Educational inequalities have ‘grown wider' since the pandemic
Pupils in London are outperforming those in other regions, with the attainment gap between the capital and the rest of the country growing since 2019.
The disparity in GCSE attainment between disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged students has increased, with poor white children particularly affected.
The Institute for Government criticised the government for lacking a clear vision or plan to address these growing inequalities, despite commitments to close the disadvantage gap.
Experts and politicians are calling for urgent action, including addressing funding disparities and tackling high pupil absence rates, to reverse the decline in educational outcomes.
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The Guardian
3 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Nine students trapped in Gaza will get help to take up places at UK universities
Nine students in Gaza with full scholarships to study at British universities have been told the UK government is working to facilitate their evacuation. The students – who have all been awarded Chevening scholarships, funded by the Foreign Office in recognition of their potential as future leaders – welcomed the development on Wednesday, but dozens more Palestinians in Gaza with university places are still awaiting news. The breakthrough follows months of advocacy and campaigning by more than 100 MPs, university leaders and other civil society organisations. More than 80 Palestinian students in total have offers at UK universities, including 40 who have secured full scholarships. Dr Nora Parr, a researcher at the University of Birmingham who has been coordinating efforts to support the students, said: 'We received news of the government plans with mixed emotions. On the one hand, relief that indeed there is a shared sense of the importance and urgency of the students' situation – and on the other our hearts sank. What about the rest? We must believe that this is only a start.' Khulud, 28, who has a place at University College London to study for a master's degree in dental health, said: 'Receiving the news about the evacuation today was overwhelming.' The students have been unable to travel and begin their studies because of a Home Office requirement for biometric data for a visa application. The UK-authorised biometrics registration centre in Gaza closed in October 2023 and it has been impossible for them to travel to other centres in neighbouring countries. Other countries, including Italy, Ireland and France, have already evacuated students. It is understood the British government is considering requests for support from other Palestinian students with places at UK universities. 'Through all these struggles, our voices are finally being heard,' said Khulud. 'Nothing we have endured has been in vain. I hope these steps are completed smoothly so that we can join our studies on time.' Of her fellow students who are still waiting, she said: 'I hope their determination is recognised, and that they too receive the support they deserve to continue their studies and achieve their dreams.' Sign up to Headlines UK Get the day's headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning after newsletter promotion A government spokesperson said: 'We are working urgently to support Chevening scholars in Gaza who have offers from British universities to leave and take up their places in the UK. 'We are doing everything we can to support their safe exit and onward travel to the UK but the situation on the ground in Gaza makes this extremely challenging.'
Daily Mail
3 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Standard Chartered faces FBI probe over claims it helped firms linked to Iran circumvent US sanctions
Standard Chartered is facing an FBI investigation and potential fines of billions of dollars after a British whistleblower's case was picked up by Donald Trump. Britain's fifth largest bank has been hit by more allegations that it helped companies linked to Iran's military and nuclear interests circumvent US sanctions. Standard Chartered has already been fined £1.5billion by the US authorities for breaching sanctions against Iran, through its US branch. But former bank executive Julian Knight claims it covered up the true scale of the breaches. Knight first revealed the allegations in the Daily Mail business pages six years ago and has fought a prolonged battle in the US courts with the bank and US government. Last week, Trump posted on his Truth Social account a story accusing New York's Democrat Attorney General Letitia James of ignoring Knight's treasure trove of bank data last year. The US President has targeted James, calling her a 'disgrace', after she successfully pursued Trump and his organisation for financial fraud, with a New York court handing out a £333million fine. Sean Buckley, the deputy US attorney for the Southern District of New York (SDNY), has now revealed in an email to Knight's US lawyers that a file has been reviewed and passed onto the FBI. He wrote: 'SDNY and the FBI are committed to investigating these new potential sanctions violations. 'We and our partners at the FBI take such allegations very seriously.' The bank has consistently claimed that Knight, and his fellow whistleblower, American financier Bob Marcellus, had 'fabricated claims' to seek 'personal financial gain'. This is because under the US False Claims Act, whistleblowers are entitled to 15-30 per cent of any fines recovered from companies found to have defrauded the US federal government. They first handed over bank data to US regulators in 2012 but claim they have uncovered bank spreadsheets that showed vast amounts of 'concealed transactions with Iranian entities'. Last year, Knight and Marcellus and their legal team presented this evidence to US officials, including Chris D'Angelo, Letitia James' right-hand man at the New York Attorney General's office. Last night, Knight said: 'After 13 years, I feel vindicated and gratified that the Department of Justice has finally recognised the extreme importance of the information we provided in 2012.' Last night, a Standard Chartered source said that 'nothing has changed as far as we are concerned'.
The Sun
3 minutes ago
- The Sun
Almost 80 per cent of pubs and restaurants have put up prices since last year's Budget
ALMOST 80 per cent of cash-starved pubs and restaurants have put up prices since last year's Budget tax-raid on businesses, figures have revealed. More than half of hospitality firms also axed jobs to help finances, with three-quarters operating at or below 85 per cent of required capacity. 1 Industry bosses warned Britain's pubs and restaurants are being squeezed by 'unsustainable' taxes, and urged Chancellor Rachel Reeves to relax taxation on the sector in the upcoming Budget. The survey of members of the British Institute of Innkeeping, the British Beer & Pub Association, UKHospitality and Hospitality Ulster found 79 per cent of operators have increased prices as a direct result of rises to costs in April. Meanwhile, 73 per cent have less than six months of cash reserves, with one in five having none at all. It comes after Ms Reeves raised employers' National Insurance contributions, as well as the national minimum wage, in the last Budget. Many pubs were also hit by changes to discounts on business rates. In a joint statement, the trade bodies said tax hikes were forcing businesses 'to make impossible decisions to cut jobs, put up prices, reduce opening hours and limit the support they want to give their communities'. PENSION 'GAP' gender pay gap, analysis has revealed. They are shortchanged by £7,600 a year, the TUC reports, while the Prospect union says they get 36.5 per cent less than men. The Government has revived the Pension Commission to look into the causes. How to protect your pension and Inheritance from the new Budget TUC boss Paul Nowak said: 'We must make sure these inequalities are addressed.' AIR PAY STRIKE WORKERS at aircraft maker Airbus will stage a series of strikes over pay. About 3,000 Unite members will walk out for ten days next month. The union warned the strikes would hit production of wings for Airbus's commercial and military aircraft. Its members are based in Broughton, North Wales, and Filton, near Bristol. General secretary Sharon Graham said: 'Workers deserve a fair deal.' IT'S A REALLY TOP SHOP TOPSHOP has picked a luxury department store for its High Street return. Liberty in London's West End will stock its AW25 collection from next Thursday. Shoppers have been unable to buy the brand in-person since 2020, when all Topshop stores were shuttered as its owner went bust. Topshop teased its return online with a short video featuring the building's mock-Tudor façade. Liberty merchandising director Lydia King called the partnership 'really exciting', highlighting the nostalgia around Topshop's heyday.
