Nearly a million young people in the UK are unemployed, with many leaving school without basic literacy, numeracy or qualifications. The crisis is not only within classrooms but across the wider system that supports youth. International models show what works: Finland’s early literacy interventions, Germany’s respected dual apprenticeship system, Norway’s integrated youth hubs and Estonia’s forward-thinking digital curriculum. By adapting these, the UK can close education gaps and offer meaningful pathways into work and higher learning.

The article argues that reforms must go beyond piecemeal fixes. Education should prepare young people not just for exams, but for a world shaped by AI, automation and rapid technological change. Core subjects remain essential, but creativity, critical thinking, financial literacy and digital skills are equally vital. By learning from abroad and integrating services around education, the UK can build a coherent system that values all learners and ensures no young person is left behind.

Discover how scrolling has quietly become a trap. This article unpacks the psychological, political and societal effects of social media, touching on mental health, growing inequality and the fading promise of inclusion in digital spaces.

On the 80th anniversary of VE Day, a young British woman of Caribbean heritage reflects on the meaning of national pride, sacrifice and belonging. While she honours the courage of those who fought in WWII, she questions whether she could ever fight for a country that still sees her as an outsider. Amid rising inequality and cultural division, her story is a powerful call for healing, representation and a more inclusive Britain.

This first-person account tells the story of a young woman from Manchester who, despite working hard and building a professional career, finds herself stuck in a cycle of redundancy, low pay and debt. She reflects on how class background, gender, race and lack of structural support have shaped her journey, raising important questions about whether true social mobility in the UK is really possible. Her story offers insight into the reality of the benefits system and what real support for working-class people should look like.