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The focus article of this issue is ‘All over bar the shouting?’ (pp. 8-11), which is an edited version of a chapter from Jane Thompson’s forthcoming book, ‘More words in edgeways’, to be published by NIACE. The article discusses the lack of a feminist analysis in current education debate. Other articles include: ‘The right medicine?’ by Paul Mackney (pp. 12-14) which argues that Lord Leitch’s response to the UK’s future skills needs offers a sound diagnosis but a poor solution; ‘Rising to the challenges’ by Veronica King (p. 15) suggests that the student demographic is changing, which will be one of the challenges facing Prime Minister Gordon Brown; ‘Testing the vocational imperative’ by Stephen Gorard (pp. 16-19) argues that the thesis that increased vocational training is needed so that people have the flexibility to meet the demands of an increasingly contingent labour market faces some serious challenges; ‘Seeing the benefits of learning’ by Leon Feinstein and David Budge (pp. 20-22) suggests that although it is widely acknowledged that education can be good for learners’ mental and physical health, one should be careful not to claim too much for it; ‘Working together better’ by Bethia McNeil (p. 23) describes how that over the past 10 years the Young Adults Learning Partnership has highlighted many examples of good practice in engaging young adults and developed a set of clear principles to underpin its work; ‘The forgotten people by Sue Southwood and Philly Kafeero (pp. 24-25) describes the authors’ visit to a literacy project in Kabubbu, a Ugandan village without publicly supplied electricity, telephones or water; ‘the door is always open’ by Paul Stanistreet (pp. 26-27) describes how a learning centre based in an old storeroom at First Bus’s Orpington depot has transformed the workplace and some of its staff, and how that it is now a model for workplaces around the country; ‘Figures of speech’ by Yanina Dutton and Sue Meyer (pp. 28-29) reports on the findings of a National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) survey which found that half a million fewer adults are learning foreign languages now than in 1999; and ‘Make learning for life’ by Kate Watters (pp. 30-31) discusses a think-tank report that calls on the Government to move beyond its ‘narrow’ and ‘short-sighted emphasis on the needs of employers.