A Department for Education spokesperson said: “These figures reflect demographic change playing out across the entire school system – primary school numbers have been falling since 2018/19, long before any change to VAT. The share of pupils in independent schools has stayed broadly consistent at 6.3%, and more private schools opened than closed in 2025.

Tonight sees France and the Ivory Coast face off in an international friendly match ahead of the 2026 World Cup

France and Ivory Coast meet in an international friendly match tonight as preparations ramp up for the 2026 World Cup.

The tournament in Mexico, Canada and the US kicks off next week, with excitement building ahead of the biggest edition of the competition ever held.

A total of 48 teams are involved, with France among the favourites to win the whole thing.

Their squad is littered with world-class talent, with the likes of Kylian Mbappe, William Saliba and Michael Olise set to lead Les Bleus.

Tonight’s opponents have been drawn in a group with Germany, Curacao and Ecuador and will hold ambitions of progressing to the knockout rounds.

Here is everything you need to know about the match tonight

What time is kick-off?

France v Ivory Coast kicks off at 8.10pm on Thursday, June 4, at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes, France.

Is the game on TV?

You are in luck.

Amazon Prime will be showing this match in the UK but you will have to pay £2.99 for the privilege to watch.

What about streaming?

The match will be available to stream via Prime Video TV and accessible on mobile devices, tablets or smart TVs.

Quotes corner

Didier Deschamps: “We’ve built up expectations because of our results.

“We lifted the trophy in 2018 and reached the final in 2022, so our supporters are naturally expecting to see France [still in the running] by mid-July.

“We’re one of the 10 or 12 nations that can realistically set their sights on becoming world champions.

“But do you know how many there will be at the end? Just one! That means at least 11 disappointed nations.

“They (the players) won’t all be able to play

“There’s a lot of promise, but we need the right chemistry, without letting individual egos get in the way.

“We need balance, and above all, compatibility and partnerships.”

Lieutenant Lily-Mae Fisher, Lieutenant Commander Chris Gayson and Petty Officer Owen Green were praised as “the best of our Armed Forces”

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The three members of the Royal Navy who died in a helicopter crash in Devon on Wednesday have been named. The UK’s only serving female commando was among the three people killed in a helicopter crash in Devon yesterday.

Lieutenant Lily-Mae Fisher, 31, died alongside Lieutenant Commander Chris Gayson, 42, and Petty Officer Owen Green, 24, following the incident at Sourton Down, near Okehampton, in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Defence Secretary John Healey described all three as “dedicated and highly valued members of their squadrons who embodied the best of our Armed Forces”.

The Merlin Mk4 helicopter crashed into a field during a training exercise, leaving the aircraft completely destroyed.

A tribute from the Royal Navy reads: “All three dedicated their lives to serving the Royal Navy and their country.

“Our thoughts remain with their families, friends and colleagues and we continue to demand their privacy is respected at this time.

“We also ask anyone in the vicinity of the crash site to understand the poignancy of this, not to share footage and hand any footage to the relevant investigating authority.”

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The Royal Navy told how Lily Mae was “active” from a young age.

“Lily-Mae competed for her regional Netball team, and represented England in Junior Lacrosse and Pole Vault. At university she joined the Officer Training Corps and University Air Squadron where she discovered a passion for flying,” it stated.

“Lily-Mae represented Great Britain at the European Age Group Triathlon Championships in September 2021 whilst also completing Elementary Flying Training.

“During a break in flying training Lily-Mae attended the All Arms Commando Course, becoming Britain’s only serving female Royal Navy Commando.”

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Lily-Mae was tragically killed in a helicopter incident on her final assessment of flying training and was due to be awarded her Pilot’s Wings in June 2026.

Her family said: “Lily-Mae was an extraordinary woman, daughter, sister, and partner.

“To say she was full of life is an understatement: she took every opportunity to push her limits, achieve more, and bring out the best in those around her.

“We are so proud of everything she accomplished. She has left an immeasurable hole in our lives, and in all the lives she has touched and inspired. The family kindly ask for time and space at this difficult time.”

Lt Cdr Gayson joined the RN as a Warfare (Pilot) Officer in Sep 2008. He gained his wings in October 2012 and served with 845 NAS flying the Sea King Mk4, which included flying in Norway, Jordan, Afghanistan and Embarked Operations.

in 2020 he assumed the role of Senior Pilot of Sixty Squadron, where he delivered advanced helicopter training to RAF and Commando Helicopter Force Support Helicopter pilots and upgraded to an ‘A categorisation’ instructor.

“An utmost professional, his leadership of the Operational Conversion Flight was exemplary, and his loss is a huge blow to the Royal Navy, Force, and Squadron,” said the Royal Navy.

And a statement from his family read: “Chris was an extremely kind and gentle family man who loved his entire family dearly. He was also passionate about and dedicated to his job in the Royal Navy.”

Petty Officer Green joined the Royal Navy in January 2022, beginning initial training at HMS Raleigh.

“He demonstrated a consistently high level of professional competence and dedication throughout his career as an Aircrewman with 845 Naval Air Squadron,” said the Royal Navy.

“His deployment on Operation Clockwork 26 was particularly notable; he accumulated the highest-flying hours among his peers in demanding Arctic conditions, earning his Arctic environmental qualification and establishing himself as one of the squadron’s most experienced operators in extreme environments.”

His family said: “Losing Owen has left us all devastated. His life was far too short, and our hearts will forever be broken. He was a caring and devoted son, brother, grandson, and partner to Iona, whom he loved and cherished.

“His kindness, warmth, and character touched everyone who knew him. We are so proud of him achieving his life’s goal to serve in the Royal Navy as a Junglie Aircrewman and are grateful for the joy he brought into ours and Iona’s lives. He is so loved and will remain in our hearts forever.”

The head of the Navy, General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, said following the tragedy: “I am deeply saddened to share the news that three crewmembers onboard a Royal Navy Merlin Mk4 helicopter have died after it crashed in the early hours of this morning near Sourton, Devon.

“I know this will come as a huge shock to all in our naval community, and my deepest condolences go out to the families, friends and loved ones impacted by this tragedy.”

Former Chelsea defender Glen Johnson has urged his old side to swoop for Arsenal target Julian Alvarez, believing he would be a ‘perfect’ addition at Stamford Bridge.

Atletico Madrid are determined to hold onto the Argentina international this summer, blasting Barcelona for their public pursuit of the striker last week.

The Madrid side have insisted they will not do business with the Catalan giants this summer but will also have to fend off interest from the Gunners.

After their Premier League title success, Arsenal want to keep strengthening this summer with Alvarez regarded as a dream signing to further bolster their front line with Bournemouth’s Junior Kroupi another option being considered.

Arsenal have already been in contact with Alvarez’s agent while Chelsea were also credited with interest in the former Manchester City star earlier this year.

Joao Pedro finished his first campaign in west London with an impressive haul of 20 goals in all competitions but Chelsea were short elsewhere with Liam Delap managing just two all season.

After a wretched 10^th place finish, Xabi Alonso is now in place to lift the club from their slump with Johnson eager to see the Blues bring in another proven goal scorer.

‘Signing a striker should be priority number one for Chelsea this summer.’ Johnson told Football.London.

‘You can’t compete at the top of the Premier League without an out-and-out striker scoring 20 goals a season, and Chelsea don’t have someone of that description at the moment.

‘Those are the types of players you need to drag you through games when you’re poor, to score a goal out of nothing so you win games instead of drawing to opposition you should be beating if you want to compete.’

Despite Pedro’s impressive haul, Johnson believes a natural no9 is required with Alvarez perfectly fitting the bill.

‘I think Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid would be perfect. He seems like he’s on the move this summer and that’s exactly the type of player Chelsea need to go out and snap up,’ Johnson explained.

‘He’s a great player, his work ethic is absolutely through the roof, and he’s a perfectly well-rounded striker.

‘He has proven in the past he can score goals in the Premier League during his time at Man City, and if they could do a sensible deal, offering someone the other way, for example, then that would be a brilliant signing.

‘Chelsea fans would be buzzing with seeing him coming through the door.’

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Ofsted found that nursery staff did not always notice and remove potential hazards

A nursery near Cambridgeshire will close after being told it “needs attention” by Ofsted. A recent inspection found that staff at Unity Stars, on Chalkstone Way in Haverhill, did not always notice and remove potential hazards.

The report, published on Tuesday, June 2, rated the nursery as “needs attention” in all areas assessed. The report states that there are “inconsistencies in the quality of teaching and staff’s interactions throughout the nursery”.

Inspectors praised that children are greeted at the door by “warm and nurturing staff”. It added: “Children play cooperatively and make friendships with their peers. They look forward to playing outdoors. Children delight in tipping water onto the concrete and splashing in puddles, giggling as they make patterns on the floor.”

A spokesperson for Unity Schools Partnership, which Unity Stars is a part of, said: “The Ofsted inspection highlighted many positive aspects of our nursery, particularly our strong safeguarding culture. Inspectors recognised that children feel safe, secure and well cared for.

“They also noted the warm, nurturing relationships between staff and children, with many children confidently seeking comfort and support from familiar adults. We are especially proud that our settling-in processes and close partnerships with parents were praised, helping children to feel happy and confident when they attend.”

The inspectors found that on occasion, “staff are not always noticing and removing potential hazards posed to children swiftly enough”. The report adds: “This is particularly apparent at times of transition. For example, when children prepare to move outdoors to play, there is a lack of embedded and well-structured routines.”

Leaders have risk assessments in place for each room and staff can explain these, the inspection found. “However, leaders are not monitoring staff’s practice closely enough to ensure staff are continuously alert to and managing potential risks effectively,” the report states.

In an example, Ofsted said that towels around the base of the water tray are not replaced swiftly enough, when they are sodden. This means at times, the floor becomes slippery and “increases the risk of children or staff slipping”.

The spokesperson for Unity Schools Partnership said that “as part of the inspection, Ofsted identified some areas where we can improve further” and have since welcomed this feedback and “implemented changes as a result”.

The spokesperson continued: “The report also highlighted that children enjoy their time at the nursery. They benefit from healthy meals, develop friendships and engage in a wide range of play experiences, particularly outdoors. It was also encouraging to see recognition of children’s growing independence and their development in areas such as physical skills and early mathematics.”

Since the inspection, the partnership, of which Unity Stars is a part of, said that they have “continued to experience difficulty in recruiting and retaining sufficient and adequately qualified staff at Chalkstone Way”. As a result, Unity Stars has taken the “difficult decision to wind-down this setting”, with its final day of operation being July 17, 2026.

The spokesperson added: “We are working with families to find suitable alternative provision, including at our flourishing Norton Road setting. In making this decision, we have been clear that the children’s safety and educational progress must be our greatest considerations.

“Without certainty that stable and high-quality staffing could be sustained, we decided that winding-down the setting at Chalkstone Way was the right thing to do.”

This is due to continuing international airspace constraints leading to significantly increased flight duration and a challenging cost environment, the airline said.

IndiGo will cut its flight operations to and from Manchester from August 31, 2026.

It said it will continue to operate all its remaining long-haul flights as planned.

IndiGo also plans to return one of the six Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, taken on damp lease in 2025, to Norse Atlantic Airways.

IndiGo had damp leased six Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft from Norse Atlantic Airways in early 2025, and the objective was to make strategic inroads to establish the IndiGo brand in the European market, ahead of the commencement of services using its own Airbus A350 aircraft.

However, the airline has since experienced a significant impact of industry‑wide challenges, including geopolitical developments in the Middle East, rising aviation turbine fuel (ATF) costs, severe airspace constraints, and foreign exchange volatility, resulting in operating costs being considerably higher than originally thought.

Abhijit Dasgupta, senior vice president – network planning & revenue management at IndiGo, said: “We inducted these wide-body aircraft on a short-term basis to fast-track our connectivity to high-potential long-haul destinations such as Manchester, and witnessed very encouraging demand response.

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“It is, therefore, unfortunate that longer flying times due to airspace constraints coupled with dramatically escalating costs compelled us to take the decision to temporarily discontinue our India – Manchester services.

“We would like to thank our customers, trade partners in India and in the UK, and Manchester Airport for their amazing support.

“The response and support for these services have reinforced our belief in the opportunity for IndiGo’s long-haul ambitions, and this discontinuation is temporary in nature.

“We look forward to serving this route again at the earliest viable opportunity and are exploring innovative solutions to continuing our collaboration with Norse Atlantic Airways.”

It is not yet confirmed when the Manchester flights will resume.

What to do if you have IndiGo flights booked

If you had trips booked with IndiGo to or from Manchester Airport, the airline has reassured passengers that anyone affected will be assisted with all possible options, including alternate travel arrangements or refunds where applicable.

Ryanair cuts flights to Manchester Airport

The news comes as Ryanair also announced it would cut flights to Manchester Airport.

Ryanair has cut flights to 19 airports across the UK and Europe recently due to rising costs, including Manchester and London Stansted.

The likes of Porto, Milan Bergamo, Berlin Brandenburg, Krakow, and Budapest are among the European airports affected by the cuts.

Are you going on holiday this year? Tell us where you’re travelling to in the comments below.

“We have committed, a number of times and in a number of ways including in writing before this most recent industrial action, to these proposals being voluntary. Any suggestion otherwise is misleading the public in order to justify strike action over proposals that would give Tube drivers more time off and create a more modern, efficient Tube service.”

This comes after a meeting Peel Land had with Westhoughton residents on Tuesday (June 2), which laid out the plans for Peel Land in more detail.

Westhoughton councillor David Chadwick – former Mayor of Bolton – put out a statement in opposition to the plans, reiterating points he made last week in an interview with The Bolton News.

A new link road easing congestion at Chequerbent is a key element of the development (Image: Peel Land)

Cllr Chadwick said: “Peel discussed plans for a link road from Snydale Road all the way down to North Road in Atherton. This would be funded by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority with the aim of improving the flow of traffic around M61 junction 5, where traffic has backed up for many years. This road would be a single-lane road, not a dual carriageway.

“There was also a discussion regarding an additional health centre. The NHS have expressed desires for the health provision to be off the Lee Hall site but with a contribution from Peel for funding a health centre.

“All things considered, I still remain vehemently opposed to building on Lee Hall and the loss of more greenbelt land in Westhoughton. Once green spaces are gone, they are gone forever.

Westhoughton residents gathered to discuss concerns over the Lee Hall development (Image: NQ)

“Hall Lee Bank Park is already classified as ancient woodland, but any development close by would be to the detriment of residents and wildlife. Deer are already found wandering residential estates regularly having been displaced by rapidly expanding developments.”

Bolton West MP Phil Brickell also formally objected. He said: “Westhoughton has seen a huge amount of development over the past two decades without the necessary supporting infrastructure being delivered alongside it.

“The result is a town where residents increasingly face severe congestion, overstretched public services, and growing pressure on local infrastructure. This application risks compounding these existing problems.

“The most immediate concern raised by residents is traffic congestion. The local road network is already struggling to cope with the current demand, particularly along Park Road, Leigh Road, and Wigan Road.

Campaigners highlight wildlife habitats and flood-prone areas during a site walk off Lee Bank. (Image: NQ)

“At times these routes are routinely congested, causing significant delays for residents, commuters, and businesses.”

The plans include provision for a Link Road between Westhoughton and Atherton, with the aim of reducing congestion on the Chequerbent roundabout.

Also included in the plans is funding for a new health centre, though there is debate whether the centre will be on or off the Lee Hall site.

A spokesperson for Peel Land said: “We recognise there is a critical need for investment in the road infrastructure in the Westhoughton area, and after historic failures to deliver this new link road, Lee Hall is now the only practical and viable solution to address the congestion at Chequerbent.

“The successful bid to the Greater Manchester Good Growth Fund means that £69.8m has now been allocated to deliver the Park Avenue link road. This represents the best chance in a generation to make this new road a reality. This can now only happen if the plans for Lee Hall are approved. Refusal will only frustrate efforts to build the road and see congestion and delays in the area get much worse over the next few years.

“The approval of Lee Hall will also deliver much-needed affordable and family homes, health facilities, a new primary school, a community hall, neighbourhood stores, allotments and a significant 15- acre public park. It is an infrastructure-led proposal that responds to local needs and will realise a long-held plan for the sustainable growth of the town dating back to the 1960s.”

The British star will not be competing in her specialist 800m event this time around, instead lining up in the women’s 400m

Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson returns to action tonight as she begins her outdoor season at the Rome Diamond League.

The British star will not be competing in her specialist 800m event this time around, instead lining up in the women’s 400m as part of her long-term ambition to improve her speed and target new personal milestones.

Hodgkinson is one of several big names competing at the Stadio Olimpico, with American sprint superstar Noah Lyles and Welsh speedster Jeremiah Azu also in action in a stacked programme featuring some of the world’s best athletes.

What time is Keely Hodgkinson running the 400m tonight?

Hodgkinson is scheduled to compete in the women’s 400m at 9.15pm BST on Thursday, June 4.

The race marks the first outdoor appearance of her 2026 campaign and comes as she continues her preparations for a busy summer season.

What TV channel is the Rome Diamond League on?

Live television coverage of the Rome Diamond League will be shown on BBC Three from 8pm BST.

Viewers can also watch online via the BBC iPlayer app and the BBC Sport website.

How to watch the Rome Diamond League on TV

The meeting can be streamed live through BBC iPlayer on mobile devices, tablets, smart TVs and desktop computers.

Coverage begins at 8pm BST, with a host of world-class athletes featuring throughout the evening.

Rome Diamond League schedule (BST)

8.04pm – Women’s 400m hurdles

8.07pm – Men’s high jump

8.27pm – Men’s shot put

8.28pm – Women’s 100m hurdles

8.35pm – Men’s long jump

8.38pm – Women’s 5000m

9.04pm – Men’s 110m hurdles

9.15pm – Women’s 400m (Keely Hodgkinson)

9.27pm – Women’s 200m

9.37pm – Women’s 1500m

9.52pm – Men’s 100m (Noah Lyles, Jeremiah Azu and Marcell Jacobs)

Who else is competing?

Alongside Hodgkinson, Team GB interest comes from Georgia Hunter Bell in the women’s 1500m, while Amy Hunt and Dina Asher-Smith take on Olympic champion Julien Alfred and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden in the women’s 200m.

The men’s 100m is one of the highlights of the night, featuring reigning world champion Noah Lyles, Britain’s Jeremiah Azu and Italy’s Marcell Jacobs.

Diamond League 2026 calendar

• June 4 – Rome, Italy
• June 7 – Stockholm, Sweden
• June 10 – Oslo, Norway
• June 19 – Doha, Qatar
• June 28 – Paris, France
• July 4 – Eugene, USA
• July 10 – Monaco
• July 18 – London, UK
• August 21 – Lausanne, Switzerland
• August 23 – Chorzow, Poland

Keely Hodgkinson’s behaviour has drawn attention recently

Keely Hodgkinson’s latest comments speak volumes after World Athletics chief Seb Coe spoke glowingly about her authenticity. Hodgkinson, 24, is set to make her 400 metres Diamond League debut in Rome this Thursday.

The sprint will serve as a step towards maintaining her dominance in the 800m, which she claimed a silver medal in at Tokyo 2020 before clinching Olympic gold at Paris 2024. The Team GB hero broke the indoor world record over 800m in February and is looking to build on that success today.

Yet, by looking at Hodgkinson’s demeanour and the way she presents herself alone, one would not be able to tell she is an athlete at the top of her game. That’s due to her incredibly down to earth character, which was recently lauded by Coe.

Hodgkinson displayed her authenticity once more ahead of Thursday’s Diamond League action by saying how grateful she was just to be on the start line – something unheard of among the competitiveness of elite athletics.

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Speaking on Wednesday at a press conference, Hodgkinson said: “I am really excited for tomorrow. I am grateful to have the opportunity to race some of the best girls in the world.

“I am very privileged to be on that start line with them, so I am hoping they pull something great out of me. I’ll be using tomorrow as a stimulus of fun, to be competitive and to also do something different.”

“I am genuinely in a place in my life where I have everything that I can want. I am happy, I love what I do. I wake up and go to work every day, I just love it.”

Coe, who has spent the last decade as the president of World Athletics, said last month that he considers the Mancunian to be a breath of fresh air, hailing her as the most genuine person he knows.

The former Team GB star, 69, shared a story about running into Hodgkinson during her birthday celebrations as an example of how normal and grounded the Manchester athlete is. However, he suggested her all-round behaviour points to the same level of authenticity.

During an appearance on The Sports Agents podcast, Coe was asked by Gabby Logan about Hodgkinson’s comments in March relating to West Ham United, tenants of the Olympic Stadium. “The GB team will bring back more medals to that stadium than West Ham have seen in their entire history,” the world indoor champion wrote on social media.

“I love Keely because you will only get authenticity,” Coe said. “There’s none of this ‘Oh, I’ll see how I feel tomorrow’ or ‘One match at a time’ – she absolutely tells it as it is. I think she’s joyous company apart from anything.

“This year is probably the biggest year in British athletics… we’ve got a Commonwealth Games, we’ve got a European Championships, we’ve got a great Diamond League. It’s probably the best year for athletics in the UK since 2017.

“Keely’s not wrong. I’m pleased she knows her worth… she’s off-the-graph good but if you look statistically she’s still got a couple of years before she hits her peak.”

Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

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