
‘Taking kids to a police station led me to foster’
Chris says a lack of placements for children being taken into care shows the strain on the system.
TUESDAY, 27 JANUARY 2026, 14:50

Chris says a lack of placements for children being taken into care shows the strain on the system.

Lucy Morville, from Burnley, thought most students would be from the north and felt ‘culture shock’ surrounded by southerners
Like many students from the north, Lucy Morville says she felt “culture shock” at being surrounded by southerners when she arrived at university. But she said the shock was even greater because it wasn’t what she expected when she enrolled at the University of York.
“I...

Prof Shitij Kapur says there are too many graduates and degree is now just a ‘visa’ to enter professional world
The UK now has a “surfeit” of graduates and students must accept that a university degree is no longer a “passport to social mobility”, a leading vice-chancellor has argued.
Prof Shitij Kapur, the head of King’s College London, said the days when universities could promise that...
A student-organized “tech fast” at St. John’s College thrust young people headfirst into a world of chalkboard-based communication. (On that note: Has anyone seen Eliza?)

Free prescriptions and eye tests ought to help these young adults stay healthy. They also signal the state’s ongoing role
The outcomes for children who grow up in care are shocking. A vital part of the welfare state, which exists to promote the safety and wellbeing of highly vulnerable young people, is falling short in health, education and employment terms. They have a 62% higher chance of...
Problems with a 25-year-old landmark paper on the safety of Roundup’s active ingredient, glyphosate, have led to calls for the E.P.A. to reassess the widely used chemical.
Millions of borrowers who are behind can expect the government to tighten the options in 2026. Experts say take action now to get help.

Despite longstanding concerns over pay and conditions, more young graduates are entering the classroom
Joseph Curatolo was studying architecture four years ago when he took a summer job, teaching music to middle school students. When he told them he might leave the program to focus on his studies, he said, they burst into tears.
“The fact that I had such an impact on these kids led me to...
More governments are rolling out chatbots in schools. Some experts warn the tools could erode teaching and learning.

The date by which people need to apply is 15 January – late applications can be less successful.

Health worker Naushaba Roonjho was ostracised by her family in Pakistan for wanting to work but now she is campaigning for political office
When Naushaba Roonjho became the first girl anyone in her district knew to have passed Pakistan’s national secondary school exam, the news was not celebrated. At home, in her village of Sheikh Soomar in southern Sindh, her father told her: “This is...
Zohran Mamdani has stocked his administration with seasoned officials, in part to allay concerns about his inexperience and left-wing stances.
At a moment when Americans are distrusting and fearful, we examine the psychology of hope.
Zohran Mamdani, the mayor-elect, announced several key appointments who could help implement central promises of his agenda, including universal child care.
The mayor-elect’s turnaround came as he selected Kamar Samuels to lead New York City’s school system at a precarious moment.
Mahsa Khanbabai’s client, a graduate student, had been whisked away by masked agents and held in lockup for weeks. Would a court free her — and would the government let her go?
The selection of Kamar Samuels, who leads schools on the West Side of Manhattan, could help Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani craft his schools agenda.

Growing numbers of institutions now offering lifelong careers support as older alumni seek help to change jobs
University careers advisers are used to steering fresh-faced students towards the labour market – but they are now increasingly seeing graduates in their 40s and 50s looking for help to revive their careers.
More UK universities are now giving their graduates lifelong access to campus...

Pupils will attend different schools for several weeks while a new site is prepared, leaders say.

Elite junior tennis players are flocking to online schools. The model offers flexibility and focus – but raises deeper questions about growth, pressure and childhood
In a major study released recently in Epidemiology, conclusions were drawn – yet again – regarding how shutdowns and online learning were ultimately very damaging to kids’ emotional and mental health (obviously some cohorts...

A Children’s Booker prize, library cards for newborns and a major campaign – initiatives to encourage a love of books in children are a cause for celebration
Reading to children from a young age leads to greater happiness, educational success, empathy and social mobility – no wonder the government wants to encourage everyone to do it more. To this end, next year has been decreed the National...