NEWS UPDATES

Take a look at what's been happening in the world of education and health and safety since our last issue...

Workplace First Aid Saves Lives Beyond the Office, Says St John Ambulance

England’s leading first aid charity, St John Ambulance, is urging employers to think beyond workplace safety and recognise their broader role in building resilient communities. According to the charity, first aid training delivered in the workplace often extends far beyond office walls – equipping people to respond to emergencies in everyday life, at home, in public, and in the moments that matter most.

Lisa Sharman, Head of Education and Commercial Training at St John Ambulance, emphasised that first aid is not confined to traditional work environments. “First aid isn’t just for high-risk jobs or factory floors. The training we deliver empowers people to make a difference when it truly counts,” she said.

The ripple effect of first aid training means that employees are not only prepared for workplace incidents but also ready to respond to crises in other settings.

This same principle applies to mental health first aid, which is increasingly recognised as vital in today’s workplace. While first aid is often associated with physical accidents or medical emergencies, mental health conditions are just as urgent – and often harder to detect.

“Workers trained in both physical and mental health first aid can instinctively respond to a wide range of emergencies,” Sharman explained. “Mental health first aid equips people to recognise the often-hidden signs of conditions like depression, anxiety or burnout, to create safe spaces for open conversations, and potentially hold life-saving discussions.”

The number of school children being suspended for racist behaviour has reached record levels in England, with some incidents involving pupils as young as four. New figures reveal a sharp rise in racist incidents across schools, prompting urgent calls for action from government officials, campaigners, and educators.

According to data released by the Department for Education, 15,191 suspensions for racism were issued in the 2022–2023 academic year—more than double the 7,403 recorded in 2020–2021. That’s an average of around 80 suspensions every school day. The rise represents a 50% increase in just two years, with both primary and secondary school pupils involved.

Primary school pupils accounted for 2,485 of last year’s suspensions, including five Reception class children aged just four. While teachers stress that children of that age are unlikely to fully understand the meaning of racist terms, these incidents are still being logged under the current reporting system

Chris Zarraga, director of campaign group Schools North East, said: “Children are struggling to express themselves. Support services for young families have also dropped dramatically, with long waiting lists for speech and language therapy and reduced access to health visitors.”

He added that the rise in suspensions across the North East reflects a national trend. “We’ve seen a huge impact since the pandemic, particularly in areas hit hardest by deprivation.”

Reports of racist incidents now include racist slurs, physical attacks, and vandalism involving hate-related graffiti. Some secondary school pupils have been suspended or expelled for using racist language both in person and on social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and X.

A Department for Education spokesperson acknowledged the seriousness of the issue: “These figures are unacceptable. Racism and discrimination have no place in our schools. We will always support teachers in creating safe and respectful learning environments.”

The Government has announced a comprehensive behaviour support programme, starting with the creation of attendance and behaviour hubs in schools with the greatest need. Broader initiatives include free breakfast clubs in all primary schools and expanded access to mental health support, part of the wider Plan for Change strategy.

Boy Left in Agony for Hours After Breaking Arm on School Trip, Says Mother

Julia received a call at 7:05 p.m. from her son’s headteacher informing her of the injury and that Salvador was being taken to Ipswich Hospital. She and her husband rushed to meet them but, upon arrival, were told by hospital staff they had no record of Salvador being en route or admitted.

A primary school pupil was left in pain and without treatment for over two hours after breaking his arm during a school trip, according to his mother, Julia Teixeira.

Her 11-year-old son, Salvador, was attending a three-day Year 6 residential trip at PGL Bawdsey Manor in Suffolk on July 13th when the incident happened. Julia, from Braintree, Essex, says she was told Salvador broke his arm while playing hide and seek with classmates in his room before bedtime.

The injury was severe — his arm reportedly bent in two places, resembling the famously stretchy limbs of “Mr. Tickle” from the Mr. Men books.

Are Girls Being Left Behind in School? Experts Warn of Emerging Education Gap

Girls have consistently outperformed boys at GCSE level, with this year’s results showing 70.5% of girls achieving a pass (grade 4/C or above), compared to 64.3% of boys in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. However, a closer look reveals a worrying trend: while boys’ performance has improved slightly, girls’ results have started to decline—narrowing the gender gap to its smallest on record.

At A-level, boys have now taken the lead in achieving top grades, prompting growing concern among education experts who say the shift in performance patterns shouldn’t be ignored.

Much recent attention has focused on boys’ educational challenges, but experts now warn that girls’ academic progress is slipping, potentially due to a complex mix of social, emotional, and mental health factors that have worsened since the Covid-19 pandemic.

An international study published in March 2025 also found that girls had fallen further behind boys in maths and science compared to 2020. These gaps are seen as a warning sign that academic confidence among girls may be eroding.

Dr Jennie Golding of UCL, a co-author of the study, said while the improvement in boys’ GCSE results is positive, the effects of social media and emotional stress disproportionately impact girls. She emphasised the need for schools to prioritise emotional wellbeing: “Start measuring things like belonging and emotional security in Ofsted inspections, and school priorities will change.”

Education leaders are now calling for deeper investigation into these trends. Pepe Di'Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said the upcoming curriculum review this autumn should explore how assessment can better reflect all students’ strengths.

“There’s clearly a shift happening,” he said. “We need to make sure girls are not left behind while we work to support boys. This isn’t about one group versus another—it’s about making education work for everyone.”

Construction Firm Fined After Workers Exposed to Asbestos During Pub Demolition

A Manchester-based construction company has been fined after workers were put at risk of asbestos exposure during the demolition of a former pub in Eccles, Salford.

A1 Property Maintenance Management Limited, acting as the principal contractor on the site of the former Unicorn pub on Liverpool Road, failed to carry out proper safety checks before allowing work to continue, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has said.

The issue came to light following a routine inspection by an HSE inspector on 16 May 2022. During the visit, the inspector discovered that approximately 12 square metres of asbestos insulating board (AIB) had previously been located in a dumb waiter lift shaft—but had already been illegally removed by unknown individuals.

Prior to the inspection, a site worker had noticed the building’s door had been broken into. Upon entering the premises, the worker found suspected asbestos debris near the lift shaft. Although the debris was later removed by a licensed asbestos contractor, the company failed to ensure a comprehensive asbestos assessment had been completed before construction activity resumed.

According to the HSE, A1 Property Maintenance Management Limited breached Regulation 4(6) of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, which requires duty holders to review asbestos assessments without delay if there are significant changes to the premises.

The company pleaded guilty and was fined £5,360, with an additional £5,117 in legal costs, at a hearing held at Tameside Magistrates’ Court last month.

Man Fined Multiple Times Under School Traffic Rules Says Scheme Pushes Congestion Elsewhere

A Derby resident fined three times for breaking traffic rules outside his home has criticised the system, claiming it pushes congestion to nearby streets and is more about making money than improving safety.

Adrian Collis lives on Church Street in Littleover, one of several areas in the city where “school safe haven zones” are in place. These zones restrict vehicle access during school drop-off and pick-up times to reduce traffic, improve safety, and cut air pollution.

While Mr Collis acknowledged the scheme had improved traffic conditions directly on Church Street, he questioned the council’s motives and the wider impact on the area.

“Everyone tries to leave the zone before 8:30am,” he said. “But now people are parking at the top of the street to avoid the fines, and it just causes blockages elsewhere.”

Mr Collis, who has lived on Church Street for 15 years, admitted some of his fines were due to an expired resident permit. “That’s on me,” he said. “But the cynic in me wonders if it’s just another way for the council to make money.”

According to a Freedom of Information request, nearly 28,000 fines have been issued to motorists breaking school zone restrictions across Derby in the past two years, amounting to more than £200,000 in penalties. Each fine costs £70.

Natalie Perera, Chief Executive of the Education Policy Institute (EPI), said: “We need to understand what's driving low attainment for both boys and girls. But we also need to start looking seriously at the reasons behind the decline in girls’ results before it’s too late.”

The discovery prompted the inspector to issue an immediate prohibition notice, halting all work at the site until a full asbestos survey had been conducted.

Sharp Rise in School Racism Suspensions – Some as Young as Four Involved

“I called the teacher again at 8:06 p.m., and they said they were still half an hour away,” Julia said. “When Salvador finally arrived at 8:40 p.m. — more than two hours after the injury — he was in visible pain and shock. When the teachers turned their backs, he started crying.”

In a statement, a PGL spokesperson said guest safety is their “number one priority” and that appropriate steps were taken at the time.

“Within minutes of becoming aware of the situation, a first aider attended the scene, called 999, and followed the advice given by emergency responders,” the statement read. “After being advised that ambulance wait times could be between three to seven hours, it was agreed with the school that a taxi would transport Salvador and a teacher to hospital.”

They also noted that a safety briefing warning students not to jump on furniture had been given shortly before the incident. “Our arrangements with school groups make clear that teachers are responsible for supervision outside of scheduled activities. We are also legally unable to administer medication directly.”

Schools 'Facing Disaster' as 1 in 10 Teachers Plan to Quit Within Two Years

The education system is heading toward a “disaster,” according to a leading teaching union, as new survey data reveals that one in ten teachers are “very likely” to leave the profession by 2027.

The warning comes from Matt Wrack, general secretary of the NASUWT union, who criticised the Labour government for taking “no serious action” to address what he called a deepening crisis in schools.

A survey of 1,782 UK teachers, conducted in June 2025 by ed-tech platform Kahoot, found that:

• 9% of teachers are highly likely to quit within two years — equivalent to around 42,000 teachers in England alone.

• 37% described their workload as overwhelming or unsustainable.

• Only 22% said their workload was manageable.

• A quarter said they lacked enough time for lesson planning.

• Over one-third cited short attention spans (linked to smartphone and social media use) as a major challenge in engaging pupils.

• 21% said large class sizes were the biggest barrier to keeping students focused.

If these departures materialise, they would greatly outnumber the 6,500 additional teachers Labour has pledged to recruit, funded by VAT on private school fees.

Mr Wrack also pointed to rising behavioural issues in schools, which he says are often ignored by leadership, and criticised 14 years of stagnant pay and pension cuts, calling it a “recipe for disaster.”

When asked about the possibility of strike action by NASUWT members, Wrack said it would depend on how the government approaches teacher pay and school funding in the coming months.

Sean D’Arcy, spokesperson for Kahoot, echoed Wrack’s concerns, warning of the added strain on a system already struggling with high class sizes and teacher shortages:

“Teachers are vital to society, shaping young minds and preparing future generations. The fact that so many are considering leaving the profession is alarming.”

Of those surveyed, more than 250 teachers said they were unlikely to still be in the classroom by 2027.

In response to the survey and mounting concerns, a DfE spokesperson said:

“Last year saw one of the lowest teacher attrition rates since 2010. We’ve already added 2,300 more secondary and special school teachers this year as part of our pledge to recruit 6,500 more. We’re also tackling workload, pupil behaviour, and wellbeing, and teachers have seen pay rises of nearly 10% over two years.”

Still, many within the profession argue that much deeper reforms are needed — from reducing class sizes and cutting red tape, to restoring pay and ensuring teachers feel supported, not overburdened.

Without urgent intervention, Mr Wrack warned, the system could face a teacher exodus that puts the quality of education — and pupil outcomes — at risk.

32 Kayakers Rescued After Being Swept Out to Sea on School Trip

A dramatic rescue operation was launched after 32 schoolchildren and adults were swept out into the North Sea during a water sports trip at Cullercoats Bay in North Tyneside.

The group, who were kayaking and paddle-boarding as part of a school outing, got into difficulty when strong offshore winds — measured at force 5 (up to 24 mph) — pushed them away from the safety of the bay. The incident took place around 12:30pm on June 23.

Several lifeboats from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), including crews from Tynemouth, Cullercoats, and Blyth, were deployed. Local fishing boats also assisted in the rescue after reports of a large number of people in distress in open water.

RNLI teams managed to rescue 13 children and five adults directly from the sea, while the remaining members of the group were able to make it back to shore on their own. All individuals were safely accounted for, and one teenager was taken to hospital by ambulance as a precaution.

RNLI teams managed to rescue 13 children and five adults directly from the sea, while the remaining members of the group were able to make it back to shore on their own. All individuals were safely accounted for, and one teenager was taken to hospital by ambulance as a precaution.

Tynemouth RNLI Coxswain Sam Clow explained:

“We were called out to assist 32 people — a mix of children and adults — who had been caught off guard by strong offshore winds. We worked closely with Cullercoats RNLI, lifeguards, and other responders to bring them back safely. Every child we reached was accompanied by an adult, and we were told they followed the right safety steps once they realised they were in trouble.”

Following the rescue, North Tyneside Council confirmed it has launched an investigation to determine if any further safety measures are needed to prevent similar incidents in future. A spokesperson stated:

“There is an ongoing investigation. We can’t provide further comment at this time.”