Kia-Elise Green

The writer argues that British schools have treated university as the default route to success while presenting apprenticeships and vocational education as inferior, despite the financial burden of higher education and difficult graduate job market. Drawing on personal experience as a journalism apprentice, she says she gained career experience, bought a house and avoided student debt. Andy Burnham’s plans to introduce technical subjects from age 14 are welcomed as a step toward giving academic and technical pathways equal status, rather than treating one as a fallback.

A family of five living on an £80,000 household income describes struggling with rising costs, budgeting carefully across groceries, childcare, transport and household expenses. They rely on supermarket offers, reduced meat consumption, low‑cost meals, reduced coffee spending and limited holidays to manage monthly outgoings of around £4,000. Support from family for childcare, strategic budgeting tools and community resourcefulness help them stay financially stable despite ongoing cost‑of‑living pressures.