A country property that has hit the market in North Yorkshire may be the ultimate animal lovers’ pad. 

The five-bed detached house in Galphay near Ripon not only has plenty of space for four-legged friends to roam, but also a range of features designed to pamper pets. 

It spans more than 8,000 sq ft, sits in six acres of grounds and has extensive equestrian facilities. 

This includes paddocks and a manege – the term for an indoor riding arena. 

It also has five stables, a tack room and a horse wash – a dedicated area for hosing down horses. 

The property, which is on sale for £3.75million, also features a heated dog kennel. 

No expense has been spared on the property’s interior, which comes with a pool, plunge ice bath, cinema room and a games room. 

The house has a large luxury open-plan living, kitchen and dining room with exposed beams and floor-to-ceiling windows. 

The bespoke fitted kitchen is equipped with high-end integrated appliances, a central island and breakfast bar. 

It is being sold by agents at Fine and Country and is offered fully furnished.  

The main bedroom is on the ground floor and has bi-folding doors that open out to the garden, a dressing room with fitted wardrobes, and an ensuite. There are five bathrooms in the property in total. 

A connecting hallway leads to the right wing of the property, where there is a gym, swimming pool, sauna, and shower. Two of the bedrooms are in this wing and one has an outdoor terrace leading to the garden. 

Via a spiral staircase there is a cinema room, a built-in cocktail bar, a home office, and a five-metre viewing window overlooking the swimming pool below. 

A large garage outside is currently being used as a gym, games room, and ‘entertainment suite’. 

In the garden there are multiple patio areas, expansive lawns, a hot tub, and a plunge ice bath. 

The villages of Grantley and Kirkby Malzeard are a short drive away and the city of Ripon is about a 15 minute drive away. 

Down time: The property has a cosy cinema room and cocktail bar area 

Vast: The house has a large games room… and spot the car in the background 

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Turnkey condition: The house is being offered furnished and has been renovated throughout 

Stunning: The main bedroom has an extensive walk-in wardrobe and dressing space 

Live in luxury: You can live like a hotel guest in your very own luxury home 

Space: The house spans more than 8,000 sq ft and has five bedrooms and five bathrooms 

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Equestrian perks: The property comes with stables and extensive equestrian facilities 

Fun outdoors: There is an ice plunge pool outside and plenty of outdoor entertaining space

Move-in ready: The property boasts countryside views and is ready to move straight into 

Louise Smith, branch manager, Fine & Country Wetherby, told This is Money: ‘We expect the property to appeal to families who want the countryside and the equestrian side without giving up village life – the pub is a two-minute walk, there are primary schools in the neighbouring villages and a strong choice of secondary and independent education within easy reach in Ripon and Harrogate. 

‘The layout also lends itself to multi-generational living, with the wings giving extended families their own space under one roof.’

The typical British home increased in value by £5,000 in the year to June, recent official figures showed.

The average house price rose by 2 per cent year-on-year, according to the latest HM Land Registry data. 

This was a decline compared to April and May, when prices had risen by 4 per cent and 3 per cent respectively.  

House price growth has been weaker in early summer 2026 than it was in the same period last year. 

Average prices rose by just 0.1 per cent between May and June this year, compared with a 1 per cent increase in the same period a year ago.

However, the property industry is hopeful that the market will rebound in September.  

In previous years, Liberty has kicked off the advent proceedings at the end of July, with most retailers and brands following suit into August and September. In 2026, however, a glut of beauty advent calendars dropped in July, including Harrods, Lush, Tatcha and Fortnum and Mason. The majority of other advents were subsequently revealed – in one way or another, with some brands still holding exact product rosters close to their chests – through the first week of August. As it stands, only Selfridges is left among the big four London department stores (together with Harvey Nichols, Harrods and Liberty) to unveil its 2026 Christmas countdown.

In short, yes, beauty advent calendars are always worth more than what you’ll pay; however, you have to consider whether they’ll be worth it for you personally. I’ve been diving into the best beauty advent calendars since 2015 (my first was from M&S) and I can say with confidence that some brands undoubtedly offer a better haul than others. Key things to consider are:

• Do you travel a lot – Minis are part and parcel of a beauty advent calendar, so having a place to use them will be key.
• Are you unsure where to start in your skincare, haircare or make-up routine – Minis can also be a great way to introduce yourself to premium brands without forking out so much initially
• Do you have the time – With everything from face masks to hair bonding treatments within, these products will seriously level up your beauty regimen, but you’ll need to set aside an extra five or ten minutes to use them
• What’s your budget – If you’re looking to spend less than £100, you’ll definitely have less big-name brands to choose from your haul. I recommend tallying up the cost of the products you like the look of to ensure you’re getting more than £100 of value from those formulas specifically. Extra products aren’t valuable if you won’t use them.

Beauty advent calendars can range in price from £40 to £650, with brands such as Revolution (£37.50, Boots.com) sitting at the lower end, and luxury perfumers like Byredo in the premium price category. More typically, the core beauty advent calendars (from Boots to Harrods) cost between £100 and £285 – though I’d argue you don’t need to spend more than £250 to take home a seriously spectacular haul.

While there are calendars from make-up brands such as W7 (approximately £24) that offer beauty advent calendars below £30, I’d recommend looking to the likes of Revolution (£37.50, Boots.com), Soap and Glory (£43.20, Boots.com) and Boots x Macmillan (£44, Boots.com) for more exciting yet affordable products.

For instance, W7 mimics packaging from Charlotte Tilbury and Estee Lauder products – to name a few – but doesn’t *actually* replicate the formula. However the Boots x Macmillan calendar boasts best-selling brands including Liz Earle and No7. After all, if your calendar costs less but you never use the products within, have you really saved money?

In 2025 the Space NK beauty advent calendar was arguably the most popular and sold out within a few weeks of its September launch. In fact, in previous years it was reported that two Space NK advent calendars sold every minute after its release. Following closely behind the Cult Beauty advent calendar is always a best-seller and, this year, the Harrods fragrance advent calendar has already sold out, so I’m expecting the retailer’s main beauty offering to run out of stock in the coming weeks, too.

As a senior shopping writer, this will be Lucy Smith’s third year reviewing the best beauty advent calendars for IndyBest. Prior to her professional coverage, Lucy has been purchasing beauty advents from M&S, The White Company and more since 2015, putting her experience in the category at more than 10 years. Elsewhere, Lucy covers all the latest beauty launches – such as the Dyson supersonic travel dryer – year round, so she knows what the must-have products of 2026 are for this year’s advent offering. Plus, having reviewed everything from the best foundations to the best hyaluronic acid, she’s well versed in the brands that pop (and the ones that flop), so you can trust that her round-up of the best beauty advent calendars for 2026 isn’t full of hot air.

Read more: I’m a beauty addict and the John Lewis 2026 advent could be my favourite of the year

By IMOGEN GARFINKEL – SENIOR FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER

Published: 08:07 BST, 21 August 2026 | Updated: 09:40 BST, 21 August 2026

Fourteen people fled the restaurant with some seriously wounded

A fire at a restaurant blaze in a European tourist spot has left five people unaccounted for, with eight injured. The incident happened at a building housing a Portuguese eatery called Beverin, in Thusis, Switzerland.

The fire started after midnight this morning (August 21), reports The Mirror. Almost 100 firefighters raced to the scene where the building’s roof was forced open with a crane after the staircase collapsed.

Fourteen people were able to flee the restaurant but eight have sustained injuries, including two who are thought to be seriously wounded, two moderately, and four slightly. The cause of the fire unknown yet but it is believed to have broken out in the building’s second floor.

Accommodation and food has been offered by officials in the Thusis municipality to anyone impacted by the inferno. It sparked a response from multiple fire crews, including those based in Cazis, Oberer Heinzenberg, Ems Chemie, and Albula.

The Alpine Graubünden region is a much-loved holiday destination for winter sports and summer nature activities. Police are reportedly investigating the cause of the fire.

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Having matched Martin’s 32 stoppages, Serrano believes returning to two-minute rounds for this 12-round bout could deliver the finish.

“We all want a knockout,” she says. “With the two minutes, I get to give it my all. It’s so much higher pace than three minutes. I can just give everything.”

Beyond Friday, the curtain is coming down. Serrano has mapped out a solitary farewell in Puerto Rico, targeted for later this year or early 2027.

While former undisputed super-bantamweight champion Ellie Scotney has moved up to featherweight and is targeting Serrano, the reigning champion remains focused on her exit strategy.

She has already begun guiding the next generation under MVP, managing talents like Krista Rosado and Alexis Chaparro.

“I love Ellie as a person, and as a fighter she’s great, but right now I’m concentrating on this fight,” Serrano says.

“Seventeen years, I’ve accomplished what I wanted. Now it’s time to enjoy the sport from the other side, watching them.”

Fittingly, long-time rival Taylor is also preparing for her own farewell against Flora Pili at Dublin’s Croke Park on 5 September.

“I already fought my dream opponent three times,” Serrano smiles. “Retiring so close together, we might share the Hall of Fame together.

“I wouldn’t be prouder than to share that moment with Katie Taylor. She’s a great champion and a great human being.”

Britain’s strictest head mistress has proved her critics wrong yet again with top GCSE results to rival Eton despite serving one of the capital’s most deprived areas.

Katharine Birbalsingh, head of Michaela Community School in Brent, north London, is celebrating more than 50 per cent of her entries being grade 9 – ten times the national average of 5 per cent.

In addition, 82 per cent of all grades were at least a 7 – the equivalent of the old A – compared with around 22 per cent nationwide.

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, she said: ‘I’m delighted. The teamwork at Michaela between the teachers and the kids, and the love that the staff have for the children, is what pulls them through. 

‘It means the kids are able to really hit their potential in ways that people wouldn’t possibly imagine. 

‘Every year I’m astonished by how well we do. It seems so unbelievable, for example, that it’s possible to get 50 per cent grade 9s. I feel really proud to be leading a school which is able to demonstrate what’s possible in the inner city.’  

Eton College, in Windsor, has not published its results yet this year, but in 2025 61.9 per cent of its grades were 9, and 94 per cent were at least a 7. 

The fact that Michaela’s results are not far behind is all the more remarkable because, unlike Eton, it has no entrance exam and has a completely ‘comprehensive’, mixed ability intake.

Katharine Birbalsingh, head of Michaela Community School in Brent, North London, (pictured) is celebrating more than 50 per cent of her entries being grade 9 – ten times the national average of 5 per cent

Some 82 per cent of Michaela entries got at least a grade 7 – the equivalent of the old A – compared with around 22 per cent nationwide (pictured: a pupil receives her results at Michaela)

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A pupil at Michaela reacts as she opens her results envelope

A pupil at Michaela reacts as she opens her results envelope

And while Eton, which has educated 20 British Prime Ministers as well as Princes William and Harry, charges fees of more than £65,000 per year, Michaela receives a fraction of this from the Government for each child. 

Ms Birbalsingh added: ‘Our results are certainly in the range of private schools. Even though we have no trees and no grass, no fields. We have no sports hall. We don’t even have a car park.

‘But rather than concentrating on what we don’t have, or each child thinking about the boys at Eton having it better, we think, “how can I make the most of what I’ve got”.

‘The whole school is emblematic of that and for the kids that idea is rooted in their souls.’

Ms Birbalsingh spoke as hundreds of thousands of pupils across the UK collected their GCSE results yesterday, with England giving grades on the 9-1 scale and Wales and Northern Ireland retaining the old A*-G system.

Four-fifths of Michaela pupils achieved at least one grade 9, and nearly one-fifth achieved eight or more grade 9s.

Meanwhile, 99 per cent of all GCSE grades at the school were 4 to 9, and 98 per cent were 5 to 9.

Ms Birbalsingh, 53, earned her moniker of ‘Britain’s strictest head mistress’ because of her focus on discipline, uniform and core academic subjects.

However, despite routinely delivering fantastic results, she has been a target for criticism from the Left for her traditional, ‘no excuses’ approach.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, she revealed A-level and GCSE results days are when she gets the most ‘hate’ on social media, mostly from teachers at other schools.

‘Every year in August, they go mad attacking us,’ she said. ‘It’s when our results come out that we get the most hate.’

Ms Birbalsingh congratulated her pupils on X yesterday morning

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Last week, on A-level results day, Ms Birbalsingh posted her results on X along with some videos of her pupils opening their envelopes.

‘Their problem last week was that I was celebrating,’ she said. ‘How dare I celebrate? It’s just insane. I put out a few videos saying, “Hooray, these kids have got these results. Isn’t it nice.”

‘They’d say I was crowing. But ultimately, it’s rooted in the fact that I’m very vocal about the fact that I think traditionalism works, that I think children need to be held to account, that I believe in strong discipline, and I believe in the adult being the authority in the room.

‘They don’t like that. And so, when we do well, and it sort of proves that traditionalism works, they don’t like it.’

It’s not a new phenomenon for Ms Birbalsingh, who has battled critics ever since she set up Michaela, an academy, in 2014 under the then Tory Government’s free schools programme.

The Oxford graduate, who was born in New Zealand and grew up in Canada, taught in tough inner London schools and became disillusioned with the education system.

She came to public attention at the Tory party conference in 2010 when she hit out at the low standards in Britain’s schools – causing her to fall out of favour with her own boss at the time.

Asked how it has felt facing down constant criticism over the years, she said: ‘Well, it’s not nice. Obviously, one doesn’t like being hated.

‘Especially when all I’m doing is trying to show people what works.

‘But we get 1,000 [teacher] visitors every year. So it’s not the case that all teachers are like this.

‘I have to say, the majority of teachers quietly come and visit us and learn from what we do and take those ideas back to their classrooms. And good for them.

‘But there are just some very loud teachers on X who are just constantly criticizing.’

A Michaela pupil celebrates his results

A Michaela pupil reacts as she opens her envelope

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Two friends at Michaela celebrate their results

A student showcases his grades

A pupil receives a hug for top results

Ms Birbalsingh pointed out that her core principles would not have been considered controversial 40 years ago – but in recent decades they have fallen out of fashion.

These ‘small c conservative values’ include ‘taking personal responsibility’, ‘duty towards others’, ‘sacrificing what’s important to you for the sake of the whole’, and ‘being part of a team’.

She added: ‘Young people these days are encouraged to embrace a sense of victimhood and to see themselves as oppressed by various powers, and as a member of a particular victim group.

‘We reject all of that wholesale and very much believe in jumping over the obstacles that are in front of us. We’re not constantly comparing ourselves to those who have more than us.

‘And I think that that attitude of taking personal responsibility means that, in the end we’re more likely to succeed because there’s a real positivity and an energy in the school that propels us forwards.’

Her views are at odds with those of the new Education Secretary Lucy Powell, who said earlier in the summer that forcing schools to focus too narrowly on academic achievement was failing disadvantaged pupils.

Ms Birbalsingh said it looked like the new minister wants to ‘utterly destroy’ the reforms of the previous Tory governments, which introduced tougher standards in these areas.

‘Standards will be completely obliterated, and English, maths, and science will fall out the window,’ she said. ‘[Ms Powell] feels bad for the kids who aren’t getting English, maths, and science, and so she, without much knowledge of the education system and what will realistically happen on the ground, thinks, “Oh, this will make things better”.

Michaela’s results are not far behind Eton College (pictured), despite having a completely comprehensive, mixed ability intake.

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Pictured: Ms Birbalsingh addressing the Tory party conference in 2010

‘It will only make things worse. Her ideas have already been demonstrated in the past to fail.

‘And it’s not the kids at Eton who will stop getting their English, maths, and science, is it? It’s the kids in the inner city and in the coastal towns.

‘We need to be increasing the number of kids who get these subjects, not decreasing it.’

Michaela has a ‘normal Brent intake’ due to entry being by council lottery, with most of the sixth form made up of students coming through from the younger years.

Some are those who did not get into the two local grammar schools, Henrietta Barnett and Queen Elizabeth’s – also known as QE Boys.

When they arrive, they do a seven-day behaviour ‘boot camp’.

‘People think that strict means mean, but it doesn’t,’ the head added. ‘It means that I love them enough to keep my standards high for them.’

She believes that ‘gentle parenting’ is responsible for many of today’s problems among the young, with some families reluctant to enact consequences for poor behaviour.

‘We talk about Gen Z not being able to take responsibility, being snowflakey, being worried about their feelings all the time, she said.

‘That is, I think, a direct result of gentle parenting, because they’re not told you need to take responsibility for whatever choices you’ve made. 

‘There’s a reason why children are suffering from mental health issues. They don’t feel happy. They’re not able to take control of their lives and take personal responsibility. They need to be trained with praise and punishment when they’re young.’

And for those GCSE pupils who did not get the results they were hoping for yesterday, Ms Birbalsingh had some characteristically no-nonsense advice. 

‘Yeah, well, you know, sometimes we fall down,’ she said. ‘Pick yourselves up. Keep on going.’

Responding to her comments about Ms Powell, a Department for Education spokesman said: ‘It is ridiculous to suggest this government wants anything other than excellence for every child in English, maths and science.

‘But forcing every young person down the same narrow academic route is leaving far too many out in the cold.

‘Every child should leave education with a passport to their future — high-quality options, academic, technical, creative or a mix, and the chance to follow the path that is right for them.’

Katharine Birbalsingh’s new podcast, Strictly Education, went live yesterday on YouTube.

Trumpington residents have expressed their frustration at road management in new developments still being in private hands

Cambridge residents living near the city’s latest railway station say enforcement must improve to stop a “surge” of parking. Clay Farm and Glebe Farm were built over the last decade, but developer Vistry remains responsible for managing the residential roads within the estates.

Cambridgeshire County Council said they have agreed in principle to adopt the roads at some point, but as of yet there is no legal agreement to do this.

David Plank, who has lived in Glebe Farm since 2014, said: “It really is a scandal that more than 10 years on none of the roads in those two developments have been adopted.”

A spokesperson for the county council said that developers can offer roads up for adoption, but the council has no powers to mandate this. They said it is not possible to say when these roads may be adopted but they remain content in principle to adopt the roads “once all technical and legal requirements have been fulfilled by the developer”.

Mr Plank, a member of the Trumpington Residents’ Association (TRA), said there has been “widespread non-enforcement” of parking restrictions and signs had either worn away over the years or been removed.

The 82-year-old said: “Cars were parked all over the place and in dangerous places like corners and bends, posing a danger not just to residents, but particularly to children. The residential roads in the new developments are used by children to play, not just for driving about at high speeds.”

He said that Pinnington Close, the street nearest the station, has been used for parking and the residents association is fighting to have parking signage put up there.

Dr Kevin O’Brien, a Clay Farm resident, said parking enforcement had been “very up and down” since moving in 2016 and “more or less” stopped during the pandemic.

The 56-year-old said: “It had been a major concern, but with the opening of Cambridge South we were very worried it would get a lot worse. There was a bit of a surge where we are – but we are quite far away from the station ourselves.”

He said that there’d been an increase in parking enforcement after residents started “making a lot of noise” for around three months but “it seems to have slipped away again”.

Other residents closer to the Long Road side of the development said they haven’t noticed much of an increase in parking since the station opened.

Lloyd Decruz said that he understands why the new signs warning of parking rules have gone up, but people visiting friends and family have been hit with tickets.

The 64-year-old said: “I’ve had guests come over and get parking tickets – there’s two bays for visitors and the signs never used to be up.”

Mr Plank said many TRA members have reported increased parking outside of designated areas close to the station, but added that they are “very supportive” of the decision not to provide parking other than for people with disabilities.

He said: “It is primarily a destination station for the Cambridge Biomedical Campus not a Cambridge south-wide and beyond suburban station.

“This is the basis upon which approval of the station’s construction was approved – and we argued for at the public inquiry.”

Councillor David Levien, Liberal Democrat county councillor for Trumpington, said concerns had been raised about parking and he has been in contact with both residents and the developer to discuss the situation.

Cllr Olaf Hauk raised a motion at Cambridge City Council asking for more transparency around who is responsible for managing roads in new developments where they are yet to be adopted.

The Lib Dem councillor said: “Cambridge needs new homes, but new homes must come with accountability. Residents should not have to wait more than ten years for promised facilities.

“They should not spend years wondering who is responsible for fixing basic problems, and councillors should not have to tell them, ‘I’m sorry, but there isn’t much more we can do.’”

A spokesperson for Vistry said they were aware of the concerns and had recently subcontracted parking management company BridgePAM to install signs and enforce restrictions.

They said: “Residents are being informed through direct communications and on-site signage, which explains the parking restrictions and management arrangements. We will continue to monitor the situation and work with residents to ensure access routes remain safe and operational while the roads remain under our management.”

A Cambridgeshire County Council spokesperson said: “The council has been in dialogue with the developers throughout the design and construction phases of these developments. We approved the design of the streets and we have inspected the works throughout the entire construction period.”

Josh Tarling will return to cycling eight days after the death of his young brother, Finlay, with the full backing of his family.

Josh had been expected to compete in the Vuelta a Espana for Netcompany INEOS. However, his participation in the Spanish race was thrown into uncertainty following the death of Finlay.

On Thursday, the team confirmed his selection – with his family then publicly backing his decision.

“On Saturday Joshua will be riding the Vuelta,” posted his mother Dawn on Instagram.

“He has chosen to do so in honour of his brother Fin, with the full support of his family, surrounded by a team who have been incredibly supportive of whatever decision he made.

“I could not have wished for two boys who were closer growing up and into adulthood we have watched with pride as Joshua has been the most loving and supportive big brother to Fin. Following this devastating news he has been an incredible strength for us all.

“Finlay was so incredibly proud of his big brother, and would be watching nose to the tv and shouting as he competed. So it is right that Josh honours that love and pride by doing what Fin always loved watching him do.”

Finlay was killed during the eighth stage of the Volta a Portugal last Friday, after being hit by a van.

The vehicle was mistakenly waved onto the course by bystanders, who thought all the cyclists in the race had already gone past them.

The driver is not expected to face criminal charges at this stage but an investigation is continuing, with police revealing full details of the crash during a TV appearance.

Josh’ selection was confirmed by INEOS on Thursday, when the team announced their eight-man line-up for the race.

The event begins in Monaco on Saturday – with the vast majority of the other teams having confirmed their line-ups long before.

The Vuelta a Espana is one of the three major European professional cycling stage race, alongside the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France.

The decision to return to competition has been backed by Welsh cycling great Geraint Thomas, who is also INEOS’ director of racing.

“It also goes without saying that, as a Team, we all fully support Josh in his decision to take part in the race,” Thomas said.

The Vuelta will be Josh’ second Grand Tour of the season – having taken part in his first Tour de France earlier this year.

The 22-year-old from Aberaeron brings considerable time-trialling experience to the team, as a former European and national champion.

“La Vuelta is a big opportunity for us to finish the Grand Tour season strongly,” added Thomas. “I’m confident in the team we’re taking and their ability to adapt to whatever the race throws at us over the next three weeks.

“It’ll be a tough race, because La Vuelta always is, but the team is united and looking forward to taking it on.”

An official fundraising page, via GoFundMe, has now been created by a friend of the family, with Tarling’s parents authorising the idea.

The total is currently over £70,000, with people from all over the world sending donations in honour of Tarling, who was from Ffos-y-ffin near Aberaeron.

The money donated is set to be given back into the cycling community, with a legacy project put in place to provide help for future generations of young Welsh riders.

Here’s some advice if you haven’t achieved a grade four or above in maths, English or both on GCSE results day. While grades three and below aren’t fail grades, a grade four in these subjects is often seen as a target, and is required to progress into some study pathways.

First of all: you are not alone. Each year around 200,000 pupils in England find themselves in this situation.

Here is some idea of your options and things to think about as you plan your next steps, perhaps taking a different path to the one you had in mind.

You may be able to retake these exams in November 2026. Almost a quarter of pupils sitting Maths and English GCSE last year were re-taking. However, there is concern over lower pass rates for retakes.

Speak to the leaders of post-16 courses you had planned to take, such as A-levels or T-levels. They may allow you to do retakes while continuing your original plans.

On the other hand, this may be an opportunity to rethink your post-16 path. Here are some of the options that are available to you – and the maths and English qualifications that they require. If you haven’t got a grade four or above at GCSE, you will need to continue with maths and English, but not necessarily through retaking your GCSEs.

The academic path

Most sixth forms and colleges require grade four or above in maths and English to study A-levels. These are level three qualifications (GCSEs are level two) and will set you on an academic path, often to university – where these GCSE grades are also required for entry.

On average a university degree is still a good investment, but this average hides wide variation. The benefits of a degree vary substantially depending on the specific university you attend and the subject. This is starting to affect graduates’ views on the benefits of a degree. If you didn’t enjoy GCSE study and haven’t achieved good grades, you are less likely to get a good financial return from studying at university.

The technical path

I’m a fan of the new prime minister’s moves to “value the hard hat as much as the graduation cap”. I have long argued for greater recognition of the value of further education learning. Vocational and technical pathways (predominantly via further education) focus on hands-on practice and real-world skills, with less abstract classroom learning. Might they be a better option for you?

You have a range of options here. T-levels are level three technical qualifications introduced in 2020, with one T-level equivalent to three A-levels. Applied generals, such as Btecs, are the most widely taken level three vocational qualifications. T-levels and Btecs cover many of the same broad sectors, such as construction, education and early years and sport. Btecs can be taken in different “sizes” so can be equivalent to one, two or three A-levels, and therefore taken alongside A-levels. From 2027, Btecs may be replaced by V-levels, vocational qualifications each equivalent in size to an A-level.

You may also consider advanced (level three) apprenticeships, working for an employer alongside studying. Most providers will set similar requirements as those for A-levels for these level three qualifications, but as with A-levels they may allow you to enrol while retaking your GCSEs in maths, English or both.

What if you’re not ready for level three learning?

Again, you are not alone. Only around half of 16-year-olds taking GCSEs this year are likely to move straight to level three.

Your level two options include intermediate apprenticeships and a range of vocational qualifications, such as Btec certificates and NVQ diplomas. In some sectors such as construction or catering, hair, beauty and motor vehicles, students start post-16 learning at level two or even level one; and if you are not quite ready for level three you can sometimes join a level two programme and progress the following year.

You will need to continue with some form of learning in maths, English or both, depending on the post-16 course and your GCSE achievement. This may be a functional skills qualification rather than a GCSE. Visit your local further education college to discuss options and make sure you get a good idea of the continued maths or English learning.

Skills shortage occupations

Skills shortages are one of the key drivers behind Andy Burnham’s technical education push. For instance, there are simply not enough electricians, carpenters and bricklayers as well as engineers and technicians. Gaining skills in these trades and occupations may be a better route to employment and good earnings for you, through further education courses or an apprenticeship.

There are also shortages in adult social care sector and recent pronouncements are likely to improve wages in the sector.

Many of the specific “hard hat” measures recently announced, such as the introduction of technical education from the age of 14, will not be introduced until 2028 but there is already plenty for you to consider.

I hope this helps. Remember, lots of students in further education go on to university each year, so you can always change path later. Your GCSE grades contain valuable information that help decide where you go next, they are not failure. The world of work is changing rapidly and with a bit of thought and investigation, you can thrive.

The world’s oldest person is celebrating her 117th birthday at her care home in Surrey after a year of ‘many firsts’, including meeting the King and holding his hand.

Ethel Caterham, who lives at Hallmark Lakeview Care Home in Lightwater, is marking the milestone birthday by spending time with her family and friends to honour the occasion.

Mrs Caterham was born on August 21, 1909, in Shipton Bellinger in Hampshire, before being raised in nearby Tidworth across the county border in Wiltshire.

She was the second youngest of eight children, and one of her sisters, Gladys Babilas, also reached a century, having been born in 1897 and living to the age of 104.

When Mrs Caterham was born, it would be another nine years before women in the UK were given the vote.

Her long life has taken in two world wars, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the first Moon landings, and the fall of the Berlin Wall – while she only stopped driving at the age of 97 and survived Covid-19 in 2020.

She has also lived through six monarchs and 28 prime ministers.    

In a statement, she said: ‘Thank you for all of the kind birthday wishes. Even at 117, I’ve had many firsts this year, from stroking a llama to holding hands with the King.

During the meeting with Charles, Mrs Caterham recollected his 1969 investiture as the Prince of Wales when he was 21, adding: ‘All the girls were in love with you and wanted to marry you’

Mrs Caterham (pictured in 2024) became the oldest living person in April 2025 after the death of Brazilian nun Sister Inah Canabarro Lucas at 116

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‘I’ve had a lovely day celebrating with my family and friends, and I look forward to seeing what next year brings.’

Mrs Caterham was visited by Charles, who held her hand as he introduced himself, in September last year just after her 116th birthday.

She became the oldest living person in April 2025 after the death of Brazilian nun Sister Inah Canabarro Lucas at 116.

During the meeting with Charles, she recollected his 1969 investiture as the Prince of Wales when he was 21, adding: ‘All the girls were in love with you and wanted to marry you.’

Mrs Caterham is the last surviving subject of Edward VII, who died in 1910, before George V then took the throne, followed by Edward VIII, George VI, Elizabeth II and most recently Charles III.She has also lived through 28 prime ministers in Herbert Henry Asquith, David Lloyd George, Andrew Bonar Law, Stanley Baldwin, Ramsay MacDonald, Neville Chamberlain, Winston Churchill, Clement Attlee, Anthony Eden, Harold Macmillan, Alec Douglas-Home, Harold Wilson, Edward Heath, James Callaghan, Margaret Thatcher, John Major, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak, Keir Starmer and Andy Burnham.

While, celebrating her 115th birthday in August 2024, she said the secret to her longevity was ‘never arguing with anyone, I listen and I do what I like’. 

Mrs Caterham is believed to be the fourth Brit to hold world’s oldest title, with Anna Eliza Williams the last person from the UK to hold the title, aged 114 years old when she died in 1987. 

Alice Stevenson, aged 112 before her death in 1973, and 111-year-old Ada Roe who died in 1970 are the other two Brits to hold the title.

Mrs Caterham was 18 when she travelled alone by ship for three weeks to take up a job as an au pair to a military family in India.

She returned three years later in 1931 to Britain, where she met her future husband Norman Caterham at a dinner party and they wed at Salisbury Cathedral in Wiltshire in 1933. 

He became a lieutenant colonel in the Royal Army Pay Corps and the couple originally lived in Harnham, near Salisbury, before being stationed in Hong Kong and Gibraltar.

During her time in Hong Kong, Mrs Caterham set up a nursery where she taught English, crafts and games

They later began their family when living in Gibraltar, before coming back to the UK to raise their two daughters. 

They later moved to Surrey where Mrs Caterham has lived for more than 50 years.

Her husband died in 1976 and their two daughters Gem and Anne have also passed away.

King Edward VII, pictured on the day of his 1902 coronation alongside his consort Queen Alexandra, was still alive and on the throne when Mrs Caterham was born in 1909

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Momentous events during Mrs Caterham’s long life included the First World War which ended in 1918 – pictured here are Paris peace talks including British politicians such as David Lloyd George

Women had not yet been given the right to vote when Mrs Caterham was born in 1909 – seen here is ‘Votes For Women’ campaigner Christabel Pankhurst in Trafalgar Square in 1908

Sir Winston Churchill is pictured in a Jeep outside the Reichstag in German capital Berlin in July 16 1945 at the end of the Second World War

Mrs Caterham was 44 when Queen Elizabeth II, pictured at Buckingham Palace with husband Prince Philip, had her coronation in June 1953

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King Charles III became the sixth UK monarch of Mrs Caterham’s lifetime – he is seen here attending his coronation in May last year alongside his wife Camilla

Speaking to BBC Radio Surrey in 2020, the year she survived Covid, Mrs Caterham said: ‘I’ve taken everything in my stride, the highs and lows. 

‘I’ve been all over the world, and I’ve ended up in this lovely home, where everyone is falling over themselves for me, giving me everything I want.’

Two years later she explained her priorities, saying: ‘Family is the most important thing in life, to be able to leave memories with your children and grandchildren.

‘Possessions don’t matter a bit in the end – all you need is someone to look after you.’ 

Charlotte Hughes previously held the title for the longest-living person ever documented in the UK at 115 years and 228 days before her death in Redcar, North Yorkshire, in March 1993. 

The only other Briton to turn 115 is thought to have been Annie Jennings, who reached 15 years and eight days before passing away in Wingerworth, Derbyshire, in November 1999. 

The title of the oldest person ever is held by French woman Jeanne Calment, who lived to 122 years 164 days, according to Guinness World Records.

The world’s oldest people: From French woman who continued smoking until she was 117 to Japanese man who put his good health down to being in the sun   

Jeanne Calment 

The certified oldest person ever was French woman Jeanne Calment, who died aged 122 and 164 days in 1997.

Her unparalleled longevity has been the subject of numerous studies, both before and after her death.

Jeanne enjoyed good health for the majority of her life and even took up fencing as a hobby at the age of 85.

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The world’s oldest man ever was Jiroemon Kimura, from Japan, who died aged 116 years, 54 days in 2013

Ms Calment also claimed to have met the artist Vincent van Gogh, to whom she sold painting canvasses in her father’s shop as a teenager.

‘He was ugly as sin, had a vile temper and smelled of booze,’ she said.

She continued smoking until she was 117 and used to rub olive oil into her skin. 

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Jiroemon Kimura

Japanese man Jiroemon Kimura, officially the oldest man to have ever lived, died aged 116 in 2013.

On his 115th birthday, Mr Kimura attributed his longevity to getting out in the sunlight. 

‘I am always looking up towards the sky. That is how I am,’ he said.

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Kimura ate a three-meal-a-day diet of rice, pumpkins and sweet potatoes.

The world’s oldest man ever was Jiroemon Kimura, from Japan, who died aged 116 years, 54 days in 2013

He reportedly did not smoke and said he only ate until he felt 80 per cent full.

According to one town official his motto in life was ‘to eat light and live long’.

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When he was born back in 1897, Japan was coming to the end of its feudal period which saw the final days of the Samurai warrior class and the birth of a modern imperialist state.

When Japan entered WWI on the side of the British in 1915 he was already 18 years old, and when it allied itself with Germany in 1940 at the start of WWII he was already pushing on 43.

When the U.S. dropped the bomb on Hiroshima he was 48 but he resumed work as a postman at the end of the war and went on to live for another 68 years.

Kane Tanaka

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When Japanese woman Kane Tanaka died aged 119 in 2022, she was the world’s oldest person.

She was born January 2, 1903, in the southwestern Fukuoka region of Japan in the same year the Wright brothers flew for the first time and Marie Curie became the first woman to win a Nobel Prize.

When Japanese woman Kane Tanaka died aged 119 in 2022, she was the world’s oldest person

In her younger years, Ms Tanaka ran various businesses including a noodle shop and a rice cake store.

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A century ago, she married Hideo Tanaka in 1922, giving birth to four children and adopting a fifth.

She had planned to use a wheelchair to take part in the torch relay for the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, but the pandemic prevented her from doing so.

On her 119th birthday on January 2, 2022, Ms Tanaka’s family members said she hoped to live to 120.

In her younger years, Ms Tanaka ran various businesses including a noodle shop and a rice cake store

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Sarah Knauss

American woman Sarah Knauss died on December 30, 1999, just two days short of the new Millennium.

The former seamstress, who loved chocolate, crisps, popcorn and cashew nuts, left a daughter aged 96 when she died.

American woman Sarah Knauss died on December 30, 1999, just two days short of the new Millennium. The former seamstress, who loved chocolate, crisps, popcorn and cashew nuts, left a daughter aged 96 when she died

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Born on September 24, 1880, she died peacefully in her sleep in a nursing home in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Although she was frail in her later years, she continued to get up most mornings to have breakfast in the dining room of her care home and also visited the hairdresser once a week.

At her 119th birthday, Mrs Knauss’s great-great-great grandson, then aged three, was present.

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