HMRC and the Labour government announce a 3.8% increase in Child Benefit and Guardian's Allowance from April 2026. Find out the new weekly rates and how to access Tax-Free Childcare support.
Professor Nishan Canagarajah, President of the University of Leicester, receives a knighthood for his transformative work in higher education and championing inclusion. Discover his remarkable journey.
Hundreds of thousands of UK families are missing out on up to £2,000 per child annually due to underused and misunderstood tax-free childcare rules. Experts demand simplification.
Families across England have just one day left to apply for 30 hours of free weekly childcare worth up to £7,500. Learn the eligibility criteria and how to secure funding for 2026.
The Student Loans Company warns students of sophisticated scams targeting January maintenance payments. Learn the red flags and how to protect your money.
Get a free 24-page Brain Games for Adults magazine inside the Sunday Mercury. Packed with puzzles to boost memory and sharpen thinking, it's the perfect New Year brain workout. Pick up your copy!
Lea Forest Primary Academy in Birmingham's Kitts Green has transformed from an Ofsted 'requires improvement' rating to being ranked among Britain's top 10 primary schools. Discover the school's 'secret to success'.
Take our nostalgic quiz to test your memory of classic primary school assembly hymns. Challenge your friends and see if you're an expert on these childhood 'bangers'.
Leading space scientist Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock predicts a 'positive detection' of extraterrestrial life by 2075. Discover why she thinks it will be microbial 'grey sludge' and not little green men.
A three-year freeze on the student loan repayment threshold could leave new graduates struggling with bills. The NUS warns it risks pushing repayments 'dangerously close' to minimum wage earnings.
Edge Hill University's care-experienced students received special Christmas hampers from the Halle O'Brien CIC. Discover how this heartfelt initiative brings festive cheer.
NatWest announces major partnerships with Manchester, Brighton, and York universities to support student entrepreneurs and spinouts. The bank aims for six more deals by 2027. Read how this boosts the UK economy.
Ickle Bubba and Maxi-Cosi launch four travel system bundles combining prams and car seats. The solution aims to end compatibility stress for new parents and is on sale until February.
HMRC urges UK parents to check eligibility for backdated Child Benefit payments worth up to £2,500. Act before the mid-January deadline to secure this vital financial support.
Staff from Firs Primary School in Derby brought Christmas magic to eight-year-old Michal Winter in hospital after he missed the school's 'Breakfast with Santa' due to his rare condition. Read this heartwarming story.
Most of Perryfields Academy's ageing buildings will be demolished, replaced by a new three-storey block and sports facilities by 2029, improving safety and learning.
A Midlands secondary school has been ranked among the nation's elite in The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide 2026. Discover which schools made the prestigious list and why.
Amble Links Primary School's hilarious Elf on the Shelf antics, from sheep blockades to lifeboat theft, have become a beloved community tradition and an online sensation. Discover the festive mischief.
Plans for an Eton Star Academy sixth form in Dudley have been approved, promising 240 places. Local politicians clash over whether it's the right investment for the town's youth.
Teachers across the Arthur Terry Learning Partnership will strike for nine days in January 2026 over plans to cut more than 100 jobs. The NEU warns of damage to education.
A former Midlands dance instructor has been imprisoned after pleading guilty to sexual offences against students. She exploited her position to groom victims, causing lifelong trauma. Read the full story.
Swansea University opens new voluntary exit schemes for staff as it seeks £25m in savings, with compulsory redundancies not ruled out. The UCU warns of potential industrial action.
Loose Women star Frankie Bridge opens up about her son Carter's emotional battle with dyslexia and his tearful refusal to attend school. Discover her family's struggle and the search for support.
Police searching for missing Loughborough University student Aryan Sharma, 20, have recovered a body from the River Soar. Formal identification is pending.
A pupil has tragically died after a major emergency response at St Wilfrid's RC College in Newcastle. The school is closed as the community mourns.
Edge Hill University appoints Professor Abigail Moriarty as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education & Students), bringing expertise in student experience and digital innovation from the University of Lincoln. Read more.
Five distinguished Edge Hill University law graduates returned to campus for an inspiring alumni panel, sharing career journeys and advice with current students. Discover the paths from degree to practice.
Hogarth Primary School in Brentwood brought families together with its annual Ho, Ho, Hogarth Christmas market. Read how the event fostered community trust and entrepreneurship.
Chatten Free School in Witham is transforming lives by providing vital work experience for autistic students with complex needs. Local businesses are urged to help create meaningful community roles.
A new enterprise hub in Essex, Hope Park, is creating vital career pathways for young adults with learning difficulties, challenging the shocking 95% unemployment rate. Discover how this project is changing lives.