How School Bosses Spend Your Millions

Posted on July 25, 2016 by Frostie

An investigation by Channel 4 Dispatches can reveal that some bosses of academy schools are spending taxpayers’ money on luxury hotels, top-end restaurants, first class travel and executive cars.

The Academies programme may have started under Labour, but it was pushed through a rapid expansion by David Cameron. In just five years the numbers have grown from 600 to more than 5000, they are now controlled by trusts and run like businesses. Over 3,000 of these schools are part of chains known as multi-academy Trusts, which are in control of millions of pounds of taxpayer’s money.

Expenses:
More than £14 billion of public money now flows directly to Academy Trusts. For the first time, the expenses of some of those running thousands of Britain’s academy schools can now be disclosed following a raft of Freedom of Information requests.

Dispatches looked at the expenses of more than 100 Academy Trusts, they reveal:
• The chief executive of another Trust spent almost £1000 on hotel bills, including a £245 stay at a luxury golf resort in Cheshire
• The executive principal of a Trust spent more than £1400 on two hotel bills including £909 at the Park Plaza in London
• One Trust pays a monthly Broadband bill for executive principal’s home in France
Research by Dispatches shows that largest 40 Academy Trusts have spent more than £1m of public money on executive expenses since 2012.

One of the most notable uses of taxpayer’s money is by Ian Cleland of the Academy Transformation Trust in Birmingham, which runs 22 schools. Mr Cleland is paid £180,000 per year. The Academy’s expenses reveal that he spent 3,000 on first-class travel and over £1,000 on restaurant bills. The Trust also pays for the use of his XJ Premium Luxury V6 Jaguar car including around £3000 on items like new tyres, a vehicle health check and insurance for himself and his wife. His expenses include a meal at Marco Pierre White totalling £471 and Bank totalling £703.45.

The Academies Transformation Trust said they are “committed to being… transparent” and to “achieve value for money”. They confirmed the credit card is only used for business purchases, including work-related expenses for other members of staff. The most efficient rail fare is booked wherever possible, his role “requires significant, regular travel… hence the car maintenance costs…” which are paid for by the Trust. He is “reimbursed for his business mileage only”.

Margaret Hodge, former chairman of the Public Accounts Committee said: “This money is supposed to be there for the education of our children… the governance system is inadequate, there ought to be proper oversight so these things don’t happen.”

The Department for Education said academies are “subject to stricter oversight and accountability than council-run schools” and that it “proactively oversees academy governance and… spending.”

Salaries:
Dispatches has found that more than half of largest 50 chains pay their chief executives more than the Prime Minister (£143,000).

Last year the chief executive of the Aspirations Academies Trust which runs 12 schools trust pays its chief executive and Founder Stewart Kenning a total package of £225,000 and his wife Paula Kenning £175,000 as executive principal and Founder.

The Co-Founder and President of the Aspirations Academy Trust, Dr Russell Quaglia is based in the USA. In the past three years the US organisation that he founded was paid more than £200,000 by the Trust. Dr Qualiga’s standard rates show that an average visit to the UK costs $8,300 for travel, hotels and meals, consultancy rates start at $8,000 per day and rise to $15,000. When added together it equals $190,000, approximately £114,000. He says that he gives the Trust a substantial discount, only charging around £90,000 per annum.

The Aspirations Academy Trust said, “Dr Quaglia is a highly respected figure in International Education.” The figures quoted “represent value for money” and ignore the free support that is not costed. “The amounts charged are significantly below cost” and “in line with the Department of Education rules.”

On Mr and Mrs Kenning, the Trust said, “The Kenning’s pay is not “out of line” with their previous earnings as “principles of outstanding schools” and “reflects the responsibility” in running a £33m organisation “with over 500 staff”.

Related Party Transactions:
Dispatches have discovered that Academy chains have spent millions of pounds of public money with business deals which are in some way connected to the Trust.

Out of 100 Trusts Dispatches surveyed, around half had paid money to directors, trustees or their relatives through business deals or even direct employment. In one year these related party transactions added up to more than £9 million of taxpayer’s money. These deals are permitted as long as they take place at cost, and the parties involved do not make a profit.

Examples uncovered by Dispatches include:
• One Trust awarded a £123,000 two year contract to the chairman’s daughter for clerking services.
• Another Trust spent more than £100k over two years to a recruitment firm owned by the Trust’s managing director.
• One trust spent £695,000 in one year on IT services from a firm majority owned by one of its members.
Margaret Hodge told Dispatches: “The Department for Education should be much tougher on them, should not allow them to take place… I just think it’s wrong.”

The Department of Education said these transactions “can save money” and “must be disclosed” in academies’ published, audited accounts. “In the vast majority of academies’ transitions” no concerns had been raised, but where they are they “will investigate” and “take swift action”.

HOW SCHOOL BOSSES SPEND YOUR MILLIONS: CHANNEL 4 DISPATCHES – Monday 25th July, Channel 4, 8pm

Short Story Author embarks on “World’s Most Insane” Writing Marathon

Posted on July 11, 2016 by Frostie

In March author Tim Austin began a “Brilliantly Insane” project: to write a brand new 100 word short story every single day for 365 days. It has since been viewed thousands of times by readers from across the globe – from Sri Lanka to Canada, India and Australia.

With just under 300 more days to go, we talk to Tim about the project, celebrity contributors and what writing fiction means to him.

What is One Word, One Story?

It’s a project where members of the public suggest single words and I use those words as titles for flash fiction short stories. I read each word, an image forms in my mind and I take that image as inspiration for what I write. I never, ever know what’s going to come next! And I’m writing a new story every day for a year over at onewordonestory.org.

It sounds crazy. What made you do it?

A friend of mine suggested the notion of word association as a way of exploring my imagination and practicing my writing. I started doing that as a hobby. At first it was single paragraphs but I enjoyed it so much that I turned it into entire short stories. Taking it public and doing it every day for a year seemed like a fun next step.

You have a strange idea of fun,….

Haha! I enjoy taking things too far and I like a challenge. I think this counts for both.

Why just a hundred words?

I wanted to create something that people could read on the go. People have little time if they’re on a lunch break or travelling to work and I wanted to write something bite-sized that they could enjoy. Maybe read two or three in a go. The other reason was the challenge of condensing a whole narrative into so few words – it really makes every word count. It’s very pure and I like that very much.

Where did the idea of approaching other authors and celebrities come in?

Yeech, I hate the word “celebrities”! It sounds so contrived and pat. I want everyone to be able to suggest words and titles but I thought it’d be fun to approach a few writers and actors I admire. I’ve been honoured that many of them have been kind enough to donate words.

Such as?

Danny John-Jules (“Cat” in the Sci-Fi classic “Red Dwarf”) suggested “SmegForBrains”. I’ve also had suggestions from screen writers and authors including Mike Wells, Jonathan Maberry, Eddie Robson (Doctor Who) and Robert Shearman (also Doctor Who – writer of the acclaimed Season One story “Dalek”). I’m keeping quiet about future contributors. But I’m always asking. And I’m always looking for new words – anyone can suggest their own. Hint.

Did you expect it to become this popular?

To be honest, I thought it’d get a couple of hits a day. I started the site as a hobby, after all. But within two weeks I was getting hundreds of visitors a day and thousands of hits a month. It’s been wonderful to connect with people and hear that they’ve enjoyed each story. That’s been the greatest pleasure.

You can read, contribute to and support Tim’s One Word, One Story project over at onewordonestory.org now.

Is This the Best Treatment for me Doctor? Statistics on a Postage Stamp by Dr Kathleen Thompson

Posted on June 20, 2016 by Frostie

When we read about impressive new drugs, do we really understand what the percentages quoted mean?

You may need to make medicines-related choices—particularly for cancer, but other illnesses too. To make rational decisions you MUST understand the numbers your doctor quotes. He won’t deliberately mislead, but it is easy to misunderstand statistical data.

So let me give you an inkling—not a maths lesson, just a few tips to help you ask the right questions.

Last week the BBC headlined: ‘Breast cancer: Taking hormone drugs for up to 15 years can reduce risk … cancer recurrence was cut by 34%’

Wow. Impressive. But let’s look closer: In that particular study, 95% of those who took the treatment for 15 years were cancer-free, compared to 91% who stopped at 10 years.

Hang on – 95% isn’t that different from 91%. How is that cutting risk by 34%?

Well (and this is important) improvement percentages quoted in newspapers, and by doctors and scientists, are often described in relation to the original risk.

In these patients, the original risk of cancer recurring was only 9%, so any improvement would appear large relative to 9%. If the original risk had been higher, the same benefit would have appeared less.

OK that’s the bottom line. But for the curious, another example:

Relative Risk Reduction (RRR) is a statistic often used to describe drug benefit. It is what it says—the reduction in risk (eg risk of death, or disease recurrence) relative to the original risk, ie the actual risk improvement divided by the original risk.

The Table shows an example. Patient A has a low risk of cancer returning (9%); Patient B’s cancer is more likely to recur (50%).

You can see from the Table that Patient A’s risk will only decrease by 4% with Treatment X, whereas Patient B’s will decrease by 15%.

Knowing this, Patient B should be more inclined to take treatment X than Patient A.

However, if Patient A’s doctor describes the benefit as RRR (see Table), then Patient A’s risk appears to decrease by a massive 44%. Consequently Patient A may have wildly inaccurate expectations for the treatment. The doctor isn’t tricking him, RRR is scientifically valid, but you need to know what it means.

This example highlights another point. Sometimes we only know that a treatment works in most people. However sometimes there is more information about how much it works in different patients eg Patient B would respond to Treatment X more than Patient A.

If available, you need specific information on the benefit for YOU. This could influence your decision, particularly for a treatment which has significant side-effects.

So, in summary:

If your doctor uses percentages to explain a treatment benefit, ask:

1. Exactly what do the numbers mean?

2. By how many percentage points should you improve on treatment?

3. Is there more specific information for your particular situation?

Don’t be frightened to ask your doctor for more information—he wants you to understand and may not realise when you don’t.

By Dr K Thompson, author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q

http://faitobooks.co,uk

Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice

Further information:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36455719

http://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJMoa1604700

http://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/2013/03/15/absolute-versus-relative-risk-making-sense-of-media-stories/

http://www.breastcancer.org/risk/understand/abs_v_rel

http://www.nps.org.au/glossary/absolute-risk-reduction-arr

This Is The Average 40-Year-Old

Posted on June 17, 2016 by Frostie

We have the stats on 40-somethings and they are having it tough. Pay inequality is an issue. The average 40 something is not earning a lot. In fact, men are earning an average of £28,460, but women are earning an average of £21,629. A huge gap. Worries include savings, health, looks, and caring for relatives. Read on for stats on the average 40-something.

The average 40-something enjoys retro-classics Star Wars and Grease, earns around £25,000 a year and wishes they’d saved, travelled and exercised more, a new study has found. A survey of 2,000 adults aged 40 to 49 found that the milestone is characterised by two distinct groups – those living a traditional family lifestyle and the ‘young at heart’ singletons.The Nationwide Savings poll looks at a number of different aspects, ranging from wealth, health and life decisions to missed opportunities and favourite pastimes, films and music.

Research reveals the average 40-year-old prefers to spend a night in front of the telly than down the pub, likes to escape on holiday once a year and enjoys two family outings a month.But despite a modest social life, three in ten worry about how they look.Just over half of 40 somethings are married or in a civil partnership and have been with their partner for 12 years on average.

However, one in seven is single and/or lives alone. Some 70 per cent of those in their fourth decade have teenage kids, while 64 per cent have pets.When it comes to regrets, more than a third wished they’d travelled more, while four in ten wish they’d put away more money and over a quarter wished they had kept themselves in better shape.The findings also show that 16 per cent wish they had better qualifications and more than one in ten thought they’d own their own home by now. And it seems people in their forties have plenty to worry about too, particularly when it comes to their finances.

According to the poll, they earn an average of £24,638 a year (men getting £28,460 on average, compared to £21,629 for women).Although 43 per cent fear their pension won’t be enough when they retire, nearly a third worry about being able to support their children. And one in five are concerned about looking after parents or grandparents. Andrew Baddeley-Chappell, Nationwide’s Head of Savings Policy, said: “Given our 40s are when we statistically reach middle age it is perhaps unsurprising that this transition from youth to maturity finds many with a foot firmly in both camps.

“At a time when we could be considered in our prime, our research suggests that some Brits are finding their 40s quite tough. “Their message to the younger generations would be to spend more time looking after your finances and your fitness – avoid that squeezed middle in both senses!” When it comes to relaxing, drama is the TV genre of choice for a frequent night in front of the telly, but retro comedy wins out, with Only Fools and Horses deemed the most popular show, followed by Blackadder and Fawlty Towers. Additionally, 40 something music tastes also have a retro feel, with Queen and Abba topping the charts, followed by Adele, David Bowie and Guns N’ Roses.On the film front, 1980s big franchises and musicals reign supreme, with Star Wars, Grease and Back to the Future taking the top slots, followed by Indiana Jones and Terminator.

After decades of work, the average 40 something earns just under £25,000 (£24,638) a year, has squirrelled away £8,665 in savings, owes £1,626 on their credit card and almost £700 (£681) to ‘the Bank of Mum and Dad’.

The survey shows that men earn an average of £28,460, compared to £21,629 for women. And when all the monthly outgoings have been tallied, the average 40 something reckons they have £291 left in disposable income, with most of their money going on bills, groceries and mortgage or rent payments, rather than a buzzing social life.

Money pressures may have dictated some important life choices, too. Fifteen per cent put off pursuing further training or education, while 18 per cent put off moving home and eight per cent put off getting married solely as a result of financial pressures. One in three feels pressure to stay in a job they don’t like for the financial stability, while a fifth thought they would be in a better paid job by now. One in ten decided not to have children due to the expense involved, while a quarter delayed their plans to go travelling.Despite money worries, 13 per cent of 40 somethings have completely paid off their mortgage, while one in seven believe that they are currently living in their ‘forever home’, where they intend to stay for the rest of their lives.

More than one in ten thought they would own their own property by the time they were in their 40s. And while just over half are paying a mortgage, in excess of a quarter still rent. Health also becomes a greater concern as we reach middle age, according to the poll.In a list of ailments, more than half have experienced back pain, 52 per cent have suffered headaches and migraines and nearly half have endured stress or anxiety. A further 41 per cent have suffered from sleep-related issues and 15 per cent have felt an effect on their mental health. When it comes to getting into shape, more than a quarter of 40 somethings regret not doing enough exercise, with 53 per cent admitting they don’t do any exercise in a typical month. Despite this, 30 per cent of those aged between 40 and 49 are conscious of their body image and how they look, with a clear gender split of concern between men and women.

TOP 10 FILMS FOR 40 SOMETHINGS

Star Wars series

Grease

Back to the Future series

Indiana Jones series

Top Gun

Terminator

Shrek

Pulp Fiction

Toy Story

The Lord of the Rings

TOP 10 MUSIC ARTISTS FOR 40 SOMETHINGS

Queen

Abba

Adele

David Bowie

Guns N’ Roses

Duran Duran

The Beatles

Robbie Williams

Ed Sheeran

Madonna

TOP 10 TELEVISION SHOWS FOR 40 SOMETHINGS

Only Fools and Horses

Blackadder

Fawlty Towers

Britain’s Got Talent

Coronation Street

Sherlock

Game of Thrones

The Big Bang Theory

Strictly Come Dancing

The Apprentice

Add Some Zest To Your Summer With Cîroc Pink Grapefruit

Posted on June 10, 2016 by Frostie

Frost stumbled across this discovery and thought it looked interesting: CÎROC vodka launches a new summer variant, available only in the UK

CÎROC unveils a vibrant new summer infusion to its family of bespoke vodkas.

Available exclusively in the UK, this lively new addition is a subtle blend of CÎROC with a hint of refreshing citrus pink grapefruit – the perfect serve to enjoy celebrating with friends on summer evenings.

Zesty and fresh on the palate, with a fragrant hint of orange blossom, CÎROC Pink Grapefruit is best enjoyed as CÎROC Sea Breeze, with a splash of cranberry juice and squeeze of fresh lime, creating a modern twist on the popular vodka serve. Alternatively, try the CÎROC Pink Grapefruit & Sage Smash, a medley of fresh sage leaves, lemon juice, pink grapefruit juice and soda over ice. This simple, zingy drink is the epitome of summer sophistication.

Skilfully created by CÎROC Master Distiller Jean-Sébastien Robiquet, CÎROC is crafted exclusively using vodka that is five-times distilled from fine French grapes for supreme taste. Real citrus extract, from the peels and oils of the pink grapefruit, has been gently infused with the vodka to create CÎROC Pink Grapefruit for the ultimate refreshing taste and smooth finish.

This seventh edition to be added to the brand’s collection marks the first citrus variety of CÎROC. Recognised as one of the best-loved citrus flavours amongst Brits, the latest variant is sure to be as successful as the hugely popular release of CÎROC Pineapple in 2015.

CÎROC Pink Grapefruit is available from selected retailers nationwide, sainsburys.co.uk, tesco.com, waitress,com, at an RRP of £38 per 70cl bottle.

Gear4 BookCase Phone Case Review

Posted on June 10, 2016 by Frostie

I love the Gear4 BookCase phone cover for my iPhone 6. It is stylish, well made, and it really works. I rarely use my purse now, I just take my phone and put my debit card into the slot. It has D30 world beating protection. In fact, it is military standard and exceeds 9ft in the drop test. This protective wallet has all round protection and a viewing standard. It may have unbeatable shock protection, but is also soft and flexible. It does the job and is handsome to boot. What more could you want?

Available for Samsung S6, S6 Edge/S6 Edge Plus, iPhone 5/5s, 6/6s/ and 6s Plus

Providing advanced impact protection, the GEAR4 BookCase features a stylish flip-over screen cover and magnetic closure offering complete protection. It includes two card slots ideal for those who like to keep their phone and wallet in one place, plus a convenient stand feature for watching movies while commuting.

Gear4 Folio Book Case Cover for iPhone 6 is available here.k

New Infographic Gives The Grave Facts About Dying

Posted on June 2, 2016 by Frostie

Dying is not something most of us want to think about. Problem is, it is unavoidable and not dealing with your affairs in advance can cause trouble for loved ones. While life insurance isn’t something that most would want to talk about, it’s rather important so those left behind won’t get into debt. Dealing with grief is hard enough, but according to this brilliant infographic which outlines the associated costs of funerals; 44% of people had to take out a credit card to pay for a loved ones funeral. Even worse, 27% had to resort to a payday loan. Having a child was the catalyst for myself getting my affairs in order, but this infographic shows that most of us are still woefully underprepared for the inevitable.

Assumptions don’t help either. Apparently 41% of people think that existing funds will cover their funeral costs, but the truth is that only 22% of people have the proper life insurance in place. Even more shocking is that only 32% of people have a will should something happen to them.

Over 50 life cover is important and helps to alleviate the financial strain that often comes with arranging a funeral, as letting those left behind know how you would like to be buried (or cremated), who you would like to leave your worldly goods to and any other last wishes. This funeral planning infographic from British Seniors Insurance Agency has lots of interesting statistics: average funeral costs are cheaper in Edinburgh and most expensive in Sheffield. Londoners are more likely to take out a credit card or payday loan, and Liverpool had the highest number of respondents wanting a religious ceremony. Different regions had different worries: Londoners were more likely to take out a credit card (40%) or a payday loan (39%) to pay for a funeral, while in Brighton 17% of people worried about future inheritance disputes among family members.

The thing about the costs are that they can catch you unaware. 31% of people said they did not know what costs to expect before they started planning a funeral. If you are lucky enough to have never planned a funeral then you will be blissfully unaware how expensive they are. The average funeral in Edinburgh is £3,947, but the average cost reaches a dizzy £5,469 in Sheffield. Londoners meanwhile pay an average of £4,543. A staggering amount of money, even for the cheapest funeral, and one that relatives might struggle to pay for.

The infographic shows that being prepared is important, but some of the findings are interesting and amusing. When it comes to the send off, 55% wanted to be buried, 22% wished to be cremated and 20% remained uncertain. However, a staggering 70% of respondents over 55 wanted to be buried. A lot of people thought creatively when it came to their final resting place. Some wanted to be buried at their favourite sports ground, some wanted to be buried in a haunte

d house, others wanted to be buried near or in the sea, while some people wanted to be buried with their spouse or their dog. No mention of other pets though.

Check out the infographic by British Seniors Insurance Agency life insurance quote provider out for yourself. Hopefully it will spur you to get your affairs in order.

5 Perfect Gift Ideas for Foodies

Posted on May 23, 2016 by Frostie

Are you looking for the perfect gift for a foodie? Look no further! We’ve done the hard work for you and served up five of the tastiest, most delicious and most mouth watering presents you could give your loved right now…

1. A hamper or box set

A hamper filled with unusual (or even unheard of) ingredients from a far flung corner of the globe is sure to win you a great response! Treat someone special to a hamper for vegans, Persian cuisine or authentic Korean cooking, as well as box sets containing food styling kits and essential equipment. You’re bound to hit the nail on the head by offering a gift of delectable goodies like this to spice up their kitchens, introducing their taste buds to brand new flavour combinations and kitting them out with top of the range tools.

2. A pasta making machine

Got a friend who loves Italian cuisine and gets a real sense of satisfaction from crafting their own food? Buy them a pasta making machine! They’ll love sifting through recipe books and trawling online for recommendations for the perfect pasta dough (and sauce to accompany it!). A gift like this will get them rolling up their sleeves to feed sheets of silky, golden dough through a machine, churning out ribbons of beautiful tagliatelle pasta ready for a pot of boiling water… just make sure you’re there to dig into the final dish!

3. The Thug Kitchen Cookbook

If the person you love is into food, you’ll already have clocked the rows upon rows of cookbooks on their shelves. So why add another, you ask? Well, because their current books are (pretty much) all the same – there’s nothing original between those pages, the writers are sometimes a million miles from reality, and the recipes are delivered with zero sass. So, treat your foodie friend to the Thug Kitchen Cookbook (a number 1 New York Times Best Seller with over 700,000 Facebook fans) and get them fired up about cooking delicious dishes with a side serving of attitude.

4. Foodie dice

Even foodies struggle to think of new and exciting dishes every day of the week, so why not treat them to a set of foodie dice? All they have to do is roll the dice to read the resulting ingredient combinations before rummaging through the fridge to whip up a delectable dinner. No two meals will be alike again, using the dice to gamble on over 186,000 possible recipe combinations with additional dice for seasonal veggies and spices. You’re guaranteed to help spark some creativity in the kitchen with this gift!

5. A magazine subscription

One of the best gift ideas for women who love their food (and men too, for that matter) is a magazine subscription! With no expiry date, no allergens and a lot of inspiration, the lucky recipient is going to love receiving a brand new copy of their favourite magazine every month, flicking straight to the recipe section to try out a new dish. Why not nominate yourself to come over and test their creations?

By Patrick Vernon

Frost Magazine

Books and Lifestyle

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