development strategies in South Delhi, focusing on their impact on the socio-economic and spatial dynamics of the region. South Delhi, a diverse and economically vibrant district within the National Capital Region of India, presents a unique case study to explore how tailored land use policies and economic planning can foster sustainable growth. Using a mixed-method approach, this study integrates qualitative analysis of policy documents, stakeholder interviews, and quantitative assessment of economic indicators to analyze land use changes, economic transformations, and policy effectiveness from 2011 to 2021. The analysis spans both macro and micro levels, investigating transformations in key areas like Mehrauli, Lado Sarai, and Aya Nagar. Findings highlight significant shifts in land use from agricultural to residential and commercial purposes, driven by rapid urbanization, infrastructure development, and policy reforms. While certain strategies have effectively promoted economic growth, challenges such as environmental degradation, congestion, uneven policy enforcement, and socio- economic disparities persist. The study underscores the need for sustainable land use planning, improved infrastructure, stakeholder collaboration, and adaptive governance frameworks to balance economic growth with social equity and environmental sustainability The research offers comprehensive insights and practical recommendations for policymakers, urban planners, and stakeholders to optimize land economic development strategies in South Delhi, with implications for similar urban contexts globally. The study advocates for a holistic approach that integrates sustainable development, community engagement, and resilient policy frameworks to create livable and prosperous urban environments. Index Terms— Land Economic Development Strategies,South Delhi, Socio-Economic Dynamics ,Spatial Dynamics, Land Use Policies ,Economic Planning ,Sustainable Growth ,Mixed-Method Approach, Policy Documents, Stakeholder Interviews, Economic Indicators, Land Use Changes, Urbanization, Infrastructure Development ,Policy Reforms Environmental Degradation, Socio- Economic Disparities ,Sustainable Land Use Planning, Stakeholder Collaboration, Adaptive Governance, Urban Environments.

‘Fundamental British values’: navigating nationalism and teacher practice

ABSTRACT Attempts to locate ‘Britishness’ within a context of loyalty to a set of shared values, have drawn upon discourses rooted in both contemporary and Imperial British histories. A central plank of the approach adopted since the early 2010s is the ‘Fundamental British Values’ (FBV), emerging from the British counter-terror strategy Prevent (2011). This paper interrogates the responses of school staff to the FBV, particularly expressions of discomfort regarding the policy’s nationalist overtones drawn from staff interviews, policy documentation and on-site photography obtained from an inner-south London primary school,. These responses are explored using Appadurai’s (1990) conception of ‘scapes’ in relation to globalisation, which highlight some of the strategies used by staff to manage this discomfort relative to their statutory duties. Finally, the broader implications and ideological foundations of the strategies chosen by staff are examined and spaces for deeper engagement with the FBV are examined.

An Expert System on Flimsy Foundations: Teaching Expertise and the Early Career Framework

ABSTRACT The paper seeks to identify how teacher expertise is implicitly and explicitly conceptualised in current English education policy in respect of the professional development of teachers. We focus specifically on conceptualisations of expertise in the Early Career Framework (ECF), both in terms of the policy documentation produced by the Department for Education and in terms of a selection of publicly available materials produced by the lead providers of the ECF. We aim to locate these conceptualisations in terms of broader sociological and philosophical debates about the nature of expertise and its relationship to professional work, in addition to recent research on the policy context of teacher education and professional development in England. Our analysis reveals the inappropriacy of ‘expert systems’ approaches to expertise in educational contexts, the underlying assumptions embedded in policy in terms of what constitutes high-quality teaching practice and the insufficiency of relying on an appointed advisory group and organisations preferred by government for identifying and iterating criteria for expertise.

Attention Allocation of the Sichuan Provincial Government and Chongqing Municipal Government in the Construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle: An Analysis Based on 238 Policy Documents in China

<p class="MsoBodyText" align="justify"><span style="font-family: Garamond;">The construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle holds a pivotal strategic position in China's regional development landscape. Attention is a scarce resource, the optimization of government decision-making hinges critically on effective attention allocation. This study examines 238 policy documents issued by the Sichuan Provincial Government and Chongqing Municipal Government pertaining to the Twin-City Economic Circle. Leveraging grounded theory and content analysis, we utilize Nvivo12 to process and analyze these texts, aiming to delineate the overall distribution and specific characteristics of the governments' attention allocation. Our findings reveal disparities in attention allocation across different timeframes and domains, along with issues such as imbalances in policy tool structures, attention allocation structures, and the precision of attention allocation. Consequently, we recommend that the Sichuan Provincial Government and Chongqing Municipal Government enhance the utilization of demand-oriented policy tools to refine their policy tool frameworks, prioritize non-urgent policy issues to optimize attention allocation, and refine the targets of attention allocation to enhance the precision of policy arrangements.</span></p>

Exploring Overlaps of Cultural Property Crime with Organised Crime in EU Policy Documents

Exploring Overlaps of Cultural Property Crime with Organised Crime in EU Policy Documents

Research on the Work-for-Relief Policy within the Scope of Comprehensive Rural Revitalization: Quantitative Analysis of Policy Texts Based on 71 Policy Documents

Work-for-relief plays a unique role in China’s journey toward modernization. From the perspectives of policy tools and interest analysis, this paper uses quantitative analysis of policy texts and integrates grounded theory to build a policy expression analysis model to discuss the current work-for-relief policy system. The study found that China’s use of the work-for-relief policy is unbalanced, and it is necessary to enhance the involvement of non-governmental sectors, as well as to fully consider the policy’s target groups and the social issues that need addressing.

Security as a Public Value

Purpose: Security would seem to constitute the most fundamental public value, and is intrinsically linked with the right to life. Keeping the public safe from internal and external threats is the primary function of governments and states. At the level of global governance, systemic security, and a guarantee of freedom from existential threats for sovereign states, lie at the heart of international law, international organizations, and the normative rules of coexistence. Yet the definition of security has evolved over time. The proliferation of threats to security, and spillover between them, has seen an expansion along the X-axis of issues. Meanwhile, consideration of an increasingly broad hierarchy of the subjects of security (those for whom security should be provided) has seen expansion along the Y-axis of referent objects in two directions from the state - upwards towards international communities and ultimately to the global biosphere, and downwards peoples, communities, and vulnerable groups and individuals. A combination of these perspectives has manifested in three of the gravest crises to face domestic and international governance policymakers: the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and the global humanitarian crisis of refugees and forced migrants. This paper traces the evolution of security public values and reflects the emergence of a holistic conceptualization of governance prescription in response. Method: This research project used a qualitative approach consisting of literature review and document analysis. The results of this study should be supplemented by quantitative and qualitative studies in the future. The literature review consists of a comprehensive assessment of scholarly academic publications from competing perspectives in the fields of political and moral philosophy, public administration, and international relations. The document survey is mainly related to the policy documentation output of national governments and international organizations, as well as media reports. Results: The research identifies how the exponential growth of security challenges, and their interlocking and cross-contaminating nature, has rendered traditional modalities anachronistic. It identifies how conceptualizations of what constitutes ‘security’ have steadily expanded to include a greater focus on human beings as the referent object, and to include a broader range of ‘threats’ to these referent objects. Questions related to state and systemic security remain relevant and interact with human-centric issues and perspectives in an increasingly complex web of insecurities. Global governance policymaking has likewise expanded to encompass non-traditional security (NTS) issues, but in doing so has shone a spotlight on the controversial dualistic nature of international organizations. In 2005, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Kofi Annan referenced the interrelatedness of the three pillars of the UN by noting “we will not enjoy security without development, development without security, and neither without respect for human rights. Unless all these causes are advanced, none will succeed.” In doing so he neatly encapsulated the progress made by the evolution of security and governance conceptualizations, as well as ongoing challenges. Policy prescription and obligations for those who govern, therefore, must increasingly consider spillover between these diverse agendas. This has been reflected in the newly emerging discourse on the humanitarian-development-peace nexus (HDPN). The article assesses not only the promise of the HDPN, but also continued shortcomings in terms of how it is currently operationalized at the global level, two decades after Annan’s original call to action for a more integrated and human-centered approach to security and governance.

Integrative Synergies between BRI of China and Agenda 2063 of African Union: Reviewing the Policy Documents and Analyzing the Program for Infrastructure Development in Africa-Priority Action Plan 2 (PIDA-PAP 2) (2021-2030)

Integrative Synergies between BRI of China and Agenda 2063 of African Union: Reviewing the Policy Documents and Analyzing the Program for Infrastructure Development in Africa-Priority Action Plan 2 (PIDA-PAP 2) (2021-2030)

Intersectionality in Education Policy Documents

Intersectionality in Education Policy Documents

The Structure and Function of Oral Cancer Control in Kerala, India: A Narrative Review of Cancer Control Policy Documents from 1988 to 2020

The government of Kerala was the first state in India to come out with a comprehensive plan for cancer control based on National Cancer Control Program. The purpose of this review was to identify the structure and function of cancer control in Kerala, India with specific reference to oral cancer. A systematic search was done in PubMed using the keywords “Health Policy”, “Cancer”, “Oral cancer”, “Guiding document” and “Kerala”. All government of Kerala health-related websites were searched electronically for cancer-related policy documents. The medical library catalogs of the two government Comprehensive Cancer Care Centres in the state were searched. All available Government documents, institutional documents, other online resources related to cancer prevention were collected. A checklist was prepared to review the documents. Out of 18 documents identified, two cancer-specific policy documents and two health policy documents were included in the review.The cancer control strategies outlined in the reviewed documents presented a pragmatic vision for cancer control in low-resource settings. The concept called the ‘Kerala Cancer Care Grid’ outlined in one of the documents is a novel strategy to address the geographical inequality in access to cancer care. It recognized interdepartmental coordination and partnership with private sector institutions and community organizations as crucial for achieving comprehensive cancer control. In the reviewed documents, oral cancer was discussed mainly in the context of early detection, health education, and capacity building at the primary care level.

Evaluation of fiscal policy with text mining under "dual carbon" target in China

The establishment of “dual carbon” goals exemplifies China's global commitment as a responsible sovereign and the methodical advancement toward these aims is illustrative of China's capable governance in countering climate transformation. The actualization of “dual carbon” targets is contingent upon the foundation of robust fiscal policies, and meticulous assessments of policy documentation are instrumental in reflecting the foreseen efficacies of these measures. The study employs text mining techniques to articulate evaluative benchmarks for fiscal policy scripts under the “dual carbon” framework and engages a bidirectional fixed-effects model to corroborate the linkage between fiscal policy implements and carbon emissions, alongside a holistic appraisal using the PMC-CRITIC index model. The research corroborates that fiscal instruments, such as tax reliefs and green fiscal transfers, significantly encourage the diminution of carbon emissions. The average PMC-CRITIC index of the policy specimens assessed is 0.62, indicating a level that is permissible yet indicating potential for further refinement. Of the reviewed policy samples, the preponderance adheres to satisfactory thresholds, with an ensuing tier demonstrating exceptional policy. The average evaluations of policy timeliness, nature, and evaluation are laudable, notwithstanding the necessity for ameliorations in the precision of policy objectives, the credibility of the policy objects, and the targeted applicability of policy tools. Accordingly, in the trajectory of impending policy development, there should be an amplification of the collaborative mechanisms both horizontally among sundry tiers of local governance and vertically across disparate bureaucratic strata, the adoption of a systemized approach to elucidate and resolve the fundamental dissonances in actualizing “dual carbon” objectives.

Representations of Human Domination in Climate Policy Documents: A Transitivity Analysis

Representations of Human Domination in Climate Policy Documents: A Transitivity Analysis