Education
Schools, colleges and universities in the UK, from departmental announcements, published statistics and inspection reports.
October half term 2026: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
Welsh councils, Essex and Southwark give 26 to 30 October, but Surrey’s break starts on 19 October and Edinburgh’s and Highland’s on 12 October.
UCAS deadlines for 2027 entry: 15 October for Oxford, Cambridge and most medicine courses, 13 January for most others
The cut-off is 18:00 UK time on both 15 October and 13 January, and UCAS lists Clearing for 2027 entry as opening on 2 July 2027.
Schools in England to share £22.5m for clubs and activities
More than 400 secondary schools in disadvantaged communities will get funding and support under the Enrichment Expansion programme, the government said.
School dinners in England to change from 2027
Education Secretary Lucy Powell said the first update to school food standards in more than a decade would mean more fruit, vegetables and fibre on children’s plates.
Teacher numbers in England rise by 4,654
Education minister Georgia Gould gave the figures in a written answer about teacher retention in North Shropshire, where the local authority’s teacher numbers rose from…
