Education

Cambridgeshire school reverses period policy after concerns Getty Images The academy’s principal told parents: “I am very sorry for any concerns you may have had” A school which would not authorise sick days related to period pain unless parents provided “related medical information” has reversed its policy. Neale-Wade Academy in March, Cambridgeshire, said – after … Read more

Tom Grennan opens Send blocks at Bedfordshire secondary school Central Bedfordshire After a ribbon cutting ceremony, a special plaque was unveiled in the singer’s honour before a tour of the state-of-the art facilities, which included a visit to Sandy Secondary School’s brand new 3G sports pitch Singer-songwriter Tom Grennan returned to his home county to … Read more

SEN: No school at 16, now a place at Ulster University BBC Devin North and his mum Heather From no school at age 16, to a place at university three years later – that’s the journey Devin North has taken. Devin, who is autistic, had attended Cedar Lodge special school in north Belfast. In 2021 … Read more

UK universities see drop in foreign student visa applications The number of international students applying for visas to study in the UK has fallen ahead of the start of the new academic year. Home Office figures showed 16% fewer visa applications were made between July and September than in the same period in 2023. Meanwhile, … Read more

AI could save teachers in Liverpool ‘hours’ of marking time Schools in Liverpool are being offered the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to help teachers tailor lessons to individual children and mark their homework. The pilot scheme is part of a deal struck between technology company Century Tech and Liverpool City Region mayor Steve Rotheram. … Read more

Parents sign Smartphone Free Childhood pact to delay giving phones Getty Images Parents are pledging to delay giving their children smartphones Parents are pledging to delay giving their children smartphones amid concerns over the impact the devices have on developing brains. Smartphone Free Childhood, a grassroots movement calling for parents to join together “to make … Read more

University of Oxford considered best in world for ninth year Getty Images The university has kept the top spot in the world for the ninth year in a row The University of Oxford has kept top place in an international league table for a record-breaking ninth year in a row. It’s featured in the first … Read more

Cambridgeshire school’s period policy deemed a ‘slap in the face’ Jen Moore Jen Moore said she only got medical proof of her endometriosis and adenomyosis in her thirties A woman whose endometriosis went undiagnosed for more than two decades says a school’s toughened stance on period pain is “just another slap in the face” for … Read more

School dinners: No hot meals for some primary school pupils Getty Images One school told parents they hoped the situation would be short-lived Some primary school pupils in County Down will be without hot dinners for a period due to a shortage of school kitchen staff. A spokesperson for the Education Authority (EA) said there … Read more

Head teacher Neil Foden may have abused Gwynedd pupils for decades BBC Neil Foden’s offending may have started decades earlier than first thought A paedophile head teacher may have abused pupils for more than 40 years, with four times as many victims than previously thought. Neil Foden was jailed for 17 years for sexually abusing … Read more