The University of Wolverhampton celebrated the remarkable story behind its ceremonial mace after reconnecting with the alumna who designed and made it more than three decades ago while she was a student.

Goldsmith Primary Academy in Walsall, part of the Windsor Academy Trust family, is celebrating a landmark achievement after being recognised as one of only two primary schools* in the country to be awarded three ‘Exceptional’ grades under Ofsted’s rigorous new inspection framework.

Earlier this year, Ofsted announced it was moving away from single-word judgements to a new ‘School Report Card’ system. The new framework offers a nuanced and demanding assessment where the ‘Expected Standard’ represents a high benchmark of quality.

Goldsmith volunteered to be part of the initial phase of the new inspections before Christmas and this week received its inspection report, which confirms the school is not just meeting expectations but exceeding them in all areas. The School Report Card awarded Goldsmith Primary Academy the highest possible grade of Exceptional in three key areas:

• Inclusion
• Leadership and Governance
• Personal Development and Wellbeing

In addition, the school achieved the Strong Standard - a grade indicating practice well above the expected benchmark - in all other areas: Achievement, Attendance and Behaviour, Curriculum and Teaching, and Early Years. Under the new framework, Safeguarding is judged separately on a strict binary scale, either ‘Met’ or ‘Not Met’, to provide parents with immediate and absolute clarity on safety.

A University of Wolverhampton staff member will be recognised for academic excellence after being awarded a winter graduation prize sponsored by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), on the same day he graduates with a Master’s degree.

As the world marks the International Day of Education, leading online training provider High Speed Training highlights the critical role of technology in equipping young people with the skills they need for the future of work.

The University of Wolverhampton has come together to help one of its nursing graduates create a deeply personal graduation moment at home, so she could share it with her father during the final days of his life.

‘Peace’ is Oxford Children’s Word of the Year for 2025 according to research by OUP (Oxford University Press).