Why are so many children refusing to go to school? | Podcast

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Why are so many children refusing to go to school? | Podcast

FromToday in Focus

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Length:

27 minutes

Released:

Jul 5, 2023

Format:

Podcast episode

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One in 10 GCSE-year pupils are absent from England’s schools each day, up 70% since before the Covid pandemic. What is going on?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Released:

Jul 5, 2023

Format:

Podcast episode

Titles in the series (100)

Hosted by Anushka Asthana and Rachel Humphreys, Today in Focus brings you closer to Guardian journalism. Combining personal storytelling with insightful analysis, this podcast takes you behind the headlines for a deeper understanding of the news, every weekday

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The indictment of Donald Trump: The former US president will appear in a criminal court in New York City today to answer charges relating to campaign finance offences. Hugo Lowell reports by Today in Focus
27 min listen
Why headteachers are fighting back against Ofsted inspections: The death of Ruth Perry after a devastating report from schools watchdog Ofsted has prompted a growing backlash. Michelle Sheehy, headteacher of Millfield primary school in the West Midlands, explains why by Today in Focus
28 min listen
Why has the Labour party turned nasty?: The party’s latest ad campaign launches personal attacks on Rishi Sunak. What’s behind its new ruthless approach? by Today in Focus
27 min listen
‘It’s way beyond just science’: untangling the hunt for Covid’s origins: Three years after much of the world was forced into Covid lockdowns, the precise origins of the virus are still hazy, and the hunt is bringing scientists into confrontation with political forces that many are not prepared for by Today in Focus
28 min listen
Who is Humza Yousaf and how will he change Scotland?: For eight years Nicola Sturgeon towered over Scottish politics. Now there is a new first minister in charge, how will he make his mark? by Today in Focus
30 min listen
‘Peace babies’ and the birth of the Good Friday agreement: The generation born after the deal which brought peace to Northern Ireland are continuing to reckon with their inheritance. A mother and daughter explain what it means to them by Today in Focus
41 min listen
Prince Harry and the return of the phone hacking scandal: This week, Prince Harry’s case over alleged phone hacking by the publisher of the Sun and News of the World reached the high court. Jim Waterson reports by Today in Focus
31 min listen
Sudan’s warring generals: Fighting Sudan is continuing despite an internationally brokered truce. At the heart of the conflict is a power struggle between two powerful generals in a country permanently in the grip of its military. Nesrine Malik reports by Today in Focus
28 min listen
Inside Tennessee, America’s most stringent anti-abortion state: Tennessee has an abortion ban so strict that even its Republican sponsors are having doubts about it. Stephanie Kirchgaessner reports on the reality of women’s rights in the state nine months after the fall of Roe v Wade by Today in Focus
32 min listen
The killing of Shireen Abu Akleh – and another ordinary day in the West Bank: A year ago the journalist was shot. It was not the only news story in Palestine that day. Kaamil Ahmed looks into the stories Abu Akleh never got to report by Today in Focus
34 min listen
Investigating alleged sexual misconduct at the CBI | podcast: Police have launched an investigation into alleged sexual misconduct at the Confederation of British Industry in the wake of a recent Guardian investigation. Anna Isaac reports by Today in Focus
30 min listen
Why are British teenagers being locked up in ‘re-education camps’?: Secretive centres that promise to change the behaviour of wayward western teenagers and young people have been springing up in Somalia. But what really goes on inside? by Today in Focus
32 min listen
National Conservatism: a Tory fringe or the party’s future?: A conference run by a rightwing American thinktank attracted Tory MPs and influencers this week. Is its Trumpish populist philosophy a taste of where the Conservative party is heading? by Today in Focus
25 min listen
Cotton Capital: the bee and the ship – examining the Guardian’s links to slavery: Episode one of the new Guardian podcast series Cotton Capital explores the revelations that the Guardian’s founding editor, John Edward Taylor, and at least nine of his 11 backers had links to slavery, principally through the textile industry by Today in Focus
46 min listen
The Pentagon leaks: how did US security files end up on Discord? – podcast: Earlier this year, hundreds of top secret Pentagon documents were posted on the social media platform Discord. Manisha Ganguly and Julian Borger report by Today in Focus
29 min listen
Are we facing a summer of sporting protests?: High-profile protests at the Grand National and the World Snooker Championships have made headlines. The London Marathon could be next by Today in Focus
30 min listen
Is artificial intelligence getting out of control?: Hundreds of tech industry leaders have signed a letter proposing a six-month pause on the development of systems more powerful than OpenAI’s GPT-4. Alex Hern reports by Today in Focus
29 min listen
Cost of the crown part 5: the coronation of Charles III: Charles III will be crowned in Westminster Abbey on Saturday in a ceremony steeped in centuries of history. Jonathan Freedland examines what the event means to the modern-day UK by Today in Focus
35 min listen
A bullying politician or snowflake civil servants? The downfall of Dominic Raab: The former deputy prime minister may have resigned but he remains defiant after an inquiry into bullying allegations. What does the scandal tell us about the relationship between ministers and Whitehall? by Today in Focus
28 min listen
Cost of the crown part 1: valuing the royal family: Maeve McClenaghan sets off on the trail to uncover how much public money is spent on the royal family – and what they do in return by Today in Focus
33 min listen
How raising the retirement age set France on fire: An attempt to force through an increase in the state pension age brought thousands of protesters out on to the streets and has left Emmanuel Macron facing his biggest crisis yet by Today in Focus
26 min listen
Has Ukraine’s spring offensive begun?: Ukraine claims its forces have retaken land around Bakhmut and shot down Russian missiles targeting Kyiv. Luke Harding reports on the state of the war by Today in Focus
26 min listen
Xi Jinping and the battle over China’s memory of the Cultural Revolution: Mao’s Cultural Revolution pitted children against their parents and tore at the fabric of China’s society. It’s vital to the understanding of China today, says Red Memory author Tania Branigan by Today in Focus
31 min listen
Is Suella Braverman speeding towards a government exit?: Having set herself up as a rival to the prime minister, the home secretary is now facing allegations that she broke the ministerial code. Aubrey Allegretti reports by Today in Focus
23 min listen
Embracing a childfree life by Today in Focus
35 min listen
Why are London’s schools disappearing?: London schools in areas such as Lambeth and Camden are having to close their doors as pupils leave. Why are numbers dropping so fast – and why does it matter so much? by Today in Focus
30 min listen
Erdoğan survives, but will Turkish democracy?: Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the president of Turkey, has moulded the country in his image during his two decades in power. Now he faces a run-off election to stay in power by Today in Focus
32 min listen
Why are British audiences suddenly so out of control?: From fights at the Bodyguard musical to wild drunken antics at comedy clubs and even heckling at the opera, performers and theatre staff say crowds are getting out of hand. What’s going on? by Today in Focus
26 min listen
The ‘nice, ordinary’ family suspected of being Russian spies: When a new couple and their children moved into a sleepy suburb of Slovenia’s capital, their neighbours thought they seemed very normal. But were they really who they seemed? by Today in Focus
33 min listen
Is the UK in the grip of ‘greedflation’?: Prices in the UK are continuing to rise on everything from groceries to energy bills and mortgage costs. Meanwhile, some companies are reporting record profits. Richard Partington reports by Today in Focus
27 min listen

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Scotland’s first minister Humza Yousaf resigns: On Monday, Scotland’s first minister Humza Yousaf announced his resignation. What does this mean for the Scottish National party? Severin Carrell and Libby Brooks report by Today in Focus
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Have open marriages gone mainstream?: From therapy sessions to bookshelves, interest in non-monogamous relationships seem to be soaring by Today in Focus
26 min listen
The US college protests and the crackdown on campuses: Police have arrested dozens of students across US universities this week after a crackdown on pro-Palestine protests on campuses. Erum Salam and Margaret Sullivan report from New York by Today in Focus
29 min listen
What Ukraine needs to change the course of the war: Ukraine has been granted a multibillion-dollar lifeline in military aid. But it will need more than that to prevail in the conflict with Russia. Dan Sabbagh in Kyiv and Shaun Walker report by Today in Focus
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Could a row over a council house bring down Angela Rayner? – podcast: Keir Starmer’s deputy is facing questions over the sale of her former home. But do voters care? Gaby Hinsliff reports by Today in Focus
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Sudan’s forgotten war: While conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine have captured global attention, the civil war in Sudan has been largely ignored. That can’t be allowed to continue, says the Guardian’s Nesrine Malik by Today in Focus
28 min listen
Where does the Cass report leave trans teenagers?: Dr Hilary Cass’s review of NHS gender identity services has been published. Amelia Gentleman reports on what it means for children at the centre of it all by Today in Focus
37 min listen
The chilling policy to cut Greenland’s high birth rate: In the 1960s the birthrate in Greenland was one of the world’s highest. Then it plunged. Women are now speaking out about what happened by Today in Focus
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Can Rishi Sunak create a smoke-free generation?: MPs voted this week to ban anyone aged 15 or younger in 2024 from buying cigarettes. If the legislation passes and is enacted, it would be a world first. Ben Quinn reports by Today in Focus
24 min listen
Liz Truss and her plan to ‘save the west’: Liz Truss is back – kind of. The former PM of just 49 days has published a book, Ten Years to Save the West. The Guardian’s political correspondent Eleni Courea and breaking news correspondent Martin Pengelly discuss her seeming lack of regret by Today in Focus
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Is the Middle East on the brink? podcast: After Iran launched an attack on Israel, is the region heading for all-out war? Emma Graham-Harrison reports by Today in Focus
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How Swiss women won a landmark climate case for Europe: Last week a group of older women successfully challenged the Swiss government’s climate policies at the European court of human rights. Isabella Kaminski reports by Today in Focus
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Why are so many carers being prosecuted by the UK government?: George Henderson was convicted of fraud and had to repay £19,000 in carer’s allowance years after ticking the wrong box. Patrick Butler looks at why thousands face similar prosecutions by Today in Focus
28 min listen
Stormy Daniels, Donald Trump, and the start of the hush money trial: Hugo Lowell talks through the law and the politics of a case starting this Monday against Donald Trump – the first ever criminal trial of a former or sitting US president by Today in Focus
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Profits over pipes: who should own our water?: Thames Water owes hundreds of millions of pounds in debt, and the UK government is concerned about its potential collapse. Helena Horton reports by Today in Focus
26 min listen
The devil walking on Earth part 2: Annie Kelly reports on the story of Sosa Henkoma, who was exploited by drug gangs as a child and now mentors young people at risk of gang violence by Today in Focus
23 min listen
The devil walking on Earth: part 1: Annie Kelly reports on the story of Sosa Henkoma, who was exploited by drug gangs as a child and now mentors young people at risk of gang violence by Today in Focus
30 min listen
Should the UK stop arming Israel?: The killing of six international aid workers and their Palestinian driver this week has brought new scrutiny of Israel’s conduct in its war in Gaza. Peter Beaumont and Patrick Wintour examine the growing backlash by Today in Focus
29 min listen
Scotland’s new hate crime law: The Scottish government has introduced a hate crime law that broadens protections for marginalised groups but critics say it limits freedom of speech. Libby Brooks reports by Today in Focus
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Israel divided: Netanyahu’s coalition crisis: A cabinet split over military service and protests demanding the release of hostages are threatening the PM’s grip on power, Bethan McKernan reports by Today in Focus
25 min listen
What is Reddit really worth?: The popular social media site has never made a profit and relies on an army of unpaid moderators to keep order. So what difference will a stock market listing make? Alex Hern reports by Today in Focus
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The birdwatcher fighting racism in public spaces - Podcast: Christian Cooper went viral after filming a white woman threatening him. Now he is using his platform to share his passion for nature by Today in Focus
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Who screwed millennials: a generation left behind – Full Story podcast: Guardian Australia’s Full Story co-host Jane Lee and reporter Matilda Boseley investigate the mystery of who screwed young people out of affordable housing, education and secure work by Today in Focus
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Ten years of equal marriage – what has it changed?: It’s a decade since the first same-sex marriages were performed in England and Wales. What have they meant for LGBTQ+ people? by Today in Focus
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How gangs took control of Haiti: Haiti has erupted into violence after gangs laid waste to the capital and forced the prime minister to resign. But Haitians are wary from bitter experience of outside forces intervening to find a solution to the crisis by Today in Focus
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The assisted dying debate: Paola’s story: Paola Marra ended her life last week in Switzerland after being told by doctors she could not be guaranteed a pain-free death from bowel cancer in the coming months. Robert Booth reports by Today in Focus
31 min listen
Terrorism and the battle for the truth in Moscow: Footage of four gunmen appears to support Islamic State’s claim that it masterminded the worst terrorist attack in Russia in two decades. But the Kremlin has put Ukraine in the frame. Andrew Roth reports by Today in Focus
25 min listen
The rise and fall of Vice Media: Vice Media is laying off hundreds of workers and no longer publishing journalism on its website. Sirin Kale and Sam Wolfson discuss their time at the company by Today in Focus
27 min listen
Shining a light on London’s men-only Garrick Club: The Garrick Club is one of London’s original gentlemen’s clubs. Among its members are the most powerful people in the country. Yet in 2024 women are not welcome to apply for membership. Amelia Gentleman reports by Today in Focus
25 min listen
The silencing of climate protesters in English and Welsh courts: The court of appeal ruled on Monday that the ‘consent’ defence could not be used in the cases of climate protesters. Sandra Laville reports by Today in Focus
24 min listen

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Why are so many children refusing to go to school? | Podcast

Why are so many children refusing to go to school? | Podcast

Description

Titles in the series (100)

More Episodes from Today in Focus

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