Date: 2 October 2026 Tags: France, Protests, Public Order, Education Summary: Violent unrest involving secondary school students has spread across several French cities, including Paris, Marseille, Rennes, Strasbourg, Lyon and Lille. Students are reported to be protesting over overcrowded classrooms, workloads and shortages of teaching staff. France’s Prime Minister called a crisis meeting and cancelled ministerial trips to focus on the nationwide disorder. Interior Minister

Date: 16 September 2026 Tags: Education, Teachers, Pay, UK Politics Summary: Schools in England will receive around £500 million in additional funding towards teachers’ pay during the current school year. The funding reduces pressure on schools to finance the 3.5% teacher pay increase from existing budgets. The government will fund the increase through savings from lower employer contributions to the local government pension scheme. Employer pension contributions are expected

Date: 10 September 2026 Tags: Russia, Africa, Diplomacy, Education Summary Russia will open 11 new cultural centres, including eight across Africa. The centres promote Russian language, education, science and cultural exchanges. Existing network includes 16 Russian Houses already operating across Africa. New African locations include Kenya, Mali, Senegal, DR Congo, Sierra Leone and Togo. Russia says scholarships and university partnerships will strengthen long-term relationsh

Date: 27 August 2026 Tags: Employment, Economy, Young People, Education Summary: An estimated 981,000 UK residents aged 16 to 24 were not in education, employment or training between April and June. The figure represents approximately one in eight young people in that age group. Numbers have fallen from more than one million in early 2026 but remain 3% higher than a year earlier. The annual increase was mainly among men, with 25,000 more young men classified as Neet compared

Why this matters: The policy aims to improve classroom behaviour, focus, and safeguarding by limiting smartphone use during school hours. Date: 20 April 2026 Tags: UK Politics, Education, Technology Summary: UK government to introduce legal ban on smartphones in schools in England. Amendment to Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill will create statutory requirement for phone-free schools. Jacqui Smith announced plan in House of Lords. Bridget Phillipson previously urged schoo

Why this matters: The reforms aim to improve children’s health and nutrition. They target obesity and diet-related health issues. Date: 12 April 2026 Tags: UK, Education, Health Summary: UK government plans to ban deep-fried foods in school meals across England. High-sugar items will be restricted, with fruit replacing sugary treats most days. Schools will no longer offer unhealthy “grab-and-go” items like pizza daily. Sweetened desserts will be limited to once per week under