Your student child’s success at university depends on various factors, such as independent study, time management, personal hygiene, and maintaining a healthy diet. Although the dropout rates have slightly increased to 6%, most students still have a happy and successful time at university, according to the Social Market Foundation. Universities are now focusing on mental health since the number of students seeking counselling has doubled in some institutions. Furthermore, 25% of students have reported experiencing depression, anxiety, or related conditions, according to YouGov. Karen Levi, a university lecturer, suggests concentrating on building a social life in the first month rather than academics. Her son struggled to bond with his flatmates…

The Menstrual Joy Questionnaire was first introduced in 1987 as part of the book, The Curse: A Cultural History of Menstruation, written by Janice Delaney, Mary Jane Lupton, and Emily Toth. The authors created the questionnaire in response to the more somber Menstrual Distress Questionnaire created 19 years earlier by Rudolf H Moos from Stanford University. Unlike Moos, who primarily researched depression and had little personal experience with menstrual emotions, Delaney, Lupton, and Toth utilized their personal experiences and extensive literary knowledge to craft an upbeat and simple questionnaire. The Menstrual Joy Questionnaire consists of 10 questions that probe into a person’s menstrual experiences, including high spirits, increased sexual desire,…

The infamous headline "Fog in the Channel – Europe cut off" is no longer relevant. However, the Channel still appears substantial to many and is comparable to the "pond," the term anglomania enthusiasts use to describe the Atlantic and the "special relationship" between Britain and America. This is particularly true in universities, where Britain perceives itself as having little to learn from the rest of Europe and, instead, claims to be the leading force in shaping the continent’s academic landscape. The United States, on the other hand, receives unwarranted admiration from the UK, which fails to see that some of the world’s worst universities also exist in America. British higher…

Sussex University has suspended five students who were allegedly involved in the recent occupation of Bramber House, citing "disruptive and intimidating behaviour." The suspended students have been banned from campus, and the decision has led to an online petition that has received over 3,200 signatures, criticism from MPs on Twitter, and a planned protest. The Farthing Five, including Adriano Marotta and Hichem Maafi, have been labelled as such on Twitter. Labour MP John McDonnell has supported the online petition and says he will be tabling an early day motion in parliament. One of the suspended students, Michael Segalov, said he doesn’t understand what he’s done and that the university hasn’t…

As the head of Eleanor Palmer primary school in north London, I understand the importance of choosing the right school for your child. From my personal experience and observations, I can offer some advice to parents who are in the midst of this fundamental decision. Firstly, I cannot stress enough the significance of visiting the school during the daytime. While open evenings can be helpful, they do not show the school running under its typical routine. It is crucial to see a school functioning normally to get a genuine sense of what it is like. Arrange appointments to visit with your child and look closely at what is happening around…

Before deciding to embark on further education, the first step is to determine whether you would like to study full-time or combine work and study. Depending on your preferred learning style, there are a range of qualification options available. If you are someone who enjoys academic, paper-based learning, then A-levels, the International Baccalaureate or the Welsh baccalaureate might be the best choice for you. Alternatively, if you prefer practical, hands-on learning combined with theory, the new diploma or BTec may be better suited for you and could even be combined with your A-level studies. One should note that ministers have cautioned in April that certain qualifications such as City and…

This coming Sunday evening, over 100 highly intellectual professors from Oxford, known as "dons," will engage in a peculiar ceremony within a college quad involving a duck on a stick and singing of the infamous "It was a swapping, swapping mallard" song. The Mallard ceremony is a rare event that takes place every hundred years at All Souls College, which boasts 75 fellows but no students. Dated back to the 17th century, the ceremony involves carrying the Lord Mallard on a chair amid a torchlight procession while singing the Mallard song, including a chorus that everyone can partake in. In addition to the current fellows of the college, some former…

Dame Pat Collarbone, as the Director of the National Remodelling Team (NRT), established by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES), has been tasked to execute a three-year program to reform the school workforce. However, she does not approve of the use of the phrase “workforce remodelling” as it indicates that schools will merely follow the changes imposed upon them. Instead, Collarbone is promoting the idea that schools must take an active role in driving the changes forward and this action will be done by using the expertise of their staff to formulate ideas and come up with better policies. Although the government claimed that they have involved more teachers…

I have brought a mirror. Have you? Yes, I have. Just in case. In case of what? In case we need it for reflexology. Yes, this is the reflexology course. Isn’t reflexology done only with mirrors? Not exactly. Reflexology involves stimulating reflex areas in the feet, hands, or ears that correspond to every gland, organ, and part of the body. What’s the purpose of reflexology? Correct stimulation of reflex areas helps to relax the body, reducing stress and tension. It helps normalize the body’s functioning, revitalizes, and enhances your total health by facilitating the body’s natural self-healing process. Sounds like one of those new-fangled alternative methods. Actually, reflexology has been…

As with most glassmakers, my entry into the industry was serendipitous. However, I have since discovered my passion and cannot imagine doing anything else. Each day presents a new challenge and opportunity for growth, even if one has been in the field for years. Prior to becoming an apprentice at Bristol Blue Glass, I completed a two-year diploma in video game design and another two-year diploma in creative arts. During this time, I worked as a cleaner to support myself. My friend, Reece, had studied business and had started working at Bristol Blue Glass where he soon developed a talent for glassblowing. The photographs he showed me of his creations…