Peter Searby, who has died aged 93, began his working life as a school teacher and later became a lecturer in history at the University of Cambridge and a fellow of Fitzwilliam College. There he embarked on the 10-year effort that resulted in the publication in 1997 of A History of the University of Cambridge, Vol. III, 1750-1870, a magisterial account of the university’s development during a period of unprecedented change ..read more

Rishi Sunak warns of ‘unacceptable rise’ as Gaza protests escalate and 10 students vow to go on hunger strike University bosses are to attend a Downing Street summit to discuss antisemitism on campuses, as Palestinian solidarity protests continue to escalate at UK universities, with 10 students now vowing to go on hunger strike. Rishi Sunak told his cabinet on Tuesday that there had been an “unacceptable rise in antisemitism” on campuses and vice-chancellors would meet to talk about “the need for our universities to be safe for our Jewish students ..read more

As a bloke, I have been met with disbelief and suspicion when I’ve applied for part-time work. Didn’t I realise this was women’s work? The job I was applying for was three days a week. It was a backwards step, career-wise, but the hours were attractive. By that I mean that the role’s part-time nature would allow me to . I could keep up with all that important driving and shouting that comprises a career as primary caregiver – the constant shuttling from school to ballet to football to dentist and, more generally, the endless forcing of kids to do things that they will really enjoy ..read more

Academics warn loss of higher education arts and humanities courses will harm understanding of racism and imperial history Cuts to arts and humanities subjects within higher education will have damaging implications for our understanding of race and colonialism, academics have warned. Petitions have been launched to save anthropology at Kent University, where the subject has come under threat of closure, while Oxford Brookes confirmed the closure of its music programme earlier this year ..read more

Staff offer support to protesters as locals donate food, drink, bedding and books The collection of 12 tents pitched in a soggy garden at the heart of Bristol university’s campus is on a much smaller scale than the Palestine solidarity encampments sweeping the US. But the outrage at what this new generation of student activists regard as the complicity of education institutions in Israel’s assault on Gaza is just as raw. “It makes me feel sick to my stomach,” said Olivia [not her real name], a second-year student at the university, outside the camp on Friday. “I feel deeply disgusted and asham ..read more

Union to campaign against single-phrase Ofsted judgments, threatening possible strike action Headteachers in England are to launch a campaign for the abolition of “inhumane and unreliable” single-phrase school inspection judgments, threatening legal challenges and possible strike action if the government refuses reforms. Delegates to the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) annual conference committed the union “to explore all campaign, legal and industrial routes to secure necessary changes to inspection to safeguard leaders’ lives,” after the suicide last year of the headteacher Ruth ..read more

Survey by NAHT union finds funding shortages mean pupils are losing out on vital support Shortages and funding cuts are causing a “full-blown crisis” in special needs education for children and young people in England, according to school leaders who say they are struggling to give pupils the support they require. Paul Whiteman, the general secretary of the school leaders’ union the NAHT, accused the government of treating schools as a “sideline” compared with headline-grabbing issues such as immigration ..read more

PM backs action in case of disorder on campuses after claims that pro-Palestinian protests create hostile atmosphere The prime minister has backed a police crackdown on any outbreak of disorder on university campuses after Jewish students said pro-Palestinian encampments were creating a “hostile and toxic atmosphere”. In recent days, new encampments have been set up at the universities of Manchester, Sheffield, Bristol and Newcastle, among others, after violent scenes on US campuses resulted in mass arrests of students and staff ..read more

Janet Jones, Hilary Brown and Martin Wynn respond to a report of headteachers being forced to unblock toilets after losing janitors to budget cuts The report of headteachers unblocking toilets after losing school caretakers to budget cuts (28 April) reminded me of my recent research in the logbooks of St Mary’s Church of England primary school in Fownhope, Herefordshire, shortly after the passing of Forster’s 1870 Education Act. An entry in May 1878 records that, following complaints from the neighbourhood, the boys were set to work by the headmaster and “gave all the school closets a thorough ..read more

We would like to hear from students in the UK and other countries in Europe attending universities where demonstrations are taking place Students at UK universities are protesting over the war in Gaza, following a wave of demonstrations on US campuses that have been met with police crackdowns. With students at universities including Sciences Po in Paris staging a number of protests over the war, we would like to hear from students at universities in the UK and other countries in Europe where protests are taking place. We would like to hear from those who are participating as well as those who ..read more