Community can mean all sorts of things. It can refer to the geographical area where we live, where we work or attend school, or it can refer to a group of people with whom we share common values, opinions, experiences, club memberships, etc. Check out a new resource from Prayer Spaces in Schools to help you pray for your community. Read more
Thousands of foster children face having to move home several times a year, a Christian charity has found. Action for Children, which has its roots in the Methodist Church, conducted a Freedom of Information request on the issue. Nearly one in three foster children in the UK move home two or more times between April 2015 and March 2016, it found. This affects their social skills, educational outcomes and employment prospects – impacting on their behaviour as well as emotional and mental health. Read more
Pope Francis has lamented that children are being taught at school that gender can be a choice. Francis made his remarks during a private meeting last week with bishops from Poland during his pilgrimage there. The Vatican released a transcript on Tuesday of those closed-door remarks. The pope said he wanted to conclude his remarks by reflecting on this: ‘We are living a moment of annihilation of man as image of God.’ Read more
A Labour MP has promised to table more than 30 amendments to a higher education bill in an attempt to ensure that students get a better experience from their degrees as tuition fees continue to rise. Wes Streeting, the MP for Ilford North and former president of the National Union of Students, said he wanted the higher education and research bill to include a ‘students’ bill of rights’. Read more
A giant wooden replica of 17th century London was set ablaze on the River Thames last week in a retelling of the Great Fire of London 350 years ago. Crowds gathered on the banks of the Thames to watch the 120-metre long model go up in flames. The burning of the replica of London took place during a festival held to commemorate the Great Fire. London’s Burning, which was held from 30 August to 4 September, featured a series of art installations, performances, talks and tours. Read more
Theresa May has laid out her plans for a new generation of grammar schools to Conservative MPs by insisting England’s education system already has ‘selection by house price’. The Prime Minister told the 1922 Committee of backbench Tories she wanted to create a ’21st century education system’ with an ‘element of selection’, sources who were at the meeting said. Read more
Childline received an average of one call every 30 minutes from UK children with suicidal thoughts last year, the NSPCC has said. Youngsters plagued by suicidal thoughts contacted Childline 19,481 times – more than double the number five years ago. The charity said it referred many callers to the emergency services, adding a lack of support was leading children to reach crisis point. Read more