What I wish I’d known: Four students on life as a fresher
Four second year students give their advice on starting uni to this year’s freshers.
Education
Cost of children’s homes doubles but care can be poor, says report
Huge sums spent on children’s residential care in England do not represent value for money, says spending watchdog.
More school-starters missing key skills like toilet training, teachers say
Teaching unions say schools are “picking up the pieces” as more children are starting reception without key skills.
School uniform rules treat pupils ‘like criminals’
Parents also claim there are only six toilets accessible for girls in the school.
UK’s first ‘super-university’ to be created as two merge from 2026
Universities are facing ongoing financial worries, with the regulator saying other mergers could follow.
‘Visit my city before casting your judgement’
About 2,000 pupils in Sunderland will benefit from the partnership, education bosses say.
Ofsted to bring in ‘report card’ school inspections despite criticism
A new monitoring system will also be introduced, so schools can improve negative grades more quickly.
‘Lack of services for my son leaves me feeling like a prisoner’
SEN children and their parents stand outside Stormont Buildings in protest over the lack of support and services.
Guidance on support for trans pupils removed from website
A recent Supreme Court ruling on biological sex appears to have led to a review of the 2019 guidance.
‘No plans’ for closed private school site
Our Lady’s Abingdon’s owners say they hope to find a “charitable” use for the land and buildings
School sixth forms ‘struggling to keep students’
It comes as one sixth form says it can no longer offer provisions for new Year 12 students in the county.
University fees could be linked to teaching standards, regulator says
England’s universities regulator says some institutions might have to charge less than others.
Year 12 cancelled at start of school’s new term
Parents are sent a letter just as the new school year starts telling them A levels are being dropped.
Third prosecution for mum for son’s school absence
The court heard she accepted she had given up trying to get the boy, 16, to attend lessons.
Send system hijacked by parents – Reform UK’s Tice
The Reform UK deputy leader says some children are receiving Send provision who do not need it.
Stolen pipes close school on first day of term
Engineers are working to restore water supplies as quickly as possible, the head teacher says.
‘Parents are playing detective in battle for school bus passes’
Families in villages near York miss out on free transport to secondary school, sometimes by metres.
Mother ‘heartbroken’ by park’s poor accessibility
Two-year-old Hannah cannot use most play equipment due to her cerebral palsy.
I chose my Caesarean date to be eligible for 30 hours of funded childcare
Working parents are now able to access 30 hours of childcare per week, paid for by the government.
Parents painting and fundraising to support schools
Schools in Banbury and Wallingford are relying on parents’ help to improve
Enforcing Australia’s social media ban on kids is possible but contains risks, report says
The impending ban is popular with many parents, but experts have raised concerns over privacy and age verification technology.