Oakleigh House School in Swansea, which has operated for over 100 years and is the city’s only independent prep school, has announced plans to close. The news follows a similar announcement from St Clare’s School in Porthcawl earlier this week. Both schools are run by the education provider Cognita UK, which attributed the decisions to financial pressures. In a statement, Cognita said pupil numbers at Oakleigh House School "are expected to continue to fall to an unsustainable level" amid a "changing economic environment".

Referencing the financial challenges independent schools in Wales are facing, Paul Norton, who is on the Welsh Independent Schools Council's (WISC) board of directors, said: "The blanket application of VAT fails to consider the unique role of small independent schools in Wales. These institutions are integral to our communities and policies must reflect their distinct contributions." Mr Norton, who is also the principal and proprietor of Kings Monkton School in Cardiff, added: "Small independent schools of around 250 - 300 make up the majority of schools within the independent sector and cater for the needs of the local community of children who cannot successfully access mainstream state school for whatever reasons." By Abbie Wightwick, Wales Online.

In a House of Lords written question, Lord Weir of Ballyholme asked ministers what estimate they have made of the number of children who have been displaced—or are due to be displaced—by independent school closures announced since July 2024. Responding, Baroness Smith of Malvern said: "No assessment has been made of the number of children displaced, or expected to be displaced, due to independent school closures. All children of compulsory school age are entitled to a state-funded school place if they need one. Local authorities are responsible for ensuring sufficient state school places. The department already works with local authorities to identify pressures and take action where necessary." Hansard.

Teenagers can focus on revision for less than 15 minutes before they check their phone, according to the findings of a survey commissioned by sixth-form college group Mander Portman Woodward. The research revealed that 40 per cent of teenagers reported being constantly distracted by social media apps, such as Snapchat and TikTok, while trying to prepare for exams. Adolescents also said the average amount of time they could focus on revision before picking up their phone was 14 minutes, with just 10 per cent saying they were never distracted by social media. By Nicola Woolcock, The Times. 

The length of teaching apprenticeships will be reduced to help get new teachers into classrooms more quickly, the Department for Education has announced. From August, the duration of postgraduate teaching apprenticeship courses will be shortened to nine months, following Labour’s pledge during its election campaign to recruit 6,500 additional specialist teachers over its five-year term in office. Officials have said the courses will still offer the same high-quality content but at a reduced length, with trainees gaining qualified teacher status after they have completed the programme. Tes.

In an article for Tes, Andrew Copeman, head of lower sixth and teacher of English at Latymer Upper School, acknowledges that while it is encouraging to see boys thriving in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM), the steep decline in boys studying English literature is cause for concern—particularly in a digital age shaped by toxic online influencers. He explores why STEM subjects have become so appealing to boys, and suggests how schools might better engage young men with English. While Mr Copeman recognises that literature alone cannot solve the complex challenges many boys face—such as exposure to harmful influencers and a lack of positive male role models—he argues that "it can make a small difference to how our male students see themselves, thereby helping them to better understand our society, and their place in it."

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