Anna Fazackerley

People living in caravans and vans on farms in Cornwall face potential eviction after the council increased enforcement of planning regulations, with about half of infringement notices issued to caravans in fields. Residents cite unaffordable rents, a shortage of long‑term housing and competition from holiday lets and second homes as reasons they rely on informal sites. Farm owner Sue Nicholls, who hosts 35 vulnerable people at Potters Farm, is under investigation for operating without the required licence despite claiming the council previously referred homeless individuals to her. Cornwall council says it is working with her to find a resolution while stressing the need to prevent planning harm.

Young people in Cornwall unable to secure affordable housing are increasingly living year-round in old vans, facing cold temperatures, isolation and limited access to basic facilities. Tourism, second homes and the growth of short-term rentals have left few long-term rental options, pushing local residents into makeshift accommodation. Support groups report widespread struggles among van dwellers, many of whom lack experience with the practicalities of mobile living. Some receive help from charities or rural caravan sites, but support remains limited, and concerns persist over potential council crackdowns on overnight van parking.

A crowdfunding surge from Guardian readers has enabled Cornish boat engineer Steve Green to continue removing abandoned fibreglass boats leaking toxins into the Helford and Fal rivers. Donations exceeding £23,000 followed reporting on his work with Clean Ocean Sailing, easing financial strain from disposal costs and allowing expanded clean‑up efforts. Volunteers have since joined Green to extract multiple derelict vessels, while legal notices have been placed on additional yachts as part of an ongoing effort to address unregulated boat abandonment across the UK.

A boat engineer in Cornwall is working to remove abandoned fibreglass yachts leaking toxins and microplastics into local waterways, despite high disposal costs and limited funding. Marine biologists warn that decaying fibreglass harms marine life, while regulatory gaps make boat owners difficult to trace. Environmental groups and harbour authorities highlight the growing national problem and stress the need for a recycling system similar to France’s, where manufacturers fund disposal and scrapping centres handle end‑of‑life boats.

The impending closure of Essex University’s Southend campus is set to affect 800 students and the wider community, removing a key driver of social mobility, local employment and economic activity in a deprived coastal city. Students, staff, business owners and local leaders warn of severe consequences, including course abandonment, loss of jobs, declining youth opportunities and negative signals to potential investors. Local MPs criticise the abruptness of the decision and argue that the government should support universities in disadvantaged areas. The university cites falling international student numbers and financial pressures, while many residents view the closure as emblematic of broader neglect of coastal communities.

An internal 2024 staff survey shows widespread dissatisfaction at Cambridge University with how bullying and harassment are handled, prompting criticism from academics who accuse the institution of failing to act and attempting to downplay the results. Only 27% of staff expressed satisfaction with departmental responses to bullying, with several major science departments scoring particularly poorly. Astrophysicist Wyn Evans is seeking nominations for the chancellorship on an anti-bullying platform, arguing that the university faces a cultural crisis. The findings reflect broader sector concerns highlighted by previous surveys, including one by the Wellcome Trust showing widespread experiences of bullying among researchers. Cambridge rejects claims of a cover-up, stating that results were shared internally and that updated behaviour and grievance policies are in place.

Amanda Spielman, Ofsted chief inspector during the period when headteacher Ruth Perry took her own life after a critical inspection, has been nominated by the Conservatives for a peerage, prompting strong backlash from Perry’s family, school leaders and unions. Critics argue her leadership contributed to an inhumane inspection regime and failed to acknowledge systemic problems highlighted by a coroner. Supporters within past Conservative administrations praised her curriculum-focused reforms, while detractors emphasised negative impacts on schools, particularly smaller primaries. The nomination has intensified tensions between Conservative figures and those in the education sector who view the decision as an affront to teachers and to Perry’s memory.

A large analysis of UK police and education records shows teenagers permanently excluded from school are more than twice as likely to commit serious violence within a year compared with similar pupils who were only suspended. London’s Violence Reduction Unit describes the findings as the clearest evidence yet linking exclusion to violence, prompting renewed calls to address rising exclusion rates. Experts warn that excluded children face increased risks of exploitation, reduced supervision, and declining self‑esteem, while overstretched pupil referral units struggle to meet legal obligations. Supporters of strict discipline argue exclusions remain necessary for school safety, but researchers and advocates say failure to reduce exclusions harms vulnerable children and increases long‑term social costs.

Covid-19 reshaped the UK by deepening existing inequalities and leaving lasting impacts on health, education, the economy and cultural life. The NHS continues to struggle with reduced productivity, long waiting lists and increased mental health demand, especially among young people. School closures widened attainment gaps, and funding cuts undermined long‑term recovery plans. Economic growth slowed, hybrid working became entrenched, and inflation and labour shortages were influenced by pandemic spending and inactivity among older workers. Cultural sectors suffered severe financial losses despite emergency funding, with long-term pressures continuing to affect theatres and venues. Social changes persist through increased online shopping, altered leisure habits and rising poverty, while public trust in institutions and attitudes toward vaccination have declined. Overall, the pandemic’s effects remain embedded across UK society and public services.

Oxford University faces criticism after a tribunal ruled that long‑term creative writing tutors Alice Jolly and Rebecca Abrams had been wrongly employed on zero‑hours “sham” contracts. Despite the ruling, the academics say they received no apology, compensation agreement, or institutional reform, and allege they have been ostracised and lost work. Their case highlighted widespread precarious employment across Oxford and the sector, but Jolly now doubts others will challenge the system due to the financial and emotional burden. Advocacy groups argue universities misuse NDAs to suppress employment disputes and call for bans similar to those introduced for sexual harassment cases. Oxford maintains it is reviewing working practices and ensuring staff are appropriately supported while litigation continues.

A London primary school is using an oracy programme funded by the Violence Reduction Unit to address speech and language delays linked to later school exclusions and youth violence. Staff report significant improvements in communication skills and reductions in conflict among pupils, many of whom face challenges related to poverty and limited early social interaction. Teachers highlight the impact of strained public services on children’s development and emphasise the importance of early intervention to narrow communication gaps and support long‑term wellbeing.

Parents and teachers at three Essex schools recently taken over by the Mossbourne Federation report rising student anxiety, harsh disciplinary practices and alleged emotional harm. Concerns include children being denied toilet access, shouting from staff and inadequate support for students with special educational needs. The takeover followed an existing safeguarding review into one of the federation’s Hackney schools, after more than 300 accounts of alleged emotional harm were submitted to Hackney council. Parents describe significant distress among pupils, while Mossbourne did not provide comment.

Schools across England are preparing teacher and support‑staff redundancies as budgets tighten, undermining Labour’s pledge to recruit 6,500 new teachers. Falling trainee numbers, high attrition rates and rising costs are intensifying pressure, with headteachers warning that an unfunded teacher pay rise could trigger further job losses. A survey in Calderdale shows widespread plans to cut staff, leaving schools struggling to support growing numbers of pupils with complex needs. Union leaders argue that funding cuts have exhausted efficiencies, while government officials cite fiscal constraints but highlight increased investment and cost‑saving initiatives.

Labour criticises the previous Conservative government for allowing inadequate schools to wait long periods before reopening as academies, with data showing many remained unresolved for more than a year. Education secretary Bridget Phillipson plans intervention teams to address schools stalled in the conversion process. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch argues Labour’s reforms are damaging, while headteachers from both academy and council-run schools counter that concerns are exaggerated and the proposed legislation is modest, maintaining national curriculum requirements and pay frameworks.

A rising number of newborns in England are being placed into care within days of birth, with nearly 3,000 cases recorded in 2022–23. Researchers, lawyers and midwives argue that councils often delay action until emergencies arise, leaving vulnerable mothers to defend themselves in court immediately after giving birth. Many affected women have histories of trauma or prior involvement with social services, yet receive little notice, support or transparency. Experts describe the process as inhumane, citing poor communication, lack of early intervention and inadequate assessment of family networks. While some mothers are allowed to stay with their babies in supervised units, many are separated, causing severe distress. The Department for Education says reforms aim to keep families together where safely possible.

Charities including Rape Crisis urge the UK government to issue clearer statutory guidance for schools on handling peer‑on‑peer sexual abuse amid rising cases involving younger children. Families report schools downplaying serious assaults, mischaracterising incidents, or failing to provide adequate support. Legal experts and advocacy groups say victims are often retraumatised and left without services, while headteachers’ representatives call for regular guidance reviews and funded training. The Department for Education states that robust safeguarding rules already exist and stresses that all allegations must be managed sensitively to ensure pupil safety.

Research by the Coram Institute for Children shows UK councils are placing homeless 16‑ and 17‑year‑olds in temporary housing rather than taking them into care, despite statutory guidance. Young people described fleeing abusive homes and being denied support, leading to unsafe living conditions, debt and lack of awareness of their rights. Coram and the children’s commissioner called for better data and stronger protections to ensure teenagers receive appropriate care. Case studies illustrate the consequences of delayed intervention, while the Department of Education cited planned reforms to improve standards for children in care.

A deputy headteacher in Greater Manchester left her 15-year teaching career after being denied part‑time work following maternity leave, highlighting widespread inflexibility in schools and its impact on teacher retention. Despite government moves to encourage flexible working, many school leaders and trusts still reject such requests. Vickie Johnson, now working flexibly for Manchester City Council and researching flexible leadership in primary schools, argues that meaningful progress requires cultural rather than policy change to stop experienced mothers from leaving the profession.

Bridget Phillipson proposes expanding flexible working rights for all state school teachers in England to address recruitment and retention problems, particularly among women in their 30s leaving the profession. Data showing rising departures and lack of flexibility are driving plans to allow more work such as marking and preparation to be done remotely. The government will ask the School Teachers’ Review Body to explore additional flexibility in pay and working conditions while unions stress that improvements must also include better pay and reduced workload. Examples from academies and individual schools show flexible arrangements helping recruitment, though shortages continue to strain staffing across the sector.