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Individual journeys, extraordinary futures
Clayesmore possesses a quiet magic – a rare combination of warmth, ambition and opportunity that empowers every child to flourish. At its heart is a deep belief that every child should have the confidence and freedom to discover their own path. Academic ambition sits alongside creative, sporting and personal excellence, with opportunities such as Clayesmore’s unique LEX programme, Model United Nations, Young Enterprise and the Duke of Edinburgh Award developing character, leadership and resilience. Here, pupils are encouraged to explore widely, challenge themselves and discover talents they never knew they had.
Where ambition has no glass ceiling
For nearly 300 years, James Allen’s Girls’ School (JAGS) has been a pioneering force in girls’ education, empowering generations of students to thrive through a forward-thinking approach to learning, opportunity and access. While renowned as London’s oldest independent girls’ school, JAGS continues to look firmly to the future. What began in 1741 in the back room of a Dulwich pub has grown into one of the country’s leading schools, while remaining true to James Allen’s original mission to challenge inequality and expand opportunity. The enduring value of outstanding girls’ schools remains clear The decision to educate girls was a radical one in its day; three centuries later, that spirit continues to shape the school.
Recovering a sense of purpose
The independent school world is changing at pace. Hardly a week passes without news of another closure or merger. The narrative is unrelentingly negative: we blame a hostile government, take defensive action and hope it will all work out, without really believing it will. Managed decline. John Moule There is another way. We should look to ourselves and tell a better story. Practically, we must seize the opportunities that come with challenge and be confident about what we can achieve. Fundamentally, we must remind ourselves what charitable independent education has been — and should be — about. We are assailed by taxation and regulation.
Natural England shouldn’t be above the law
A High Court ruling has found that conditions imposed by Natural England (NE) on game shoots were ‘irrational’ and ‘misinterpreting the scope of their powers’. The British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) brought the case, arguing that approach had created significant uncertainty for shoots – even forcing some to close. Handing down judgment at the Royal Courts of Justice, the Court found NE had acted unlawfully by adopting an interpretation of ‘release’ that exceeded the meaning of the legislation enacted by Parliament. The Court ruled that NE cannot impose conditions preventing the keeping of gamebirds on site prior to release.
How to watch the World Cup with ExpressVPN
For football fans keen to soak up the atmosphere of the 2026 Fifa World Cup, it’s hard to beat being there. But if travelling to the US, Canada and Mexico is off the cards, there’s a trick to help you get the next best thing at home. With ExpressVPN – an official supporter of the Fifa World Cup – you can watch local coverage of the tournament from anywhere in the world, without leaving the UK. Enjoy America’s commentators, Canada’s half-time discussions or Mexico’s post-match analysis, with no flights, tickets or sky-high hotel bills to deal with. Most broadcast and streaming services are geo-blocked, meaning they can only be accessed from specific locations.
Ettinger’s guide to packing the essentials
A long weekend is a peculiarly British art form: just enough time to escape, but not quite long enough to justify overpacking. The seasoned traveller knows that restraint, paired with the right accessories, is the key to arriving both prepared and unburdened. The secret lies not in how much you bring, but in how well you choose it. Start, as ever, with the bag. A proper weekend holdall sets the tone, and few do it better than the Ettinger Cotswold Weekend Bag. Crafted with a reassuring solidity and understated elegance, it encourages discipline. Its capacity is generous without being cavernous, which is precisely the point — it gently insists that you edit your wardrobe to the essentials.
Join KYN at their exclusive London events
For those seeking something beyond the conventional, KYN offers a transformative approach to post-surgery care and later-life living. With residences that feel like private homes, and a philosophy rooted in dignity, autonomy and warmth, KYN sets a new benchmark in care. KYN’s pioneering approach to care is built on a foundation of clinical excellence, holistic wellbeing and advanced nutrition. This is elevated through a life enrichment and wellbeing programme, innovative technology and beautiful, homely interiors delivered with unobtrusive hospitality. Spectator readers are invited to attend one of KYN’s refined and informative specialist events this summer.
Building the future, grounded in the past
While Sherborne Schools have thrived in our honey-coloured buildings for 1,300 years, we have always felt slightly ahead of the curve, happily steering away from any short-term, educational fads. We have educated tens of thousands of forward-thinking pupils, from actors, generals and musicians, to scientists, business leaders and global figures, male and female. But we are especially proud this year to be celebrating the 100th anniversary of the arrival at Sherborne of Alan Turing, who, thanks to his pioneering work in computing, did as much as anyone to influence the world in which we live. To honour him and to further Sherborne Schools Group’s reputation as a first mover in education, we are launching an initiative in Turing’s name to nurture the next generation of technologists.
How a family-owned tailor created fashion’s most famous street
As Henry Poole & Co celebrates its 220th anniversary, we reflect on the people, patronage and craftsmanship that have shaped our house since 1806. James Poole was born in Shropshire, around 1782. In January 1806, he arrived in London at a moment of national mourning. The funeral of Horatio Nelson had just taken place, and the capital was filled with the splendour of naval and military dress. Establishing himself in Everett Street behind Bloomsbury Square as a linen and mantua draper, he quickly turned his attention to military uniforms. The exquisite quality of his work brought him to prominence, and he became known for producing finely cut, regulation-perfect uniforms at a time when precision and presentation were paramount. Henry Poole & Co.
We’re delivering a smoke-free future, today
At Philip Morris International, our mission is clear: To reduce smoking by replacing cigarettes with better smoke-free alternatives for legal-age consumers. Learn more at PMI.
Digital IDs and how ExpressVPN can protect your privacy online
Britain is gearing up for the age of the digital ID. While the government recently backtracked on plans to make digital ID mandatory for everyone working in the UK, the £1.8 billion scheme hasn’t gone away: planning is ongoing for a ‘voluntary’ programme to be rolled out by 2029, with a public consultation expected to take place this year. The government claims that ‘digital identity systems can offer efficiency, fraud reduction and privacy protection’. But critics have warned that they come with significant risks, including data breaches, surveillance, user profiling and function creep (where a ‘voluntary’ digital ID becomes compulsory in more scenarios than expected).
A retirement roadmap
Planning in your thirties and forties Retirement may seem like a lifetime away, but the earlier you can start paying into a pension, the better. Get into the habit of paying into your pension and get to grips with the basics of planning for retirement. If a company employs you, they are legally obliged to pay into a pension for you, and you’ll also have to pay in a set amount too. The government tops up these payments. An Isa can be a tax-efficient way of saving for the future. In particular, stocks and shares Isas can be a powerful way to supplement your pension pot, offering the potential for higher returns over time, without having to pay tax on the growth.
Getting Ahead for Society
GSK is committed to transforming healthcare by focusing on prevention. In collaboration with the NHS and Government, GSK aims to shift the focus from sickness to prevention, aligning with the Government’s 10-year plan. Through science, innovation, and strategic partnerships, GSK is developing medicines and vaccines, advancing research, and investing in early detection and education to help get ahead of illness. Health Challenges Facing the UK Neale Belson, General Manager, GSK in the UK The UK faces a growing burden of preventable illnesses, threatening both lives and NHS sustainability. Conditions like respiratory diseases, cancer, and antimicrobial-resistant infections are increasing pressure on services, costing billions annually and reducing quality of life for millions.
Move over private members’ clubs: the future of care homes
KYN has set a new benchmark for later life, delivering unrivalled care in beautiful, high-functioning homes filled with warmth and dignity. KYN’s ethos was informed by the founding team’s personal experiences with their families' quest for care. The approach to care means a deep consideration of who residents truly are: what interests them, what has shaped them, what inspires, nurtures and strengthens them. Each team member in each home makes it their mission to know each resident as a biographer would research their subject. Taking its name from the old English saying of one’s ‘kith and kin’ – your friends and family – belonging at KYN means being cared for in a way that makes you feel truly seen and understood as an individual.
‘Let’s be open-minded about hydrogen’
The 2018 film First Man is a spectacular story about Neil Armstrong and how the USA rose to the challenge of putting man on the moon. Humanity thrives on setting challenges and then doing everything possible to meet them. We stretch our technological knowledge, and we invest enormous sums into research and development. Dr Steffen Hoffmann, Managing Director, Bosch UK & Ireland As the film depicts so brilliantly, when these challenges are met, it’s a thrilling moment. When Armstrong walked on the Moon in 1969, millions of people around the world shared the sense of triumph and benefited from the technological innovations that made it possible for decades after.
How ExpressVPN can protect you from identity theft
Identity theft is a serious and growing problem in the UK, with more than 118,000 cases reported in the first six months of this year alone. Last year, the National Fraud Database logged the highest number of fraud cases on record, and identity theft made up the single biggest category – due in part to AI driving more sophisticated and harder-to-spot schemes. The consequences of identity theft can be severe, including unauthorised accounts being opened, loans taken out or insurance claims made in your name. This can affect your financial affairs, hurt your credit score and even have legal repercussions.
How you could save money with ExpressVPN
Since the Online Safety Act came into force in the UK, there has been a surge in the popularity of VPNs, or virtual private networks. These offer a simple and legal way to browse the internet privately, safely and anonymously. But VPNs come with a host of surprising other advantages, too – from cheaper holidays and streaming to exclusive sports and games. VPNs work by disguising where the user is accessing the internet from – allowing UK-only restrictions to be bypassed. You install the VPN, connect it to your choice of servers outside the UK, and then head to whatever website you want to visit. This means no demands for your ID documents in the age of the Online Safety Act – but it also means you can unlock a whole world of unexpected benefits and deals.
Latest from Coffee House
The BBC has been up to its old tricks – again
I do a fair number of interviews these days – television, radio, podcasts, panels, my own interview series – across several countries and formats, mostly on subjects I also write about here or elsewhere. Back when old-fashioned media was king, more of that work was traditional broadcast, and the BBC was the king of kings. They used to call on me semi-regularly, usually to talk about Israel or about Jews. Then, almost exactly on 7 October 2023, it stopped. The very topics they had liked me for became the biggest international story in a generation, and the phone went quiet. No explanation was offered and none is owed. It is entirely their prerogative.
The lesson Cambridge should – but won’t – learn from Jason Arday
With the Jason Arday episode set to become one of the most important and symbolic stories of the year, and his death one of its foremost tragedies, it is appropriate and timely that there should be an investigation into the whole sorry affair. As Cambridge University announced on Friday, it will launch a two-part investigation into whether it could have done more to support the professor, who was found dead at an address in south London on 14 August, a week after he resigned as professor of sociology of education at the university.
How the AfD made history by winning in Saxony-Anhalt
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) is on the verge of leading a state government for the first time in history. According to the preliminary results announced on Monday morning, the AfD achieved 43.8 per cent in the state election of Saxony-Anhalt, more than doubling their voter share compared to the previous election in the state in 2021. The AfD achieved 43.8 per cent in the state election of Saxony-Anhalt, more than doubling their voter share Meanwhile, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), the party of chancellor Friedrich Merz, lost 20 per cent and fell to 17.2. The election result from Sunday is not only damaging to the CDU, but to all historically established parties in Germany. They might not be able to prevent the AfD from governing for the first time.
The triumph of Giorgia Meloni
Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing government this weekend became the longest surviving Italian government since the fall of fascism in 1945. It is a remarkable achievement for a woman who identifies as a conservative, but who has been relentlessly branded as “the heir to Mussolini” and a far-right threat to democracy because she was once a post-fascist. Regardless, Italy’s first female prime minister has become the standard bearer of the European right as the people of Europe continue to pivot right. Elections next year look likely to bring the right to power in both France and Spain.
The proof that Cambridge’s Jason Arday inquiry will be a whitewash
Cambridge University’s “independent inquiry” into the events around Jason Arday appears already to have decided what its outcome will be. We can say this for a few reasons. The first is a small, but critical, difference between two statements about the inquiry made by the university on Friday. One was a message to students and staff from the Vice-Chancellor, Deborah Prentice. This said that the second part of the inquiry would include a “broader review… of the support available to academics who are subjected to excessive public and media scrutiny.” It just won’t do.
Sunday shows round-up: Farage on donation sting: ‘I frankly wasn’t even listening’
Two of Nigel Farage’s senior aides have been forced to step down after an undercover team from the investigative group Verbatim filmed them arranging for a US company to pay for opinion polls commissioned by Reform. Nigel Farage was also recorded in some of the footage, thanking the would-be donors. The team from Verbatim say they were in conversations with Reform for a year before eventually meeting with Farage. In an interview with Farage, Laura Kuenssberg asked whether he knew that it was illegal for foreign firms to donate to political parties. Farage said, ‘of course I know that’ and claimed that he was told the money was going through a ‘family office based in the UK’.