Latest news with #schools
BBC News
a day ago
- BBC News
Shropshire school cyber attack prevented pupils from submitting work
A cyber attack left pupils in schools unable to submit coursework for weeks, a Shropshire councillor has said. A meeting of the West Mercia Police and Crime Panel was told that the force's cyber unit had supported several "high-impact investigations, including a ransomware attack affecting 11 schools".A "sensitive case involving AI-generated imagery at two schools" and cryptocurrency related matters were also dealt with, however neither the schools nor the areas they are in were identified at Monday's meeting. But Bagley councillor Benedict Jephcott said he was aware of an issue in Shropshire that the ransomware matter in the committee papers may relate to. Jephcott said it was connected to a multi-academy chain and may not have happened if it had "not enforced integration across sites".The ransomware attack – which prevented the school accessing information and systems unless a ransom was paid – led to "pupils being unable to submit coursework through their computer systems for many, many weeks", he large secondary school did not have a single working printer due to the attack, stated the councillor, who believed that disconnecting equipment could be a way to stop the issues. Jephcott asked police and crime commissioner (PCC) John Campion if interventions were planned to help the community defend itself against cyber attacks. Campion said he thought it was a balance between individuals taking responsibility and the police having a response to criminals. The PCC compared the issue to a householder leaving their front door open and being burgled and those who take preventative measures to stop being victims of he added there was not enough understanding of cyber attacks, and the force was doing more to engage with people on the issue, including regular radio interviews, leaflet drops and digital news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Khaleej Times
2 days ago
- Khaleej Times
CBSE mandates CCTV cameras in schools to ensure physical, emotional safety
The Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE) has now made it compulsory for all schools affiliated with it to instal CCTV cameras on their premises. The board made the announcement on Monday, July 21, citing the physical and emotional safety and wellbeing of students as a reason for tightening its surveillance laws. "The school should instal high resolution CCTV cameras with audio visual facility at all the entry and exit points of the school, lobbies, corridors, staircases, all the classrooms, labs, library, canteen area, store room, playground and other common areas except toilets and washrooms with real time audio-visual recording," read the notice. The installed CCTV cameras must have a storage device with the capacity of holding footage of at least 15 days. This will ensure that a backup of a minimum 15 days is preserved, which may be accessed by the authorities, if required. Meanwhile, clause 1(X) of the NCPCR's Manual on safety and security of children in Schools states, "CCTV in schools needs to be monitored and maintained regularly." The board explained the move is to ensure safety from abuse of any kind, violence, psycho-social issues, natural or man made disasters, fire, and transportation. Emotional problems and stress in children, that may have risen due to bullying, may not always be easily detected by teachers or parents, according to the board, pointing towards the need for better monitoring of such incidents. "Bullying can cause victimised students to suffer from lower self-esteem and daily stress about their wellbeing." "Children of our country have constitutional guarantee of the fundamental rights to live with dignity and to have access to education in an environment that is safe, protective and conducive for their growth and development. Everyone in school has a role to play in ensuring good safety, healthy and secure environment within the school; be it teachers, special needs assistants, visitors and contractors and students themselves."
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- General
- South China Morning Post
How to choose between single-sex vs coed schools in Hong Kong
Deciding on an educational path can be confusing for parents, with myriad considerations making choosing schools seem an insurmountable task. Which education system or curriculum is best? Would a public, private or international institution be most appropriate? And what about day schools versus boarding schools? Then, further complicating the issue, is the choice between coed and single-sex schools. Advertisement In Hong Kong, single-sex schools were established in the late 19th century, mostly by missionary groups. Some of the most popular schools from this period include St. Joseph's College, a Catholic boys' school; and Queen's College, a government-funded boys' school established by the British government in 1862. After World War II, the number of single-sex schools in Hong Kong proliferated in response to a significant increase in educational demand. A series of co-educational reforms were introduced in the 1980s and 90s, but this didn't diminish the popularity of gender-specific institutions. Today, single-sex schools remain relatively popular in Hong Kong, with experts estimating that they account for up to 40 per cent of schools in the city. Some of the most notable examples include Diocesan Girls' School, Maryknoll Convent School, La Salle College and Good Hope School. But just how relevant are these single-sex schools for parents making this choice for their children? Experts acknowledge that gender-specific schools better cater to the development of each sex. Photo: Eugene Lee 'I believe parents are choosing [single-sex schools] for their reputation, their academic achievements and perceived prestige, not because they are single-sex,' says Ruth Benny, founder of admissions consultancy Top Schools. 'Many parents [in Hong Kong] choose single-sex schools as they believe they can provide a more tailored learning environment specifically designed to meet the needs of boys or girls,' explains Julianna Yau, director of local education specialists Ampla Education. '[But] some parents prefer coed for secondary [school] as they recognise the importance of social skills and interaction between the genders.' Experts generally acknowledge that boys and girls develop at different rates and will have disparate interests and motivations. It follows that – theoretically at least – gender-specific schools would better cater to the development of each sex, thereby justifying their continued popularity. Advertisement Separate tailored experiences can be offered for each sex: for example, boys might thrive in shorter classes with frequent breaks, while girls may do better with group work. Additionally, single-gender classrooms may give students more confidence in speaking up in lessons.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Supermarket vouchers worth up to £180 landing on doormats NOW for summer – are you getting one?
THOUSANDS of households need to look out for supermarket vouchers landing on doormats worth up to £180. The latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation figures for June confirmed food prices have soared in the last 12 months. 1 But there are ways to drive down the cost of your weekly shop, starting with help through the Household Support Fund (HSF). The £742million fund has been shared between councils in England who then decide how to allocate their share. Some are directing cash payments to residents in need while others are distributing supermarket vouchers to cover the summer holidays. We've rounded up what some local authorities are offering below. We won't have covered all the councils offering help, so if your local authority isn't included it's worth checking with it to see what you are eligible for. Most councils have pages on their websites dedicated to the Household Support Fund where you'll find details on who is eligible and what you're in line for. You can find what local council area you fall under by visiting That said, below are some of the councils offering qualifying households supermarket vouchers. Bracknell Forest Council Schools in Bracknell are automatically distributing supermarket vouchers to children registered for free school meals. These vouchers have been paid for through Bracknell Forest Council's allotment of the Household Support Fund. The council has not confirmed how much the vouchers are worth. Wakefield Metropolitan District Counci Wakefield Metropolitan District Council is issuing supermarket vouchers worth £50 to families receiving council tax support. The vouchers are being issued via letters on July 21 and take up to seven days to arrive. Full instructions on how to redeem the vouchers will be included in the letters. Once the voucher has been redeemed, it doesn't have to be used all at once and can be used several times until it is spent. Nottingham City Council Nottingham City Council is distributing £75 supermarket vouchers to households each month until March 2026. There is a limit on the number of vouchers being shared each month meaning you have to act fast to claim one. Applications for this month's vouchers opened on July 7 so may all have been allocated for July. Nottingham City Council has said the dates applications for vouchers will open between August and next March will be confirmed "later in July". Ealing Council Ealing Council is giving supermarket vouchers worth £90 to families with children on benefits-related free school meals this month. The vouchers are worth £90 per child meaning you could get £180 if you have two kids. You don't need to apply for the vouchers as they are being sent automatically to emails or as letters. The council's partner, Blackhawk, is issuing a 16-digit personalised code and instructions on how to redeem the vouchers on the Blackhawk website - Devon County Council Devon County Council has issued supermarket vouchers worth more than £90 to 22,000 families with children on free school meals. The £90 is equivalent to £15 per week for the six week school holiday. The council has said the vouchers can be redeemed in major supermarkets but hasn't said which ones. Portsmouth City Council Portsmouth City Council is issuing £50 supermarket vouchers to children on benefits-related free school meals. You might also be eligible if your child is not on free school meals and you're on a low income, and can apply for the vouchers from the end of the school term. You can also forward your email address to the council and will be contacted when the application window opens. More details can be found via Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council Families on free school meals are eligible for supermarket food vouchers being distributed by schools in the area. You do not need to apply as they are being issued automatically. Food vouchers may also be available for children under five years if certain criteria is met. To receive a voucher, children must be living in Bournemouth, Christchurch, or Poole and meet one of the following criteria: currently claiming 2 year old early education funding at an early years setting in Bournemouth, Christchurch or Poole during the term currently claiming Early Years Pupil Premium funding for 3 and 4 year olds at an early years setting in Bournemouth, Christchurch or Poole during the term (this is different to the early education funding available to all 3 and 4 year olds) currently have an open case with a social worker or Early Help family support worker and are of pre-school age Food vouchers for this group of families have to be applied for, with more details on the BCP Council website. Household Support Fund explained Sun Savers Editor Lana Clements explains what you need to know about the Household Support Fund. Sun Savers Editor Lana Clements explains what you need to know about the Household Support Fund. If you're battling to afford energy and water bills, food or other essential items and services, the Household Support Fund can act as a vital lifeline. The financial support is a little-known way for struggling families to get extra help with the cost of living. Every council in England has been given a share of £421million cash by the government to distribute to local low income households. Each local authority chooses how to pass on the support. Some offer vouchers whereas others give direct cash payments. In many instances, the value of support is worth hundreds of pounds to individual families. Just as the support varies between councils, so does the criteria for qualifying. Many councils offer the help to households on selected benefits or they may base help on the level of household income. The key is to get in touch with your local authority to see exactly what support is on offer. The last round ran until the end of March 2025, but was extended. The most current round is running between April 2025 and March 2026.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Don't say 'detention'! SNP guidance for violent pupils branded 'green light for anarchy' by experts
SNP schools guidance for dealing with problem pupils makes no reference to 'detention' – after fears were raised that the word is too 'punitive'. In a move critics say is a 'green light for anarchy', it was also suggested that a 'time-out' for classroom thugs could 'conflict with a child's right to play'. Traditionally, detentions have been used to remove a disruptive child so that fellow pupils can get on with their work. But guidance on how to deal with them – published by Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth in June – failed to mention the sanction once. Now, new meeting minutes show that education groups lobbied for the word not to be used, even suggesting that detentions should be scrapped entirely. Scotland's schools face a rising tide of violence, with figures last year suggesting one teacher is attacked every four minutes. And last night critics slammed the SNP's soft touch approach. Christopher McGovern of the Real Campaign for Education said: 'This is total madness. Most pupils are desperate to see bad behaviour punished. They know that their education and future depends on peace, order and stability. 'Banning detention is a green light for anarchy, bullying and a breakdown of order.' Meanwhile, Scottish Tory education spokesman Miles Briggs said: 'It's little wonder the SNP Government can't get a grip on the epidemic of classroom violence when they're stressing over how to sugarcoat a minor sanction.' A 49-page guide to 'fostering a positive, inclusive and safe school environment' was published by the Scottish Government last month after coming under mounting pressure over anti-social behaviour in schools. Teachers were told thugs should be given a 'quiet space' to 'self-regulate' their emotions – and only be kicked out of school as a last resort. One tip for teachers was to give problem pupils a 'laminated set of bullet points, for example, to remind and support them to step away, seek help and follow an agreed and rehearsed process'. The guidance also warns staff against discipline which makes pupils feel 'shame' and 'alienation'. At no point was detention mentioned. Minutes from two meetings of the government's Consequences Sub-Group now suggest the sanction of 'detention' was dismissed during the draft stages of the report. Feedback in February raised concerns that 'detention may conflict with a child's right to play and existing Education Scotland guidance'. Another session in March saw advisers suggest the Scottish Government 'avoid punitive language like detention'. A spokeswoman for teachers' union the EIS said: 'We need more than policy documents to make a difference, we need investment and more resources – including more teachers and support staff.' A Scottish Government spokesman last night insisted that 'a child's right to play does not prevent the use of consequences in relation to behaviour.' He added: 'This is made clear in the final Scottish Government guidance. The minutes of the meetings referred to record the wide-ranging comments, reflections and inputs of the sub-group.'
