In today’s ‘The week that was…’: David Willetts says white working class boys should be seen as a disadvantaged group in university recruitment, a survey shows better perception of disability after Paralympics, a report by British Future says attitudes towards mixed race relationships have improved, and a high court judge rules that Christians can’t refuse to work on Sundays.

The Universities minister David Willetts has said white working class boys need to be treated as a disadvantaged group, such as ethnic minorities, for university recruitment. He also warns, in an article: “There are now more women who enter university each year than there are men who submit a Ucas [university application] form.” Parents will also be targeted in a new drive to convince school leavers they should not be fearful of the new fees structure, he added.

A BBC survey three months after the Games reveals that UK is ‘more positive about disability’ following Paralympics. 76% of all respondents said they think people’s attitudes towards disabled people have improved since the Games, while just 1% believe perceptions have worsened. However, the research suggests a divergence of views between disabled and non-disabled people with only 65% of disabled people agreeing that perceptions of disability have improved since the Games.

The thinktank British Future has released a report ‘The Melting Pot Generation: How Britain became more relaxed on race’ about changing attitudes to mixed race relationships. The polling found that almost two thirds are comfortable with their children marrying someone of a different ethnic background, and that those from black and mixed race backgrounds are more likely to be comfortable with interracial marriages than white or Asian respondents.

In an interesting case, a Christian woman who was fired because she refused to work on Sundays has had her appeal turned down. The High Court judge ruled that Christians have no right to decline working on a Sundays as it is not a ‘core’ component of the Christian faith. The fact that some Christians were prepared to work on Sundays meant it was not protected, the court said.

Do you have anything to add or would like to comment on any of these stories? Write to us – Equality.and.Diversity@lse.ac.uk.