A deteriorating education system is the biggest threat to Britain’s competitiveness, according to an international study. In a league table of 49 developed countries the UK ranks 35th for education and 40th for motivation to train for new jobs. The World Competitiveness Report, compiled by a think tank and a management institute, both based in Switzerland, placed Britain in the bottom half of the table in terms of young people going on to university and teacher:pupil ratios.