Apprenticeships Spotlight: York College & University Centre was praised as the UK’s best for apprenticeship delivery after Barratt Redrow’s accelerated bricklaying and site carpentry programmes hit an 81% success rate. Higher Education Policy: Universities could lose the right to recruit international students if visa abuse is suspected, with tougher sponsorship rules including higher course completion and enrolment thresholds. Research Funding Focus: Universities UK and Elsevier are teaming up to map how UK university research supports government priority sectors, aiming to make research strengths easier to see for policy and funders. Student Value Debate: Despite a gloomy graduate jobs market, a new report argues university still matters—while noting youth unemployment and weaker graduate hiring are making the “degree pays” message harder to sell. Safeguarding & Safety: Armed police attended reports of a group with weapons outside Erdington Academy in Birmingham; no weapons were found and CCTV/witness checks are ongoing. School Funding Pressure: Maney Hill Primary in Sutton Coldfield is consulting on ending Friday classes at lunchtime to save money and avoid job cuts. Child Transport: A Midlothian mum says a bus driver confiscated her daughter’s bus pass, leaving her to walk to school alone. Health in Early Years: Northern Ireland’s Nurse of the Year helped drive “zero-fail” screening for preventable blindness in premature babies. Ofsted Updates: Greater Manchester’s new-style Ofsted “report cards” are rolling out, with detailed grades and safeguarding status across recent inspections.