Education

Netflix’s Wayward has left fans on the edge of their seats, with a number of characters meeting their end – but who dies in the Netflix series?

WARNING: THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS SPOILERS.

Wayward, a limited series on Netflix, is the brainchild of comedian and actor Mae Martin.

The miniseries features an impressive cast including Toni Collette as Evelyn Wade and John Daniel as Rory, a student at Tall Pines Academy.

Set in the fictional town of Tall Pines in Vermont, the plot revolves around two teenagers and a local police officer who uncover the town’s hidden secrets.

Leila (portrayed by Alyvia Alyn Lind) and Abbie (Sydney Topliffe) are the teenagers at the heart of the story, with Rory forming a friendship with Abbie, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Viewers are eager to find out if Rory, among other characters, meets his end in the series.

READ MORE: Wayward ending explained: What happened to Alex at the end of Netflix’s creepy cult thriller?READ MORE: Where was Wayward filmed? Inside filming locations for Netflix’s gripping new thriller

Does Rory die in Wayward?

In the series finale, Leila and Abbie, along with Rory, execute their plan to escape from Tall Pines.

Despite successfully hiding themselves on a bus, their disappearance triggers alarm bells and they find themselves trapped.

Leila, tired of running, decides to stay behind while Abbie and Rory press on.

Unfortunately, they end up cornered, with Rory making the ultimate sacrifice so that Abbie can flee to the getaway car.

His fate remains uncertain – at the very least, he would have been recaptured by the school.

Who dies in Wayward?

Dwayne Andrews (Brandon Jay McLaren) is killed by Alex (Martin), who bludgeons him with a rock.

Martin revealed to Variety that the pair’s relationship was “all a front” and he never liked Alex.

The star revealed: “Maybe for a second he would entertain that this could be a new friendship, but I think he was a pretty territorial guy and it was always a front.”

Leila also confessed to killing her older sister Jess (Devin Cecchetto) during a flashback scene.

It emerged that Evelyn had persuaded Leila to confess she “hated” Jess, leading to Leila pushing her into the pool in a fit of rage, watching as her sister drowned from the sidelines.

Riley (Gage Munroe), despite being popular among the students of Tall Pines, was desperate to escape the school.

Tragically, he was accidentally killed by Alex at the start of the series in an act of self-defence, after Riley lunged at Alex with a kitchen knife.

Lastly, Maurice, the father of a former Tall Pines student, (Mark McKinney) met his demise at the hands of Dwayne, who made his death appear as a suicide.

Does Evelyn die in Wayward?

In the series finale, Evelyn was injected with her own poison by Alex and Rabbit (Tattiawna Jones) and was transported into a dream-like state.

She envisioned herself and a door at the back of her imagined self’s throat, with the doors continuing to multiply.

As Rabbit recited the mantra to Evelyn, her body lay lifeless in the water, but Martin told Variety Evelyn may not be dead yet.

When asked if she was definitely dead, the actor said: “I don’t think so. I think she’s a vegetable and, yeah, I’d be curious to see if she could ever come out of it, but she’s definitely a vegetable.”

Does the dog die in Wayward?

Viewers are also eager to find out if Toast – the dog belonging to Alex and Laura (Sarah Gadon) – survives until the end of the series. Thankfully, he does.

Wayward is on Netflix

Police vehicles were filmed ramming into protesters as anti-government demonstrations escalated in Morocco on Tuesday. Officials said police were attempting to disperse ‘violent and unauthorised crowds.’

Oct. 1 (UPI) — President Donald Trump said the Department of Education has reached a potential deal to settle a months-long battle with Harvard University over federal funding.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon “is finishing up the final details” of the plan, Trump said during an unrelated executive order signing Tuesday in the Oval Office.

She has “a good chance of getting that closed,” he said.

The plan would have Harvard University pay $500 million and require the school to open trade schools and teach artificial intelligence.

“They’ll be teaching people how to do AI and lots of other things, engines, lots of things,” Trump said, adding that the school would run a “series of trade schools.”

Harvard did not immediately respond to Politico and CNN‘s requests for a comment on the matter.

Trump and Harvard have been locked in a legal battle after the president attempted to withhold more than $2 billion in funding and block Harvard from admitting international students after taking issue with students’ anti-Israel protests over the war in Gaza. The administration accused Harvard of failing to crack down on anti-Semitism.

Earlier this month, U.S. Judge Allison Burroughs of the District of Massachusetts restored the funding — in the form of grants and contracts — in response to a lawsuit brought by the university and employee groups. The lawsuit accused Trump of leveraging the funding “to gain control of academic decision-making at Harvard.”

Among the programs affected by the block in funding were research in science and medicine, including on radiation exposure, ALS diagnostics and tuberculosis treatment.

On Monday, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights launched a process that could see Harvard ineligible for federal funding on Title VI grounds.

The decision of the Trump administration to raise H-1B visa fees to $100,000 has predictably evoked strong responses in the US and other parts of the world. The Trump administration signed a proclamation on September 19, 2025.

 The Trump administration’s announcement has predictably received strong support from a section of Republicans—especially those belonging to the Make America Great Again (MAGA) camp.One of the countries that is likely to be impacted by this decision in more than one way is India. Indians received over 70% of the H-1B visas issued in 2024 and happened to be the largest beneficiary of the program. Chinese nationals received 12% of the H-1B visas and happened to be the second largest beneficiary of the program. Also, several Indian companies, like Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Infosys, have been amongst the biggest beneficiaries of the H-1B visa.

China’s K Visa: The Symbolic Importance

While the US has announced this decision, China has said that it will be introducing a K Visa—which will take effect on October 1, 2025. The K visa will be an addition to the existing 12 visa types issued by China.

The visa seeks to attract talented professionals who have graduated from reputable institutions in China and other countries, especially in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Management (STEM) disciplines. In a statement, China’s Ministry of Justice said:

          ‘Barring specific age, educational background, and work experience requirements, applications for K visas do not require a domestic employer or entity to issue an invitation, and the application process will also be more streamlined.’

The symbolic importance of the K Visa, at a time when the US, along with other countries like Australia, is becoming more inward-looking in terms of immigration policies, is important. It remains to be seen if the K visa is successful in attracting talented professionals, especially from countries that do not have cordial ties with China.

It has been argued that IT companies may also seek to take advantage of the K visa by setting up operations in China. They are, however, likely to remain cautious, given the unpredictable global geopolitical situation.

Could the K-1 Visa help China in attracting international students?

The K Visa could make China a favored destination for international students—especiallystudents from parts of Asia and Africa. While US soft power has diminished in recent years, China has been taking various steps to enhance its soft power. One important tool for the same has been attracting international students.

 Given the revision in immigration policies of countries like the US, Australia, and Canada, international students from these countries have already been looking for alternatives. It would be pertinent to point out that European nations—especially Germany, France, and Spain—have been seeking to attract international students as well as professionals. Apart from liberalizing student procedures with the objective of attracting students who could contribute to innovation and R&D, several European nations, especially Germany, are beginning to introduce English-speaking courses. Other countries like the UAE and Singapore have also been making attempts to attract international students.

Conclusion

While the overall impact of the K visa remains to be seen, as discussed earlier, the timing cannot be ignored. It is unrealistic to start comparing this scheme with the H-1B visa since the US remains a favored destination for professionals from different parts of the world. Apart from this, many commentators have been arguing that the recent fee hike by the Trump administration is not feasible and will need to be revised.

Nicole Brewer, 43, an English teacher, travel advisor, and writer who runs the website ILuv2GlobeTrot, initially considered the United Arab Emirates (UAE), namely Dubai, a popular tourist destination for Westerners

A US expat who relocated to Oman 12 years ago has revealed the astonishing amount she spends on her monthly expenses. When searching for a Middle Eastern country to call home, Nicole Brewer, 43, an English teacher, travel adviser, and writer who runs the website ILuv2GlobeTrot, initially considered the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Dubai, a sought-after holiday spot for Westerners.

During her search, Nicole, an English lecturer at the University of Technology and Applied Sciences, came across a job posting for Oman by chance and decided to “give it a go.” Situated in the south-eastern corner of the Arabian Peninsula, oil-rich Oman is an Islamic country that shares borders with the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and the war-torn nation of Yemen to the southwest.

Oman also boasts a sweltering climate, with summer temperatures frequently soaring beyond 40°C. Nevertheless, Nicole feels “very relaxed” there and observed that she wouldn’t have remained in the Gulf nation for as long as she has if it were not for the “good life.”

Nicole, who hails from Detroit, now lives in the historic city of Nizwa in northern Oman and earns $44,000 per year (approximately £32,600).

However, there is another advantage to living there that may appeal to anyone facing high living costs.

She revealed to CNBC Make It‘s Millennial Money series on YouTube: “I am living in a fully furnished, two-bedroom, two-bath apartment, which costs around 250 Omani rials a month, so approximately 650 US dollars (about £480) per month in rent.

“All of my utilities are included, including water and electricity. They even provide internet. The only thing I pay for separately is my mobile phone bill. My biggest expenses are food and taxis because I actually… I don’t drive.”

Going into more detail in the video, entitled I Moved To Oman 12 Years Ago And I Am Never Going Back To The U.S., Nicole explained: “I spend roughly 25 to 30 Omani rials per week on groceries, which is equivalent to about 75 to 80 US dollars (around £55 to £60). I eat out about once a week, if that. So, including that, my monthly food costs come to roughly $400 (around £300).”

As an Islamic country, it’s crucial to understand that Oman’s rules and traditions are vastly different from those in the UK. The Foreign Office emphasises that travellers must show respect for its local faith, laws, customs, and practices.

For instance, holidaymakers and visitors are permitted to consume alcohol in licensed venues, but non-Muslim residents require a licence to drink at home; these permits are not available to non-residents.

Consuming alcohol in public is prohibited, vaping devices and e-cigarettes are banned, and people must dress modestly in public areas. Cross-dressing is illegal, as is cohabiting or sharing accommodation with someone of the opposite sex if unmarried or unrelated.

Drug offences, regardless of the substance, carry severe penalties, including the death penalty. Same-sex sexual activity is also illegal in the Gulf nation.

You can view more travel advice for Oman via the Foreign Office website.

OPENING the thick, posh envelope with an embossed school logo in her council house, single mum Sophie Goffin was shaking and unable to catch her breath. 

This was no ordinary mail delivery. The contents of the letter would decide whether her little girl had been offered a life-changing place at a top-ranking private school for FREE.

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Sophie says: “It was a nerve-wracking moment. I was about to learn if my daughter was going to get a free private school education.

“When I read Sienna had been offered a full bursary, I screamed with joy. I will never forget the sense of pride I felt and the huge smile on my daughter’s face.

“It was like winning the lottery. Even today, I cannot believe it happened. She’d received a private education for free.”

Sophie, who runs her own cat care business, The Purry Godmother, and lives in Uxbridge, West London, could never have afforded the £30k a year plus expenses it costs to send a child to school. 

But she believed that a private school would help support Sienna better.

Sophie said: “Sienna started reception in September 2016 at a local government school. She was extra bright and, in the first two years, hit her milestones early.

“I asked the school to give her extra work, but with large class sizes, she was held back slightly. She ended up helping other children instead of moving forward herself.

“If I didn’t act, she would have been bored and frustrated. So I focused on securing a fully funded bursary.”

Private schools, also called independent schools, are run outside government control and paid for by parents, while Grammar schools are state-funded but selective.

Applying to a private school can feel intimidating, Sophie admits, but she knew it was the right move for Sienna and so set about applying.

She added: “It can feel overwhelming, but really it’s just about proving what you earn and showing your child is the right fit.”

Sophie contacted the Independent Schools Bursars’ Association and the Boarding Schools’ Association for guidance, then checked schools’ websites to see who still had bursary places.

She says: “Most scholarships are awarded on merit and achievement. They usually mean only a small discount.

“Bursaries are the golden ticket to elite private schools. They are means-tested, with bigger awards for lower incomes. Some schools also factor in talent in music or sport.”

Finding the right setting

Sophie and Sienna visited Maltman’s Green Girls School in Gerrards Cross, which was within commuting distance for them.

The school takes girls from as young as two up to 11 and has been operating for more than 100 years.

Fees range from £3,210 a term for nursery up to over £8,000 a term, or £32,000 a year for Year 6 pupils.

Sophie says: “Sienna’s eyes lit up when we visited. It was an educational wonderland.

“The school had a pool, science labs, 3D printers, art and drama rooms, small class sizes and an amazing Special Educational Needs department. I knew she would flourish there.”

Sophie and Sienna’s father, a chef, 32, had to complete forms because the full bursary is awarded to parents with low incomes who could not normally afford to send their child to the school.

As part of the means testing, parents must provide earnings information, tax forms, and bank statements and are assessed regularly once their child receives a place.

She says: “Having all your financial information up to date is critical to your application.

“Sienna had to do a written assessment for English literature and maths, which helps the school assess her level.

“We also met with the school head, and Sienna had a chance to explain why she wanted to attend.

“Bursaries are highly competitive, and the final decision is made by a specialist committee.

“Waiting for the letter was a roller coaster. Everyone wants the best for their child. It all rests on the letter. 

“Sienna wanted to go to the school, and I knew it would change her life dramatically.”

After three months, Sophie says the confirmation letter’s arrival in March 2021 was a “game changer.”

Sienna joined the Year three class in the 2021 summer term, proudly wearing the school’s distinct straw hat and its blue and green check uniform.

Sophie added: “Within ten minutes of arriving, another girl had said hello and invited her on an afternoon play date.

“A free private education can happen. Sienna is proof that the impossible is possible, no matter what your income is.”

Sienna’s mum Sophie

“The school pushed her abilities, and she started to thrive and shine.”

Sienna’s bursary included school trips in Year 4 and Year 5, and in Year 6, an overseas trip.

Sophie says: “That even included her spending money. School meals are included, free after-school care is offered, and you receive all-round support.

“For parents like me, it’s an education we could never afford but one our children deserve.

“During her three and a half years there, Sienna got to use an amazing computer kit, do photography, use the school pool, learn about coding, AI technology and use their 3D printer.

“I was amazed at the facilities and the friends she made.

“The smaller class sizes helped her learn at an even faster rate.”

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Sienna has now finished Year 6 and is being home-educated for her secondary education, but remains in contact with all her private school pals.

Sophie said: “I had only ever dreamt of her having access to that standard of education, and when it became a reality, I had to pinch myself.

“I was also shocked at how many parents are not aware that bursaries exist or that they may be eligible.

“It has been life-changing, and it proves that it isn’t always some other family that gets the gold ticket.

“Government schools suit many people, but for Sienn,a the system wasn’t working.

“I was also stunned that many of my friends had no idea bursaries existed or that they would be eligible.

“It is possible to win a bursary place. If you don’t get one the first year, keep trying. 

“It’s the golden ticket to helping a child like Sienna learn at the speed she needs to and thrive.

“Many children do that at standard schools. I was lucky enough that Sienna secured a bursary place.

“A free private education can happen. Sienna is proof that the impossible is possible, no matter what your income is.”

The city is a global tourist destination, but locals are growing increasingly frustrated with the influx of visitors, with many saying they only come to the area ‘for work’

Cambridge, a city brimming with more than 800 years of history, draws in admirers from across the globe who are eager to take in its stunning architecture, world-famous universities and quintessential English charm. Yet, locals lament that the city centre is swamped by tourists, with most people “only coming in for work”.

Cambridge’s economy leans heavily on its tourism and hospitality sectors, playing host to an impressive 8.1 million visitors annually.

Despite its historical richness, Cambridge is surprisingly small, leading most tourists to visit for just a day. The sector accounts for nearly a quarter of local jobs and continues to expand, but residents aren’t exactly overjoyed.

Street performer Ray Brenan voiced his annoyance, stating: “Apart from a few old stones and its cobbled streets, I have nothing else nice to say anymore. Take away the universities and there’s really nothing else to it, it’s overrun with people visiting.”

Cambridge is globally acknowledged as the home of one of the world’s top universities. As a collegiate institution, administration is divided among smaller establishments, with over 25,000 students living and studying within their individual colleges, reports the Express.

Among the most esteemed colleges is King’s College, famed for its iconic chapel and prime city centre location. Long queues of people can be spotted outside the entrance gates along the pavements, filled with sightseers snapping photographs.

Local market trader Lorain Cheeseman revealed: “Everyone just comes here to visit people at the university”.

“We get a really huge amount of visitors, everyone is always here on holiday,” Cheeseman added. “There are a lot of students in the city, I don’t live here anymore, I just come in to work.”

Another market vendor expressed similar views: “I don’t live here and I don’t know many people who do nowadays.”

The majority of tourists who descend upon Cambridge are day-trippers. They arrive in crowded coaches, where large groups of sightseers are dropped off.

They spend several hours exploring the city before hopping back onto their transport. Express services from London also enable tourists to reach Cambridge in under an hour.

However, some local workers view the influx of people positively.

“I love selling ice cream to the visitors. Everyone is so nice and really friendly, but it does get very very busy at the stall,” shared Kristof Santha, a local ice cream stand worker.

Masters student at Cambridge, Muhammad Mudassar, echoed this sentiment: “People here are more friendly than other cities, but most people are students here like me.”

Jamie Marie, 24, has explored a number of spooky places – but her creepy experience at one abandoned asylum, the Mansfield Training School, chilled her to the core

An urban explorer has spoken about the ‘scariest night’ of her life after she paid a visit to a creepy abandoned hospital.

Jamie Marie is no stranger to spooky situations; she has braved more than 100 eerie sites. But there is one place she has vowed never to return to after a truly terrifying experience.

The Mansfield Training School in Connecticut, US, is a vast asylum that opened in 1860 but was finally shut in 1993 after years of scandal and neglect. It has been left to rot and has earned a reputation among ghost hunters who swear its dark corridors and tunnels are still haunted.

READ MORE: Inside ‘super creepy’ abandoned British barracks with ‘pitch black creaking corridors’READ MORE: Man walks into abandoned Kent pub and is shocked to discover deserted item on counter

Now Jamie has shared details of her own spine-chilling ordeal in a clip racking up 925,000 views and 152,000 likes. “An energy I felt there steered me away from the property for over a year,” the photographer and social media manager told What’s The Jam.

“I made my way down to the basement, which included storage, a former electroshock room and a crematorium. The air turned very cold, and I was overwhelmed with a strange feeling. I can’t even put it into words.

“I felt that I needed to get out immediately and proceeded to do so.”

Jamie says the basement, with its electroshock room and crematorium, was so horrifying she bolted upstairs in panic. And the 24-year-old has vowed never to step foot in an asylum again.

She said: “I have not visited the basement floor since, but I have returned to the other portions of the campus. The experience didn’t make me stop urban exploring, but it kept me away from hospitals and asylums.

READ MORE: Abandoned care home found littered with creepy dolls, mould and rotting beds

“Even as a sceptic, and someone who has been doing this for over a decade, I still become overwhelmed with the energy in these places.”

Jamie, who lives in New England, US, has seen her passion for the paranormal take her across the states.

She said: “I have always had a passion for abnormal and unsettling things. I have always loved stop-motion movies, puppets, the paranormal and everything Halloween.

“As I grew older, I needed to incorporate this interest into something more physical, like a hobby. I started exploring abandoned places with my best friend and found a way to mesh the non-physical interests of my childhood with an abnormal hobby.”

It comes after another urban explorer named Ben claimed to have spotted a ghostly figure lurking in the hallway of an abandoned school.

READ MORE: Abandoned UK zoo left eerily quiet with horrifying animal corpses left behind

“I was definitely alone in the building, it’s a very rural area and I called out and checked rooms before I started taking pictures,” he revealed to What’s the Jam.

The school was abandoned following the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami disaster in Japan in 2011, which claimed over 18,000 lives, including several thousands victims who were never recovered.

Ben continued: “The place is quite creepy because it is completely untouched. There are still the school bags on desks, homework on the walls, awards on the walls, even the plants which are dead in biology. It sits on its own on the outskirts of town with everything frozen in time.

“But it was only after looking back at my photos that I noticed a figure in the hallway. It was like a black and white figure and looked like a spirit. I just felt really weird after seeing it.

“I haven’t experienced much with the supernatural or spirits. But I know the Japanese believe spirits stay where they belong.”

At least 679 titles blacklisted, including texts on human rights, women’s rights and Western political thought.

Afghanistan‘s Taliban-run government plans to remove books written by women from university curricula.

A member of the committee reviewing textbooks confirmed the ban to BBC Afghan on Friday. The blacklisting is part of an educational decree that also prohibits education courses “deemed in conflict with Islamic Sharia”.

The committee member told BBC Afghanistan that “all books authored by women are not allowed to be taught.”

At least 679 titles were banned due to their “anti-Sharia and Taliban policies”, he added.

The books affected cover every field of study, including texts on constitutional law, Islamic political movements and the political system, as well as human rights, women’s studies and Western political thought.

A final list of banned books will be issued to universities at a later date.

A directive, which was seen by BBC Afghan, was signed by the Taliban’s deputy higher education minister, Ziaur Rahman Aryoubi, and the 50-page list of banned books was sent to Afghan universities at the end of last month.

Aryoubi said in a letter to the universities that the decisions had been taken by a panel of “religious scholars and experts” and that the banned books should be replaced with course materials that “do not conflict with Islam”.

The decree is the latest in a series of restrictions the Taliban has imposed since returning to power four years ago.

The Taliban has cracked down on many aspects of education, from firing hundreds of professors on the grounds that they “opposed” the group’s ideology to increasing mandatory religious coursework across all faculties.

Women have been particularly affected. They are no longer allowed to attend school past the sixth grade (age 12).

Universities have also been ordered to stop teaching 18 subjects, six of which are specifically about women, including gender and development. Another 201 courses were under review.

‘Misogynistic mindset’

Zakia Adeli, the former deputy minister of justice before the Taliban’s return in August 2021 and author of Political Terminology and International Relations, one of the banned books, told BBC Afghan that she was unsurprised by the move.

“Considering what the Taliban have done over the past four years, it was not far-fetched to expect them to impose changes on the curriculum,” said Adeli.

“Given the Taliban’s misogynistic mindset and policies, it is only natural that when women themselves are not allowed to study, their views, ideas and writings are also suppressed.”

Sources in the capital Kabul told the Independent Persian outlet that the ban on such a large number of textbooks would cripple the country’s higher education system, as universities will now have to dedicate significant resources to finding and acquiring replacements.

Alongside the female-authored books, a further 300 written by Iranian authors or issued by Iranian publishers are being targeted.

Sources, including one on the book review committee, said this was to “prevent the infiltration of Iranian content” into the country’s curriculum.

In recent years, the relationship between the two neighbouring countries has been strained, particularly over water rights. This tension has been further compounded by Iran’s ejection of more than 1.5 million Afghans who had been living in the country.

Mum Billie Van Der Walt and her husband Selwyn have given up their home in Manchester to see the world with their two young sons, Bligh, four, and two-year-old Rothko

A mum has ditched life in the UK to “give her boys the world” instead of sticking them in a classroom.

Last year, Billie Van Der Walt and her husband Selwyn, 35, gave up their home to hit the road with their two sons, Bligh, four, and Rothko, two.

The couple, who hail from Atherton, Greater Manchester, are currently in Vietnam – and have already made trips to Abu Dhabi, South Korea and Thailand.

It has meant that there were no ‘back to school’ photos from Billie and Selwyn; instead the proud mum took a snap of her little lad Bligh casually posing in his sunglasses with a huge travelling backpack.

READ MORE: I moved halfway across the world and there are 3 things I love about the UKREAD MORE: Missing waitress found living in Scottish tribe and doesn’t want to go home

Billie, 36, said: “There’s a little bit of guilt at him not having the milestone of the ‘picture in uniform behind the door’ and occasionally we worry that he’s missing out but we know we’re doing the right thing – giving him the world!

“Bligh is actually a year or two ahead of where a school would expect him to be – which is amazing for us because all of the learning we do is child-led.

“We’ve [also] saved hundreds on uniform, equipment etc – that’s a couple of weeks’ living costs here in Vietnam! We get to spend time together, not worrying about all the stresses of back to school.”

READ MORE: England’s ‘friendliest town’ with 400 indie shops, just an hour from London

Taking to social media to share the reality behind her decision, the mum wrote: “Sad isn’t the right word, but I’m definitely in my feels today.

“We know we made the right decision and we’re SO lucky to be living this life… BUT there’s a small part of me that’s missed getting him his own little uniform, packing him a lunch he’ll love and giving him the biggest squeezes at the school gates.

“We know he’d smash it but he’s doing SO well and as someone pointed out to us last week, we LITERALLY are giving our boys the world, still, today’s a difficult one.”

Billie continued: “Sending so much love to everyone waving their whole hearts away this morning as they trot through the school gates and I can’t WAIT to see all of their beautiful first day of school pics all over my feed in a couple of hours time.”

According to Billie and Selwyn, before they left Manchester they were often struggling to pay bills and found it hard to fit “precious family time” into one weekend. And while they were happy and coping, they lived “paycheque-to-paycheque” and relied on credit cards for unexpected expenses.

READ MORE: Families reduce holidays due to soaring costs and ‘outrageous’ extra charges

Selwyn worked long hours at a kitchen showroom while Billie stayed at home with the boys. Meanwhile, expensive nursery fees and the idea of being fined for taking their children out of school were all factors that pushed them to think differently.

Billie said: “In terms of the kids’ education, there are a few ways to describe it, but we definitely fall under worldschooling and unschooling.

“Unschooling sometimes gets a bad rap – people think it means doing nothing. But really, it’s just learning through life.”

The mum-of-two describes their approach to learning as a mix of museum visits and local experiences. While some days involve reading and workbooks, others are more spontaneous – like stopping to learn how sewer pipes are repaired or talking about history while visiting a landmark.

She said: “People have said, ‘You’re being selfish, the kids won’t even remember it,’ or ‘You’re ruining their education and future.’

“To the ones who say they won’t remember it, we always reply, ‘They won’t remember their first birthdays or Christmases either – but those moments still matter. These experiences are shaping who they are.

“I was truly happy before but now it’s as if my soul feels a little lighter. I didn’t even realise how much the weather in the UK affected my mood until we left and had more sunshine.”

The family say they have no plans to return to their old lives in the UK but hope to eventually settle somewhere with more sunshine and a slower pace. In the meantime, they have their next destination decided – China.

One bill aims to raise lagging reading skills among California children by mandating how schools teach this critical subject. Another seeks to overhaul cafeteria meals by eliminating highly processed foods. A third aims to protect students from being derailed by discrimination.

These bills and others passed by the Legislature in the session’s final busy days will directly affect the classroom experience of some 5.8 million California public schools students. Broadly speaking, these bills target students’ minds, health and emotional well-being — and the results were not without controversy.

The measures now land on the desk of Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has until Oct. 12 to approve or reject them.

Assembly Bill 715: Anti-discrimination

Among the most hotly contested education-related measures, Assembly Bill 715 was spawned from dissatisfaction — largely among a coalition of Jewish groups — to the way ethnic studies is being taught in some California classrooms. Critics say that in some schools, ethnic studies classes have improperly focused on the Israel-Palestinian conflict and that they reflect bias against Jews. The allegations of bias are denied by those instructors who include the conflict in their syllabus.

The final version of the bill — paired with companion Senate Bill 48 — would expand the focus beyond antisemitism, a revision that responds to those who questioned why the original bill language addressed only discrimination against Jews.

“California has taken a historic stand against antisemitism in our schools,” said David Bocarsly, executive director of the Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California. “For far too long, Jewish students have endured slurs, bullying, and open hostility in their classrooms with nowhere to turn. AB 715 is a promise to those students — and to all children in California — that they are not invisible, that their safety and dignity matter.”

The legislation that finally emerged would create a state Office for Civil Rights that reports to the governor’s cabinet. It would take on a monitoring and assistance mission — fielding complaints and questions; preparing learning materials and reports on identifying and combating discrimination; and helping teachers, schools and school districts comply with state anti-discrimination laws.

Different forms of discrimination would be addressed by a specialized coordinator — one each for antisemitism, religious discrimination, race and ethnicity discrimination, gender discrimination and LGBTQ+ discrimination.

Issues related to ethnic studies would include ensuring anti-discriminatory course and teacher training materials. To investigate formal complaints, the state would rely on an existing complaint procedure, which examines alleged violations involving discrimination, harassment, intimidation and bullying.

Critics of AB 715 — which include the California Teachers Assn. — acknowledge that bill was revised to address their concerns but still oppose it. They say it could chill discussion of controversial issues in ethnic students and elsewhere and also falsely equate legitimate criticism of Israel with antisemitism.

AB 1454: Science of Reading

A sweeping bill would overhaul how reading is taught in California classrooms — mandating phonics-based lessons and culminating decades of debate on how best to teach children this foundational skill. The bill is unusual in a state that generally emphasizes local control over instruction.

AB 1454 would require school districts to adopt instructional materials grounded in what supporters call the “science of reading,” which is based on research about how young children learn to read.

The now-favored approach leans heavily on decoding and sounding out words based on the letter sounds, while laying out five pillars for more effective instruction: phonemic awareness (the sounds that letters make), phonics, reading fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.

The hope is that this teaching style will boost persistently disappointing test scores.

A 2022 study of 300 school districts in California found that fewer than 2% of districts were using curricula that proponents viewed as sufficiently strong in science-of-reading practices.

These advocates have long been critical of alternative “whole language” approaches that rely heavily on the concept that children are more engaged when they learn to read with less emphasis on decoding words. Teachers focus instead on surrounding children with books to foster a love of reading, directing children to figure out unknown words based on context, pictures and other clues.

“Transforming California’s education system requires a coordinated approach rooted in proven solutions,” said Marshall Tuck, CEO of EdVoice, an education advocacy nonprofit that has championed the change.

Many California teachers, however, remain committed to different methods and chafe at a state-mandated approach, especially one that runs counter to their classroom experience and previous training. Advocates for students learning English have voiced especially strong opposition to the science-of-reading philosophy.

AB 1264: Ultra-processed foods

Chicken nuggets, corn dogs, packaged frozen pizza, chips, canned fruits and sugary cereals are the types of ultra-processed foods in school meals targeted in Assembly Bill 1264, which would require healthier cafeteria options in the years ahead.

Heavily processed foods often include reconstituted meat along with chemical additives such as preservatives, emulsifiers, coloring and other ingredients absent from scratch cooking — not to mention added sugars, fats and salt — that together can harm students “physical and mental health and interfere with their ability to learn,” according to bill author Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino).

The bill was opposed by manufacturers who considered it too constraining and too subject to non-scientific whims.

The final version eased some concerns by setting up a review process rather than simply listing foods and chemicals to ban. There also is a gradual phase-in over several years.

The expectation is that processed foods that remain on the menu will be healthier and also that there will be an acceleration of efforts to prepare foods within school kitchens, relying as much as possible on local and fresh ingredients.

AB 564: Cannabis tax and child care

The Legislature also voted to claw back an increase to the cannabis excise tax, which took effect in July and raised the state tax rate paid by consumers to 19%. The goal is to bolster the struggling legal-cannabis industry. A chunk of child-care funding is among the casualties of the lower tax revenue.

Assembly Bill 564 would mean an estimated $180-million annual reduction for law enforcement, child care, services for at-risk youth and environmental cleanup. Of the total, about $81 million would have funded subsidized child-care slots for about 8,000 children from low-income families. Overall, the state budget to assist with child care is $7 billion, a figure that advocates view as short of what’s needed, especially with further potential cuts looming.

Other notable measures

Assembly Bill 461 would end the treatment of truancy as a crime under state law. Existing law can subject the parent or guardian of a student who is chronically absent or late to school with a fine of up to $2,000 and imprisonment for up to one year.

Prosecutions are rare and the potential penalties are typically viewed as deterrents. But the pendulum in California has shifted away from tough-on-truancy measures to alternatives such as counseling and family assistance.

The Legislature also has passed bills in support of immigrant families, that will frequently have a carryover effect on how schools operate, such as a bill that bars immigration officers from campus unless they have a valid judicial warrant.

Times staff writer Daniel Miller contributed to this report. Gold reports for The Times’ early childhood education initiative, focusing on the learning and development of California children from birth to age 5. For more information about the initiative and its philanthropic funders, go to latimes.com/earlyed.

Authors: Talal Alhathal and Amir Dhia*

In a dynamic world where higher education is a gateway to opportunity, far too many talented youth remain locked out—trapped behind financial, social, and political barriers. For marginalized and conflict-affected youth, the dream of attending university is often deferred, if not entirely extinguished. Yet, there is a proven solution hiding in plain sight: inclusive, quality and relevant scholarship programs.

Scholarships must not be seen as charity, but as investments in human capital and development in society. Inclusive scholarships do more than fund tuition. They serve as transformative interventions—paving futures and restoring dignity. And for higher education institutions (HEIs), these scholarships can be catalysts for innovation, reshaping the global education landscape.

Overcoming the Persistent Barriers to Higher Education