Education

Brilliant Brollies

February quirkily celebrates the humble umbrella and its portable dryness! Every year on the 10th of February, National Umbrella Day offers a chance to appreciate that most British of companions: the trusty brolly. Far more than a practical tool for navigating our famously damp weather, the umbrella is a design icon with a surprisingly long history. Its story begins not in the UK, but in ancient civilisations. Early versions were used in Egypt, Assyria, and China over 4,000 y

Disordered Eating Aware

24th February to 1st March 2026 marks Eating Disorders Awareness Week Have you heard of Eating Disorders Awareness Week (EDAW)? This month we see this vital campaign dedicated to dismantling stigma, disseminating life-saving information, and illuminating the path to recovery for the 1.25 million individuals nationwide affected by these severe mental illnesses. EDAW 2026 not only aims to deepen public comprehension of clinical diagnoses but also to cast a critical spotlight o

The Learning List

Your Antidote to New Year's Resolution Burnout As January dawns, our social feeds flood with a familiar, punishing mantra: New Year, New You. This "new you" is almost invariably thinner, stronger, and fuelled by restrictive diets and grueling gym sessions. But what if the most rewarding transformation this year isn't physical, but mental and creative? Instead of vowing to punish your body in a packed gym, consider a more joyful and sustainable path to self-improvement: creati

Staffordshire's Heros

Samuel Parkes Born in Tamworth in 1815, Parkes was a private in the 4th Light Dragoons. He was the first private soldier to receive the Victoria Cross in 1857 for his bravery during the Charge of the Light Brigade, where he saved the life of a trumpeter by fighting off six Cossacks. He was later taken prisoner when his sword was shot from his hand. Samuel was born in Tamworth and he worked as a labourer before joining the 4th Queens Own Light Dragoons in 1831, aged just