Author: Fatimah Idera

The Government is considering scrapping compulsory GCSE resits in English and maths, in what could mark the most significant reform to post-16 education in a decade. At present, pupils who fail to achieve a grade 4 (equivalent to a C under the old system) in either subject at 16 are required to resit them if they remain in education. The policy was designed to ensure school leavers met the minimum standards needed for work and further study, since most employers demand passes in both subjects. However, the approach has come under growing criticism amid falling pass rates. This summer, only…

Britain is heading into an autumn of strikes that threaten to disrupt essential services, with industrial action planned across transport, healthcare, and local government. The RMT union confirmed on Thursday that the London Underground will face a week of strikes starting September 5, just as schools reopen and passenger numbers surge. Signallers, engineers, and service control staff will walk out on staggered days, causing severe disruption across the capital. The strike follows members’ rejection of a 3.4 per cent pay offer, with union leaders also citing demands over Boxing Day payments, shorter working weeks, and long-standing grievances about fatigue and…

Labour membership a political party in the UK has fallen by nearly 200,000 since Keir Starmer became leader, according to the party’s latest accounts. Despite Labour’s landslide general election victory in July 2024, one in ten members left the party over the course of the year, with 37,215 departing in 2024 alone. Labour’s membership stood at 333,235 at the end of last year, down significantly from its peak of 532,046 under former leader Jeremy Corbyn in 2019. Despite the decline, Labour remains the largest political party in the UK. Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, has seen a surge in…

The UK General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) results released this week show overall grade stability compared to last year, but also highlight ongoing inequalities in student achievements. As core subjects like english and maths continue to be major hurdles, with this year’s results showing the highest failure rates in a decade for both subjects. There is also a clear divide between school types. Almost half (48.1%) of GCSEs taken at private schools in England were graded 7 or higher, compared to just 18.2% at non-selective state schools. Fiona Spellman, CEO of the education charity SHINE, said, “The primary difference…

The United Kingdom (UK) Government has taken control of the country’s third-largest steelworks after a High Court ordered the compulsory winding up of Speciality Steels UK (SSUK), part of Sanjeev Gupta’s Liberty Steel empire. The decision puts nearly 1,500 jobs in Rotherham and Sheffield at risk. The court found SSUK to be hopelessly insolvent, with just £600,000 in cash against a £3.7m monthly wage bill, while its parent group faces insolvency proceedings across nine jurisdictions. As a result, the official receiver, a government-appointed liquidator along with consultants from Teneo, will oversee the company while ministers cover wages and running costs…

Smyth, who has served as an MSP for South Scotland since 2016 and previously held several frontbench roles including Scottish Labour’s transport and constitutional affairs spokesperson, was suspended by the party after it became aware of the investigation.

The UK Home Office has issued an urgent appeal for 5,000 residential properties to house up to 20,000 asylum seekers, following a High Court ruling that could further disrupt current accommodation plans

Sir Keir Starmer is facing growing pressure from within Labour ranks after a landmark High Court ruling in Epping Forest sparked a wave of potential legal challenges from local councils including Labour-led authorities over the government’s use of hotels to house asylum seekers. On Tuesday, Epping Forest District Council successfully obtained a temporary injunction to shut down the Bell Hotel, where migrants were being housed. The court ruled the site was in breach of planning rules, requiring all asylum seekers to be removed by September 12. The case has set a significant legal precedent, with other councils now considering similar…

Britain is prepared to send troops to Ukraine to help defend its skies and ports as part of international efforts to secure the country’s future, though it will not commit forces to the frontline, according to UK military officials. Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin is attending high-level meetings at the Pentagon on Wednesday, where representatives from 30 countries are working to define their commitments to Ukraine’s national security in the event of a postwar settlement. Radakin is expected to confirm that Britain is willing to provide military personnel for logistical and training roles in Ukraine, but…

Middle-class households in rural areas could see their council tax bills increase by up to £376 annually as part of Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner’s proposed overhaul of local government funding. The County Councils Network (CCN), which represents rural local authorities outside major cities, has warned that wealthier towns and villages such as those in Surrey and other Home Counties will bear the financial burden of redistributing funds to poorer areas. According to the CCN, a typical family living in a Band D property in the countryside could face council tax rising from £2,380 today to around £2,756 by 2029…