50 h. ago Labour ignored education department plea to delay VAT on private school fees until new year so Government could net almost £1bn extra from families

Lawyers for the Government have told the High Court bringing forward the date by eight months would raise 'an additional revenue of over £900 million'.

Economics

2 d. ago Social Security's acting leader faces calls to resign over decision to cut Maine contracts

The Social Security Administration’s acting commissioner is facing calls to resign after he issued an order that would have required Maine parents to register their newborns for Social Security numbers at a federal office rather than the hospital

Politics

4 d. ago VAT on private school fees is ‘wrong tax’, says father in legal challenge

Several private schools, children who attend them and their parents are bringing legal action against the Treasury over the imposition of VAT on fees.

Economics

4 d. ago Trump officials to review $9bn in Harvard funds over antisemitism claims

Administration accuses university of failing to protect students and plans to look into federal grants and contractsThe Trump administration announced a review on Monday of $9bn in federal contracts and grants at Harvard University over allegations that it failed to address issues of antisemitism on campus.The multi-agency Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism said it will review the more than $255.6m in contracts between Harvard University, its affiliates and the federal government, according to a joint statement from the education department, the health department and the General Services Administration. The statement also says the review will include the more than $8.7bn in multi-year grant commitments to Harvard University and its affiliates. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Trump administration announces review of Harvard University’s federal contracts and grants – live

Education department announces review of Harvard’s $255.6m contracts and $8.7bn multi-year grant commitments amid allegations of antisemitism Immigration remains a strength for Donald Trump, but his handling of tariffs is getting more negative feedback, according to a poll from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. About half of US adults approve of Trump’s approach to immigration, the survey shows, but only about four in 10 have a positive view of the way he’s handling the economy and trade negotiations. The poll indicates that many Americans are still on board with Trump’s efforts to ramp up deportations and restrict immigration. But it also suggests that the Republican president’s threats to impose tariffs – which have been accompanied by tumbling consumer confidence and wild stock market swings – might be erasing his advantage on another issue that he made central to his winning 2024 campaign. The economy was a drag on then president Joe Biden, who saw th...

Politics

5 d. ago Toddler accused of being transphobic or homophobic was suspended from nursery

Data from the Department for Education reveals the child was suspended for ‘abuse against sexual orientation and gender identity’

Politics

6 d. ago Two leaders of Harvard’s Middle Eastern studies center to step down

Departures of Cemal Kafadar and Rosie Bsheer are seen by critics as ‘shameful attempt’ by school to appease TrumpThe leaders of Harvard University’s Center for Middle Eastern Studies are leaving their positions after the center faced accusations of anti-Israel bias.The departures come as the Trump administration scrutinizes institutions who have had pro-Palestine protests over the last year. Earlier this week, Columbia’s president announced she will step down after Trump targeted the university for protests on campus last year. Continue reading...

Events

7 d. ago ‘Canary in the coalmine of totalitarianism’: how Columbia went from a home for Edward Said to a punching bag for Trump

The university had a history of being a home for cutting-edge discourse on Palestine – until it capitulated to the administration’s demands Last week, Columbia University announced that it would cave to demands by the Trump administration and adopt sweeping measures against pro-Palestinian activity on campus, including new restrictions on protest and the takeover of an academic department from faculty control.The news sent shock waves across higher education institutions nationwide for what appeared a stunning capitulation to attacks on academic freedom and the independence of the department of Middle Eastern, south Asian and African studies, or Mesaas, which became a scapegoat for what the administration viewed as a pro-Palestinian climate on campus. It was also a remarkable turn of events for a university that had for years been a home for cutting-edge academic discourse on Palestine, beginning with the scholarship of Edward Said, a leading Palestinian intellectual. Continue readi...

Politics

8 d. ago Things to know about the White House investigation into California's law on students and gender

The Trump administration is investigating California's education department over a law that bans school districts from requiring staff to notify parents of their child's pronoun change

Society

8 d. ago Civil rights groups say push to dismantle Education Department will undue hard

President Donald Trump has reopened a debate in the fight over the federal government’s role in education policy after signing an executive order to dismantle the U.S. Education Department

Politics

9 d. ago Gap of 8,000 secondary school places in special schools last year – figures

Around two in three special schools in England were ‘at or over capacity’ in the last academic year, the Department for Education said.

Politics

9 d. ago Pupils rewarded with iPads, bikes and pizza parties for good attendance – report

School attendance policies should ‘prioritise encouragement and support over sanctions’, the NFER paper has said.

Events

9 d. ago Education Department reopens applications for student loan repayment plans

The U.S. Education Department reopened online applications Wednesday for income-driven repayment plans for student loan borrowers

Politics

1 week ago Judge blocks DOGE from accessing sensitive information at US agencies

A federal judge has temporarily blocked Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency from accessing people’s private data at the Education Department, the Treasury Department and the Office of Personnel Management

Events

1 week ago ‘We will work with Congress’: Linda McMahon promises cooperation in push to dismantle Education department

Trump will work with Congress and follow the law as he dismantles Department of Education, secretary insists

Politics

2 w. ago Trump’s order to dismantle education department sparks outrage: ‘see you in court’

Politicians and teachers unions condemn president’s effort to axe department, which can only be done by CongressTeachers unions and Democratic politicians joined in denouncing Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at eliminating the US Department of Education, with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) saying simply: “See you in court.”Trump’s move was long trailed, so much so that Randi Weingarten, the head of the AFT – which represents 1.8 million teachers – put out her statement the day before the order was signed. Michael Mulgrew, president of the United Federation of Teachers, which represents 200,000 members, teachers and other education workers mostly in New York City, said: “We will join our national union and public education allies to protect students and educators. We are working with our partners to file lawsuits to stop this executive overreach. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago List of Trump's executive orders as president moves to dismantle education department

The latest move to reduce the scope of the federal government will face opposition in Congress

Politics

2 w. ago Trump angrily denies Elon Musk will be part of sensitive Pentagon briefing on China: Live updates

President attacks New York Times over reporting as backlash over billonaire’s role in administration grows

Politics

2 w. ago Trump’s executive order to dismantle Department for Education sparks fears for students – live

Eliminating department, which distributes billions in federal money to schools and manages federal student loans, would likely require act of CongressDefense secretary Pete Hegseth said late Thursday that he would be meeting with billionaire Elon Musk at the Pentagon Friday to discuss “innovation, efficiencies & smarter production.”Musk, a top adviser to President Donald Trump, and his Department of Government Efficiency have played an integral role in the administration’s push to dramatically reduce the size of the government. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Trump’s executive order to dismantle Department for Education sparks fears for low

Eliminating department, which distributes billions in federal money to schools and manages federal student loans, would likely require act of CongressGood morning and welcome to the US politics live blog. I’m Tom Ambrose and I’ll be bringing you all the latest news on this Friday morning.We begin with the news that president Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday calling for the dismantling of the Education Department, an agency Republicans have talked about closing for decades. The order says education secretary Linda McMahon will, “to the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law, take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return authority over education to the States and local communities.” Eliminating the department altogether would be a cumbersome task, which likely would require an act of Congress, AP reported. In the weeks since he took office, the Trump administration already has cut the department’s staff in half and...

Politics