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132 headlines found — Page 1 of 11

The Guardian Politics20 Aug 2026

Leaders attack ‘demotivating’ plan to make pupils who fail GCSEs retake maths and English

Government announce plan for ‘stepping stone’ qualification as 620,000 year 11 students face retaking maths or English after failure to achieve grade 4 The government’s plans to make young people continue studying maths and English if they fail GCSEs could be demotivating and ineffective, according to education experts and school leaders after retake pass rates slumped this year. Only one in seven students in the age group retaking GCSE maths after a previous failure got a grade 4 or above thi

Education
The Guardian Politics20 Aug 2026

The Guardian view on GCSE results: much to celebrate, much to reform | Editorial

Another post-pandemic cohort has shown its resilience and talent. But growing inequalities of outcome must be addressed Most pupils who received their GCSE results this week were in the penultimate year of primary school when Covid struck, disrupting their preparation for secondary education. As with other post-pandemic cohorts, their achievements are therefore a testament to their ability, resilience and determination. A strong set of results, particularly in the core subjects of English and ma

Education
The Guardian Politics19 Aug 2026

Compulsory GCSE resits in England harm teenagers’ mental wellbeing, study finds

UCL researchers warn repeated exam attempts may dent students’ confidence and raise risk of dropping out Forcing teenagers who fail GCSEs into multiple resits has a negative impact on their mental health, according to research to be published as pupils receive their grades on Thursday. The study by academics at University College London (UCL) compared the mental wellbeing of students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland who failed to reach a grade 4 or equivalent in maths or English GCSEs – an

DefenceEducationHealthcare
The Guardian Politics18 Aug 2026

Top economists urge Burnham to sign UK up to UN initiative on global inequality

Open letter signed by 40 academics including Nobel winner Joseph Stiglitz and Kate Pickett, co-author of The Spirit Level Forty prominent progressive academics are urging Andy Burnham’s government to join a new global push to tackle inequality. The experts include Nobel winner Joseph Stiglitz, University College London professor Mariana Mazzucato, vice-chancellor of the London School of Economics Larry Kramer, and Kate Pickett, co-author of The Spirit Level. Continue reading...

EconomyEducation
The Guardian Politics13 Aug 2026

UK universities face ‘financial crisis’ amid collapse in international students

Higher education figures call on Labour to reverse tax on fees and warn institutions at risk of ‘going under’ University leaders are warning of financial turmoil in British higher education, after new figures suggest a collapse in international student numbers will deprive the sector of vital income and undermine its future. The sector’s leaders called on the government to rethink the levy on international student fees imposed under Keir Starmer, as a former universities minister warned that the

EconomyDefenceEducation
The Guardian Politics13 Aug 2026

The Guardian view on A-level and T-level results: a boost to the nation’s confidence | Editorial

Young people should be proud of their achievements. Ministers should focus on what comes next A strong set of A-level results should raise confidence in Britain’s future. These are difficult exams, and schools and colleges across England, Wales and Northern Ireland are rightly proud of their achievements. Top grades are up, especially in maths, which remains the most popular subject. A total of 262,820 18-year-olds have gained a place at university or college – 3% more than last year. But the he

Education
The Guardian Politics8 Aug 2026

US accused of meddling in British politics with $500,000 grant scheme promoting ‘shared values’

Documents published on US embassy’s website prompt claims of attempt to export Maga propaganda to UK The US embassy in London is offering grants of up to half a million dollars for new “public education” programmes in what has been criticised as interference in British domestic politics. Using language that the pro-Trump Maga movement has sought to appropriate, a funding notice identifies a goal of fostering a “national conversation” about “shared civilizational values” underpinning US-UK ties.

PoliticsEducationReform
The Guardian Politics7 Aug 2026

Primary schools to be told to identify children at risk of future unemployment

Exclusive: Neet crisis review to call for teachers to be asked to spot those at risk of leaving education jobless at 16 What can Dublin teach us? Milburn goes on quest to learn Primary schools in England should be required to identify children at risk of leaving education at 16 without finding a job, a government review is to recommend. Alan Milburn, who is leading a review into Britain’s crisis in youth worklessness, said he would call for sweeping changes in education policy alongside a shak

Education
The Guardian Politics7 Aug 2026

What can Dublin teach us? Milburn goes on a quest to solve youth jobs crisis

The former UK minister discovers how apprenticeships and support networks helped slash Ireland’s Neet rate English primary schools to be told to identify children at risk of future unemployment Alan Milburn is guiding a metal loop along the serpentine wire of an electrical buzzer game as he explains the challenge of Britain’s youth jobs crisis. “We have got more than a million young people not in education, employment or training (Neet). Crisis is an over-used word – but this is a crisis.” On

EducationReformHousing
The Guardian Politics4 Aug 2026

Government contracts to require job creation instead of green targets under new rules

Louise Haigh says taxpayer money must benefit local communities amid backlash from environmental groups Ministers will scrap the requirement for companies to prove their green and progressive values before they are awarded government contracts, and instead ask firms to prove they will help young people back into work. As part of a government push to reduce the number of people not in education, employment or training (Neets) in the UK and boost regional growth, public sector buyers will double t

EconomyDefenceEducationEnvironment
The Guardian Politics2 Aug 2026

‘Tiger mum’ Lucy Powell on Labour’s vocational skills drive: ‘It’s about ambition for everybody’

New education secretary says it is ‘false trade-off’ by critics to suggest schools cannot pursue academic excellence alongside technical skills Lucy Powell has said she wants to be an ambitious “tiger mum” for all young people, whatever their route through education, after the government was accused of dumbing down England’s schools with plans to create more vocational routes. The new education secretary said secondary pupils should be able to pursue academic excellence as well as high-quality v

Education
The Guardian Politics31 Jul 2026

Andy Burnham to set out devolution plan amid criticism it won’t benefit regions equally – UK politics live

Plan set to transform funding so English regions no longer rely on Whitehall handouts for projects Under a new “local first” principle, Andy Burnham will instruct ministers to justify why powers should remain in Whitehall rather than be devolved. As well as greater control over technical education for teenagers, announced by the government this week, some of those close to the prime minister have called for mayors to oversee schools, GPs and childcare providers through health and education commi

PoliticsEducation