Displaying items by tag: Education

As the back-to-school season approaches, a major debt advice charity is urging the Government to introduce a statutory school uniform grant for England. While families in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland receive support of £93 to £200 per child, just 22 out of 153 English councils offer any dedicated help, creating a postcode lottery of support. The average uniform cost now exceeds £340 for primary pupils and £450 for secondary students. Money Wellness says current Department for Education reforms, such as limiting branded items, will not be enough for low-income households. With council budgets under pressure, many families are turning to uniform banks for affordable or donated items. Some families welcome the destigmatisation of second-hand clothing and its environmental benefits. Campaigners stress that without a consistent national scheme, children risk being disadvantaged based on where they live.

Schools across England are struggling to provide nutritious meals as rising costs outpace government funding for free school lunches. Michael Hales, incoming chair of the Lead Association for Catering in Education (LACE), reports caterers are reducing meat portions, using cheaper ingredients, and serving smaller meals to cope with financial shortfalls. While the government recently announced an expanded free meals programme - potentially benefiting an additional 500,000 children by 2026 - the funding increase of just 3p per meal, to £2.61, falls far below actual costs, estimated at £3.45 per meal. Headteachers say they are having to divert tens of thousands of pounds from educational resources to cover meal deficits. Parents, expressing concern over declining meal quality and nutrition, have called for significant investment in school food programmes. Regional disparities further complicate matters, with higher funding rates in London, Wales, and Scotland. Without intervention, schools will struggle to meet government food standards and ensure children receive the healthy meals essential for learning and well-being.

Starting in September 2026, all children in England whose parents receive Universal Credit will be eligible for free school meals, regardless of income. This change, announced by the Government, is expected to benefit around 500,000 more pupils and save families up to £500 a year. Education secretary Bridget Phillipson said the initiative will help lift 100,000 children out of poverty, though some analysts cast doubt on that figure. Currently, free school meal eligibility is limited to families earning under £7,400 annually. The reform marks a major shift and is part of a broader strategy to address child poverty. However, the Government faces pressure to go further - especially regarding the two-child benefit cap. While many charities and education leaders welcomed the move as a vital step, they stressed the need for automatic enrolment and additional support to ensure no child goes hungry. £1 billion has been set aside to fund the change up to 2029, with further announcements expected in Rachel Reeves’s forthcoming spending review.

Donald Trump’s administration has ordered US embassies to halt new student visa appointments as it prepares to expand social media vetting of international applicants. The move is part of a broader crackdown on US universities, which Trump accuses of harbouring left-wing and antisemitic sentiment amid pro-Palestinian campus protests. Embassies are directed to cancel unscheduled interviews, with warnings of ‘significant implications’ for visa processing. Critics say this threatens the rights and futures of international students, who often pay higher fees and significantly fund the universities. The administration has frozen millions in university funding, revoked thousands of visas, and moved to deport foreign students - many actions now under legal challenge. Harvard University, a prime target, recently had its ability to host international students suspended, though a federal judge blocked the decision: for a view on how much its international students contribute, see Critics argue the social media screening policy infringes on free speech, while Trump insists it protects national security and combats extremism.

Reform UK’s Greater Lincolnshire mayoral candidate, Dame Andrea Jenkyns, has publicly distanced herself from comments made by party leader Nigel Farage regarding special educational needs (SEND). Farage recently claimed that many childhood SEND and mental health diagnoses are being made too readily, often via virtual consultations, suggesting an overdiagnosis trend. In contrast, Dame Andrea, who has ADHD and whose son also has the condition, highlighted her personal experience and highlighted the long delays many families face in obtaining assessments and support, often resulting in children falling far behind in school. She stressed that not all party members must agree on every issue, and described pulling her son out of mainstream education because he was two years behind. Her remarks underscore ongoing national debates around SEND provision, access to diagnoses, and support for neurodiverse children. In related news, spending on disability benefits for anxiety and depression has doubled since the pandemic: see

Around fifty Christians protested outside Norwood Primary School in Eastleigh, after the school cancelled its traditional Easter bonnet parade and church service. Headteacher Stephanie Mander informed parents that the decision aimed to foster an inclusive environment, opting instead for classroom lessons and craft activities about the meaning of Easter. Protesters accused the school of marginalising Christianity. Banners declared messages like 'Jesus is King' and 'Let’s cancel her’, referring to the headteacher. Protesters distributed Easter eggs and prayed collectively at the end of the demonstration. A smaller counter-protest of parents defended the school’s decision, citing concerns about promoting division and noting financial pressures on families that may have influenced the cancellation. Police were present, but no arrests were made. The event has reignited broader concerns among some Christians about feeling increasingly sidelined within educational institutions and society at large.

Parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are challenging the Government in the High Court over the imposition of 20% VAT on private school fees. The Education Not Taxation campaign argues the policy disproportionately harms SEND families, many of whom are making significant financial sacrifices to access specialised education their children can't receive in state schools. Families testified to working seven days a week and missing precious time with their children just to afford tuition. The campaign estimates around 35,000 SEND pupils could be forced out of private schools due to the new tax, into a state system already described as 'in crisis.' While the Treasury argues the tax will raise £1.5 to £1.7 billion a year, families insist it's a breach of their rights and deeply unfair to vulnerable children. The case continues in the courts.

A new report from Fusion, based on a survey across 186 universities, found that 12% of non-Christian students engage with the Bible weekly - often through social media. Among Christian students, the number rises to 29%. Half of all students believe the Bible is relevant today; this drops to 32% among non-Christians and 27% among those with no religion. While only 19% of non-religious students believe the Bible is reliable, many still want to explore its teachings. Some find parts of it offensive or contradictory, yet remain intrigued by what it has to say about life and truth in a confusing world. Fusion’s Adam Mitchell-Baker says this interest reveals a deep hunger in students, even amid cultural opposition. In an age of unstable role models, Jesus and the enduring truth of Scripture offer hope and clarity. Fusion’s vision is to put a Bible in the hands of every student in the UK.

The Covid-19 pandemic continues to impact UK education, with schools managing increased special educational needs (SEN), exclusions, absenteeism, and a widening attainment gap. One primary school teacher reports a notable rise in speech, language, and social interaction difficulties among five and six-year-olds. She attributes this to the lockdowns, where children missed key developmental experiences. 'It's a daily battle’, she says. Cori Bateman, CEO of the Pioneer Learning Trust, confirms the post-2020 rise in additional needs has shifted teaching methods. Techniques once only  for individuals are now used class-wide, including sensory gadgets, breathing exercises, and emotion-based activities. Bateman insists this inclusivity doesn't disadvantage other pupils. Secondary schools face challenges too. One principal has noted a rise in exclusions and persistent absenteeism, with socio-economic disparities amplified during the pandemic. When pupils reflect on the disruption, Freya, 16, describes the isolation of online learning, while Max, 17, feels his year group was relatively fortunate. Sarah, 17, recalls remote education as overwhelming. Some experts warn of a widened attainment gap with effects until 2035. The Department for Education aims to prepare more children for school by age five.

Rev Bernard Randall, a former chaplain at Trent College in the UK, has been granted a full retrial after a court overturned a 2022 ruling which upheld his dismissal. He was removed from his position after delivering a 2019 sermon encouraging students to debate and engage critically with LGBT teachings introduced at the school. The controversy began when the school adopted guidance from Educate and Celebrate, an organisation aimed at embedding gender identity and sexual orientation into school culture. In response, Randall told students that they should not feel compelled to accept ideologies conflicting with their religious beliefs. He was then dismissed, reported to a government counter-terrorism programme, and barred from ministry within the Church of England. Supported by the Christian Legal Centre (CLC), Randall filed a lawsuit in 2021 alleging discrimination and unfair dismissal. The initial tribunal ruled against him; however, the recent decision by Judge James Tayler found evidence of anti-Christian bias in the original panel, leading to the retrial.