5 h. ago Disruptive phones have no place in schools, Education Secretary says

Bridget Phillipson said headteachers have the Government’s ‘full backing’ on removing phones from classrooms.

Politics

58 h. ago Education department plans to cut half its workforce as Trump vows to wind agency down – US politics live

Secretary of education Linda McMahon says move is part of president’s mission to dismantle departmentA poll released on Tuesday shows that US president Donald Trump’s approval rating has dropped a few points since he first took office, reports the Hill.Accoding to the Emerson College Polling survey, 47% of voters approved of Trump’s job performance and 45% disapproved. Those findings are down from a 49% approval and 41% disapproval rating at the beginning of Trump’s second term.The public’s views of the economy under Trump seem to be a drag on his overall approval rating, with a plurality of 48% saying they don’t approve of Trump’s handling of the economy, while 37% approve.Voters give Trump his highest ratings for his handling of immigration, with 48% approving and 40% disapproving. His weakest areas are the economy, health care and cryptocurrency, in which he has net approval ratings solidly underwater.”Ending incessant federal interference will free up state and local leaders to ...

Politics

64 h. ago Trump administration briefing: education department to be halved as Trump walks back Canada tariffs

Education secretary Linda McMahon describes layoffs as ‘significant step towards restoring greatness’ – key US politics stories from Tuesday at a glanceThe US Department of Education intends to lay off nearly half of its workforce, the department has announced. The layoffs of 1,300 people were announced by the department on Tuesday and described by the education secretary, Linda McMahon, as a “significant step toward restoring the greatness of the United States education system”.In a post on X, McMahon said: “Today’s [reduction in force] reflects our commitment to efficiency, accountability, and ensuring that resources are directed where they matter most: to students, parents, and teachers.” Continue reading...

Politics

65 h. ago US education department to lay off 1,300 people as Trump vows to close agency

Firings announced Tuesday as administration decried as ‘detached from how Americans live’The US Department of Education intends to lay off nearly half of its workforce. The layoffs of 1,300 people were announced by the department on Tuesday and described by the education secretary, Linda McMahon, as a “significant step toward restoring the greatness of the United States education system”.In a post on X, McMahon said: “Today’s [reduction in force] reflects our commitment to efficiency, accountability, and ensuring that resources are directed where they matter most: to students, parents, and teachers.” Continue reading...

Politics

68 h. ago Department of Education to lay off nearly half its workforce – US politics live

Education secretary Linda McMahon announced hundreds of staff were subject to the ‘reduction in workforce’Polls have opened in Greenland for early parliamentary elections Tuesday as US President Donald Trump seeks control of the strategic Arctic island.The self-governing region of Denmark is home to 56,000 people, most from Indigenous Inuit backgrounds, and occupies a strategic North Atlantic location. It also contains rare earth minerals key to driving the global economy, AP reported. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Toilet training and cutlery use key part of England’s ‘school

Checkpoints backed by education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, follow complaints from teachers of children arriving in nappiesToilet training and the ability to use cutlery are two key checkpoints in a new list of “school-readiness” skills developed by a coalition of early-years educators and endorsed by Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary.The group said the guidance was the first of its type, intended to help parents to prepare children starting in reception classes in England from the age of four and came after complaints from teachers of children arriving at school in nappies, lacking basic skills and unable to play with others. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Linda McMahon tries to walk back shutting down Education department

‘This is not a turn off the lights and walk out of the department,’ the newly confirmed education secretary says

Politics

6 d. ago Trump administration withdraws $400 million in contracts and grants to Columbia University: Live updates

‘For too long, Columbia has abandoned that obligation to Jewish students studying on its campus,’ Education Secretary Linda McMahon says

Economics

8 d. ago The English schools looking to dispel ‘doom and gloom’ around AI

AI is being used to recreate Charles Darwin talking about evolution and to reimagine Luton as a car – and teachers report students are more engagedCharles Darwin chatting with students about evolution, primary school pupils seeing their writing transformed into images, Luton reimagined as a cool automobile – artificial intelligence is invading schools across England in surprising ways.While Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, in January called for a “digital revolution” involving AI in schools, it has already begun in places such as Willowdown primary school in Bridgwater, Somerset. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago Four in 10 Britons think women’s equality now discriminates against men – poll

Some 42% agreed with the statement, ‘We have gone so far in promoting women’s equality that we are discriminating against men’.

Events

9 d. ago Linda McMahon wastes no time using Day 1 to announce ‘overhaul’ of Department of Education

Trump has repeatedly said he wants McMahon to ‘put herself out of a job’ and shut down the department

Politics

1 week ago Linda McMahon, wrestling industry billionaire, confirmed as US education secretary

US Senate confirmed Trump ally and ex-wrestling executive as chief of department president wants dismantledThe US Senate has confirmed Linda McMahon as the nation’s next education secretary, entrusting the former wrestling executive with a department marked for dismantling by Donald Trump.The 76-year-old billionaire businesswoman and longtime Trump ally was approved 51-45, reflecting deep divisions over her qualifications and the administration’s education agenda. McMahon, who previously led the small business administration during Trump’s first term, now faces the paradoxical task of running an agency while simultaneously working toward its potential elimination. Continue reading...

Society

2 w. ago Scotland's education secretary faces fresh demands for national ban on mobile phones in schools

Jenny Gilruth was asked to enforce a blanket ban on phones by Pam Gosal MSP - saying new guidance handing the decision to individual schools was “failing” pupils.

Politics

2 w. ago Oxbridge academics lead campaign to embed climate change into all school subjects as part of Labour's curriculum review

A coalition of 29 Oxford and Cambridge professors have joined dozens of others from top universities in signing a letter to Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson.

Politics

2 w. ago Education Secretary pledges to tackle ‘chronic’ skills shortages

The Government has proposed to abolish the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education and replace it with Skills England.

Events

2 w. ago First 750 schools in England to trial free breakfast clubs announced

The Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said 750 schools across England will take part in a pilot of the scheme from April. See the full list of schools to benefit

Politics

2 w. ago Bridget Phillipson blows hole in Sir Keir Starmer's tough talk on defence

The Education Secretary said Labour 's manifesto pledge of hiking it to 2.5 per cent was an 'ambitious' target and suggested it would not be further increased despite calls to do so.

Politics

2 w. ago Trump was ‘right’ to approach Putin over Ukraine, UK minister insists

The education secretary has defended Donald Trump’s decision to phone Vladimir Putin but said ‘there can be no settlement’ without Ukraine

Politics

2 w. ago Spending 2.5% of GDP on defence ‘ambitious,’ Cabinet minister says

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson sought to manage expectations ahead of Sir Keir Starmer’s visit to the US.

Politics

2 w. ago Education Secretary says Birbalsingh’s account of meeting ‘not as it was’

Bridget Phillipson met Katharine Birbalsingh, who has been commonly described as Britain’s strictest headteacher, earlier this month.

Politics