is homework getting banned in ireland

President Michael D Higgins says homework should be banned in Ireland

The country’s favourite leader believes that school activities should end at the school gate and students should be encouraged to engage in more creative pursuits

• 10:39, 21 JAN 2023

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President Michael D Higgins has called for homework to be banned.

The country’s favourite leader has given hope to a new generation of students that the bane of their afterschool evenings could be scrapped. President Higgins argues that this would make time for young people to engage in more creative pursuits outside school hours.

The former Arts Minister believes that school activities should end at the school gate. He was speaking to RTE’s news2day current affairs and news programme for children on the occasion of the programme’s 20th birthday.

Read more: Children being 'corrupted' by drug dealing situation in Oliver Bond flats, Dail told

When asked what his opinion of homework President Higgins said: “I think myself, really that the time at home, and the time in the school is an educational experience and it should get finished at the school and people should be able to use their time for other creative things.”

To mark the show’s two decades on air, students from St Kevin’s National School, Littleton, County Tipperary put questions from RTÉ news2day viewers to President Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin. In a wide-ranging interview, the children asked the President questions like, what was your favourite sport when you were in school?

When you were nine years old what did you want to be? And when did you decide you wanted to be President?

The students also asked the President about his dogs, his official trips abroad, his favourite subject in school, differences between now and when he was a child and his favourite book. The President also spoke to the children about his love of handball and the importance of friendship in their lives.

RTÉ news2day will broadcast some of the President’s interview as part of Friday afternoon’s birthday celebrations at 4.20pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ News channel and the full interview will be available later on Friday evening on the RTÉ Player. In a message to the children of Ireland and the viewers of RTÉ news2day, President Michael D. Higgins gave this advice: “To stay curious about everything and I think it’s important to make sure you don’t miss the joy of sharing information.

“And I think an important thing is friendship and to make sure that there’s no one left without friendship and that people belong. And we will all do individual things... but I think friendships that you make will in fact always be great memories and that is so important. And also have the courage to stand your own ground and let other children be allowed the space of standing their ground too because none of us are the same.

“We’re all unique but at the same time we have a lot going for us.” President Higgins also encouraged the children of Ireland to speak the Irish language.

He encouraged them to speak Irish in a fun way and to feel free to use whatever bits of the language that they have.

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Showing now | lifestyle.

Mary-Kate Findon | Saturday 21 January 2023 16:06 GMT

Irish president suggests schools should avoid setting children homework

Ireland's president has suggested that schools should avoid assigning children homework, leaving school at the gates.

Michael D Higgins shared his beliefs on the matter during a sit down with students that was broadcast on RTE.

"People should be able to use their time for other creative things," he told the children during his visit to Tipperary.

The 81-year-old also offered words of wisdom for the young people, urging them to "stay curious about everything."

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Banning homework: Taoiseach says schoolchildren get too much homework but doesn't call for ban

Varadkar said he'd have to speak to Minister for Education, Norma Foley, about the matter

• 15:07, 30 JAN 2023
• Updated 13:12, 20 JUL 2023

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Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said he will talk to Minister for Education, Norma Foley, on the issue of getting rid of homework.

Varadkar on homework

While Varadkar didn't say he supported call to ban homework for schoolchildren, he did tell Newstalk that he felt some children get "too much" homework.

Asked about the homework debate today, Varadkar said he'd have to speak to Foley about it.

"We haven't had a chance to discuss it," he said.

Varadkar added that he "definitely" think kids have "too much homework".

"You could have a long day in class, get home in the early evening and then face three hours of homework.

"I remember that when I was a kid, staying up very late to do homework.

"I think there's definitely a place for homework but we need to make sure that there isn't too much of it."

The debate was sparked by President Michael D Higgins saying he was in favour of getting rid of homework.

Support for banning homework

Speaking on RTÉ last week, Higgins argued that getting rid of homework would allow young people more time to engage in creative pursuits outside of school hours.

The president was asked for his thoughts on homework and responded that he wasn't in favour of it.

"I think myself, really that the time at home, and the time in the school is an educational experience and it should get finished at the school and people should be able to use their time for other creative things."

When Varadkar was asked if he minded Higgins making a public comment on homework, the Taoiseach responded that the president's comments are "always welcome".

School policy on homework

Minister for Education, Norma Foley, has said she won't debate the homework ban issue with President Michael D Higgins.

A little over a week ago, Higgins told the nation's children that he was against schoolwork continuing beyond the school gates, in an address broadcast on RTÉ's news2day.

Foley said it was up to schools to decide on their homework policy.

She told The Irish Mirror that she wasn't going to get into it with the president.

"It would not be appropriate for a government minister to engage in public debate with the office of the president," she said.

"Currently schools are free to have their own policy on homework and these policies are created in conjunction with senior management and staff, the boards of management, parents and the pupils.

"Schools are in of themselves places where creative pursuits are cultivated, nurtured and encouraged and that creativity may also be reflected in homework."

In a recent poll, it was revealed that Irish Mirror readers were overwhelmingly in favour of banning homework, with 98 per cent of readers voting in favour of a ban.

In a landslide decision, 57,440 readers voted yes, while just 1,211 voted no.

Benefits of homework

Minister Foley recently said that her department doesn't "issue any guidelines relating to homework being given in schools.

"It is a matter for each school, at local level, to arrive at its own homework policy".

It followed a question from Fine Gael's Neale Richmond who asked if research has been carried out by her department into the benefits of ending the provision of homework for primary school pupils.

He told The Irish Mirror that children should be involved in conversations about their schools homework policy.

Minister Richmond said: "I submitted the Parliamentary Question following a visit to one of my local primary schools.

"The pupils were genuinely interested in the policy relating to homework going forward and I agreed it's an important discussion to involve pupils in."

Foley told her government colleague that the Department of Education has not commissioned research on the matter.

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President Michael D Higgins calls for school homework to be scrapped

President Michael D Higgins stopped by St Kevin's National School in Tipperary where the pupils interviewed him about his dogs, his time in school and his view on homework

• 15:01, 21 JAN 2023

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President of Ireland Michael D Higgins has said he supports the scrapping of homework.

He addressed students of St Kevin's National School, Littleton, Co Tipperary, this week in an episode of RTE's news2day programme.

The President said that schoolwork should be completed in school time so children can use time after school to pursue more creative activities.

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“People should be able to use their time for other creative things,” he said.

"I think as much as possible that [homework] should happen in the school and I think it’s more relaxed than it used to be.”

He said that not all lessons are learned from books, but that the responsible use of phones is something that he hopes the younger generation will be acutely aware of.

The children of Ireland "have a great value of friendships" and this makes it even more tragic when there is an "abuse of phones for bullying", the President said.

The pupils were also curious about some of the other residents of Aras an Uachtaran - dogs Brod and Misneach.

"He's probably a very famous dog now," said President Higgins of Brod. "He will be 11 in February, which is a very good age for a Bernese Mountain dog and Bród is wonderful.

"He came here at six weeks old, so he's lived all of his life at the Áras..

As for Misneach, he said: "He came during Covid and because I couldn't collect him because of the ban on inter-county travel, he didn't come to me until he was five months old.

"He also didn't have a good journey here, so he's actually shy. He's a beautiful dog."

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Students and parents plead case for homework ban

School children and parents pleaded with the Minister for Education Norma Foley to step in and introduce a homework ban.

In letters to the minister, kids wrote about how they were being forced to give up hobbies because they were given so much work to do after school.

The correspondence followed comments by President Michael D Higgins in January that a ban on homework should be considered.

In one letter, a school child wrote about how seven hours of school each day was “plenty of education” and that more work on top was unnecessary.

“I do not ask for homework to be completely banned but for it to be reduced to a certain limit. Otherwise, if there is a constant build-up of homework daily, it can cause stress and even a lack of exercise which will affect a person’s well-being.”

Another said they felt homework was a “waste of time” and that a ban should be introduced.

They wrote: “Kids should be doing more creative things with their time after school. Many kids have had to stop doing hobbies they have because of it.

“It is a burden to parents, kids, and teachers [and] so for the above reasons, I think you should BAN HOMEWORK!”

Homework annoys teachers

One hand-written letter, decorated with a Minnie Mouse bow, said homework was “annoying for teachers and pupils”.

“I play soccer and love writing stories, but because of homework, I have no time for doing these things. For teachers, it gives them more copies to correct and they have to go through the trouble of deciding what [homework] to give.”

A secondary school student said that if “sleeping isn’t for school” then “work isn’t for home”.

They explained how they did between one and two hours of homework every evening after school and sometimes more.

“When I would finish, there would be barely any time for me to relax before I had to go to bed to get enough sleep to get up in the morning,” said their letter.

“As I’m sure you’re aware, our president Michael D Higgins also thinks that homework should be banned so if you don’t want to listen to me, listen to our President.”

Another suggested there could at least be a compromise so that students would not be given homework for over the weekend.

“[This would relieve] students of mental stress,” they said.

Help parents

One young student said they were left with no time to help their parents, or to learn how to cook or do other activities around the house.

They said: “We all do activities like swimming, dance, and all other sports. It’s hard work and it’s stressful and it’s unfair.”

A single parent also wrote in to explain how one of their children was getting two hours of written homework every day.

They said: “We need time to teach them life skills such as sewing, cooking, how to work the washing machine, change their own bed sheets and personal care.

“These teachings are very hard for parents with zero [time] left in the evenings. There is no time for them to spend with siblings and parents because they are so tired.”

In responses, the Department of Education told the letter writers that homework policy was not within its powers.

In emails, they said: “The Department does not issue direct guidelines relating to homework being given in schools. It is a matter for each school, at local level, to arrive at its own homework policy.

“In keeping with good practice, the process of drafting a homework policy should involve consultation with teachers, parents, and students.

“However, the Department does acknowledge that homework can play an important part in helping pupils prepare for forthcoming class work and in reinforcing work already covered during class time.”

• Education ,
• Norma Foley ,
• President Michael D Higgins ,
• Minister for Education ,
• homework ban

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14th Mar 2023

Pupils and parents call on government to introduce homework ban

Kat O'Connor

Is it time to ban homework in Ireland?

Parents and pupils are calling on Minister for Education Norma Foley to ban homework in Ireland.

Many parents have voiced their concerns about the level of homework their kids get, but they’re taking it a step further by writing to the Education Minister.

Foley has received multiple letters from both children and parents about why a homework ban is needed.

According to The Irish Examiner , children revealed that homework is having a negative impact on their lives outside of school.

Many pupils believe they do enough work in school and stressed that there is little benefit to spending hours doing homework in the evenings.

One child wrote;

“I do not ask for homework to be completely banned but for it to be reduced to a certain limit. Otherwise, if there is a constant build-up of homework daily, it can cause stress and even a lack of exercise which will affect a person’s well-being.”

Many children told Foley that homework was “a waste of time”. Others said it was a “burden to parents, kids, and teachers.”

Varadkar said homework should not be banned completely

Both Leo Varadkar and Michael D. Higgins have expressed concerns about the amount of homework children are getting in Ireland.

However, Varadkar does not believe in a complete ban on homework.

He previously said there’s a place for homework in our education system, but we need to have a fair balance.

“You could have a long day in class, get home in the early evening, and then face, you know, three hours of homework.

“I remember that when I was a kid, staying up very late to do homework,” he shared.

Varadkar stressed that it shouldn’t be banned completely, but scaled back.

President Higgins also voiced his concerns about homework

The President of Ireland agreed with parents and said children should have more free time after school.

He told RTÉ’s news2day: “I think myself, really that the time at home and the time in school is an educational experience and it should get finished at the school and people should be able to use their time for other creative things.”

Do you think homework should be banned in Ireland?

Related Links:

Parents call for homework to be banned in ireland, varadkar agrees that children are getting too much homework, foley responds to homework ban calls and parents are furious, related articles.

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Schoolchildren and parents urge minister to introduce homework ban

The Department of Education told the letter writers that homework policy was not within its powers. File picture: PA

Schoolchildren and parents have pleaded with Education Minister Norma Foley to step in and introduce a homework ban.

In letters to the minister, children wrote about how they were being forced to give up hobbies because they were given so much work to do after school.

The correspondence followed comments by President Michael D Higgins in January that a ban on homework should be considered.

In one letter, a child wrote about how seven hours of school each day was “plenty of education”.

“I do not ask for homework to be completely banned but for it to be reduced to a certain limit. 

Otherwise, if there is a constant build-up of homework daily, it can cause stress and even a lack of exercise which will affect a person’s well-being.

Another wrote: “Kids should be doing more creative things with their time after school. Many kids have had to stop doing hobbies because of it." 

One handwritten letter, decorated with a Minnie Mouse bow, said homework was “annoying for teachers and pupils”.

“I play soccer and love writing stories, but because of homework, I have no time for doing these things. For teachers, it gives them more copies to correct and they have to go through the trouble of deciding what homework to give.” 

A secondary school student said that if “sleeping isn’t for school” then “work isn’t for home”.

“When I would finish homework, there would be barely any time for me to relax before I had to go to bed to get enough sleep to get up in the morning,” said their letter.

“As I’m sure you’re aware, our president Michael D Higgins also thinks that homework should be banned so if you don’t want to listen to me, listen to our President.” 

What's your view on this issue?

You can tell us here

A single parent also wrote in to explain how one of their children was getting two hours of written homework every day.

They said: “We need time to teach them life skills such as sewing, cooking, how to work the washing machine, change their own bed sheets, and personal care.

“These teachings are very hard for parents with zero time left in the evenings. There is no time for them to spend with siblings and parents because they are so tired.” 

Department response

In response, the Department of Education told the letter writers that homework policy was not within its powers.

In emails, the department said: "It is a matter for each school, at local level, to arrive at its own homework policy.

“In keeping with good practice, the process of drafting a homework policy should involve consultation with teachers, parents, and students.

“However, the department does acknowledge that homework can play an important part in helping pupils prepare for forthcoming class work and in reinforcing work already covered during class time.”

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The President Of Ireland Wants To Get Rid Of Homework & Honestly, He's Onto Something

“The time in the school is an educational experience and it should get finished at the school.”

Do you know who doesn’t like homework? Kids — and certain presidents. In an impassioned plea to the people of his nation, President Michael D. Higgins has called for a ban on homework across Ireland. And if small children were given the right to vote tomorrow, I feel fairly certain I know whose name they would be supporting on the ballot.

Higgins, who is himself a former Arts Minister of Ireland and therefore, in my opinion, knows a little about the subject, spoke to Ireland’s news program for kids RTE’s news2day at St. Kevin’s School in Tipperary about a number of subjects. What he wanted to be when he was a kid himself. What was his favorite sport in school, which he said was handball. When did he decide he wanted to be president. And then, the mutual bane of their existence — homework.

“I think myself, really that the time at home, and the time in the school is an educational experience and it should get finished at the school and people should be able to use their time for other creative things,” Higgins told his interviewers, four children hanging on his every word.

While it remains unclear if Higgins has begun any official paperwork to ban homework, which would ironically be homework for him, his sentiment resonated with his many fans. Children and social media users alike in fact. One person tweeted their appreciation of the fact that Higgins was “running his nation like the little Hobbit he is.”

Another social media user wondered if Higgins was really a “forest sprite.”

This social media user found the idea inspiring , writing, “We need a national conversation on how to bring more play, creativity, imagination, movement and positive experiences into our children’s lives. Banning homework would be a great first step.”

Higgins ended his interview with a message to children about the importance of fostering their friendships and telling them to “stay curious about everything and I think it’s important to make sure you don’t miss the joy of sharing information. And I think an important thing is friendship and to make sure that there’s no one left without friendship and that people belong. And we will all do individual things... but I think friendships that you make will in fact always be great memories and that is so important.”

I think he’s on to something.

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27th Jan 2023

No plans to abolish homework, says Minister Foley

Kat O'Connor

Do you think homework should be scrapped in Ireland?

Minister for Education Norma Foley has said she has no plans to abolish homework in Ireland.

The Minister commented on the issue after President Michael D. Higgins suggested recently that homework be scrapped so that children could pursue “other creative things”.

But Foley does not agree, stating that it is up to each individual school to set its own homework policy.

“It would not be appropriate for a Government Minister to engage in the public debate with the office of the President,” she told the Irish Mirror .

Foley added that schools can make their own homework policies and that it is not up to the Government to scrap homework.

“These policies are created in conjunction with senior management and staff, the boards of management, parents, and the pupils,” she explained.

“Schools are in of themselves places where creative pursuits are cultivated, nurtured and encouraged. “That creativity may also be reflected in homework.”

While appearing on  RTÉ news2day to mark its 20th anniversary, the President of Ireland was asked by students from St Kevin’s National School in Littleton, Tipperary his thoughts on homework.

“I think myself, really that the time at home and the time in school is an educational experience,” he responded.

“It should get finished at the school.”

“People should be able to use their time for other creative things.”

In regard to homework, many parents feel it takes up too much of their children’s time during the evening.

However, others argue it helps kids make more progress in school and that it benefits their communication and reading skills.

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Taoiseach Leo Varadkar admits schoolchildren can get too much homework but stops short of supporting calls for ban

"I think there's definitely a place for homework but we need to make sure that there isn't too much of it."

• 12:15, 30 JAN 2023

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Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has stopped short of supporting calls for a ban on homework for schoolchildren but admits some children get “too much.”

His comments come just weeks after President Michael D Higgins called for homework to be banned.

The Fine Gael leader told Newstalk's Pat Kenny Show that he will now talk to Education Minister Norma Foley about the matter.

Read More : 'Nasty storm' with hurricane force winds to narrowly avoid Ireland this week

In an interview with RTÉ’s News2Day, President Higgins said that he believed time at home should be spent doing more creative activities.

“I think myself, really that the time at home, and the time in the school is an educational experience and it should get finished at the school and people should be able to use their time for other creative things," the former Arts Minister told schoolchildren in attendance.”

The Taoiseach has now weighed in on the homework debate, saying that he thinks children get too much homework.

Mr Varadkar said: “I guess I'd have to talk to Minister Foley about that. We haven't had a chance to discuss it.

“I think definitely kids can have too much homework.

“You could have a long day in class, get home in the early evening and then face, you know, three hours of homework.

“I remember that when I was a kid, staying up very late to do homework.

“I think there's definitely a place for homework but we need to make sure that there isn't too much of it.”

When asked if he minded President Higgins making public comments on homework, the Taoiseach noted that his contributions are “always welcome”.

In a recent survey, Irish Mirror readers were also overwhelmingly in favour of banning homework, with 98% of our readers in favour.

In a landslide decision, 57,440 readers voted yes, while just 1,211 voted no.

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Out of Sight, Out of Mind?

The impact of phone presence on cognitive performance..

Posted August 20, 2024 | Reviewed by Gary Drevitch

• Understanding Attention
• Take our ADHD Test
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• The omnipresence of smartphones in our daily lives mean that they take up a huge portion of our attention.
• The over reliance on smartphone use trains the brain to be inattentive and reinforces immediate gratification.
• Setting times throughout the day when we can go smartphone-free can help us improve our productivity.
• Being educated on the impact of smartphone presence on our cognitive capacity is important.

Picture this: You’re sitting at your desk, finally getting to that task that you’ve been putting off for ages. You’ve even put your phone in your bag and out of sight. Finally, you feel focused. You’re in a flow. But every once in a while, you feel the need to peek into that bag and check your phone. Maybe someone is trying to contact you? Maybe there’s an emergency! Despite these thoughts, you resist the urge and keep working. Do you think you’re having a productive work session?

Think again.

We believe that putting our phone face-side down on our desk, or away in our bag, is enough to prevent us from being distracted. However, a landmark study by Ward and colleagues has found that the mere presence of your smartphone, even if it’s out of your visual field, can be a major distraction to your brain, a concept known as “brain drain."

Ward et al. tested the “brain drain” hypothesis on 548 college students at the University of Texas. In the experiment, the students were divided into 3 groups and asked to complete a set of cognitive performance tests. Group 1 had their phones facing down on their desk, Group 2 had their phones in their bag, and Group 3 had their phones outside the room. Guess which group performed the best? The group that was required to put their phones in another room scored significantly higher than Groups 1 (phones facing down) and 2 (phones in a bag in the room). In fact, Ward noticed that the farther away their phone was from their workspace, the less of an impact it had on their attention . This indicates that even when people can successfully avoid checking their phones, the mere presence of the smartphone creates a “brain drain” and undermines their cognitive capabilities. Why?

Well, our brains can only focus on a few pieces of information at once. In a world where we are constantly bombarded with stimuli, our brains must prioritize what to focus on. We tend to pay more attention to stimuli that are the most ubiquitous and relevant to us. These days, smartphones fit the bill.

Smartphones have become integral to our daily lives. Connected to an endless supply of information, entertainment, and friends, we have become increasingly dependent on them. In fact, smartphone users engage with their devices an average of more than 150 times a day, starting from the moment they wake up to right before sleep, and even in the middle of the night (Perlow 2012; Andrews et al. 2015; dscout 2016). This means that youth are not focused on a task for more than a few minutes at a time, on average, without their attention being fragmented by phone checking. Their omnipresence and personal relevance to our everyday functioning mean that phones take up a huge portion of our attention, thus leaving less space for other things. In essence, an overreliance on smartphone use trains the brain to be inattentive and reinforces immediate gratification, as well as impairs one's ability to delay gratification, the very skills needed to excel in school, work, and life.

A meta-analysis pooling data from 22 studies examined the relationship between phone presence and our cognitive performance, to confirm if the “brain drain” hypothesis holds weight. Overall, the analysis confirmed the findings from Ward’s study: The farther away your phone is from you, the easier it is to concentrate.

This has huge implications for productivity in school, work, and daily life. Few stimuli are so personally relevant and perpetually present as a smartphone. By connecting us to a seemingly endless hub of information, smartphones have helped us manage and enhance our daily lives. We can all agree that smartphones aren't going anywhere. However, we must ask ourselves how our dependence on these devices can affect our ability to think and function in the world off-screen. With our phones constantly battling for our attention, how do we prevent them from negatively impacting our cognitive performance at work and our academic performance in school?

Perhaps more of a balance is needed. In schools, students are increasingly distracted by their phones during class time, undermining their learning. Countries like France, Italy, Finland, and The Netherlands, as well as some states in the U.S. and provinces in Canada, have banned smartphone use in elementary schools and colleges, which promotes greater focus and attentiveness during classes. For adults, setting times throughout the day when we can go smartphone-free can help us improve our productivity. We should also educate ourselves on the impact of phone usage on our brains so we can make more informed decisions when trying to complete an assignment or finish our homework. Most importantly, the next time you’re trying to get some work done, completing a school assignment, or studying for a test or exam, try putting your phone outside the room and not simply turning it upside down on the desk or putting it in a desk drawer right beside you.

Andrews, Sally, David A. Ellis, Heather Shaw, and Lukasz Piwek (2015), “Beyond Self-Report: Tools to Compare Estimated and Real-World Smartphone Use,” PLoS One, 10 (10), 1–9.

Böttger, T., Poschik, M., & Zierer, K. (2023). Does the Brain Drain Effect Really Exist? A Meta-Analysis. Behavioral Sciences, 13(9), 751.

dscout (2016), “Mobile Touches: dscout’s Inaugural Study on Humans and Their Tech,” research report, https://blog.dscout.com/hubfs/downloads/dscout_mobile_touches_study_201… .

Perlow, Leslie A. (2012), Sleeping with Your Smartphone: How to Break the 24/7 Habit and Change the Way You Work, Boston: Harvard Business Review Press.

Ward, A.F.; Duke, K.; Gneezy, A.; Bos, M.W. Brain Drain: The Mere Presence of One’s Own Smartphone Reduces Available Cognitive Capacity. J. Assoc. Consum. Res. 2017, 2, 140–154.

Gary Goldfield, PhD., C. Psych., is a Senior Scientist with the Healthy Active Living & Obesity (HALO) Research Group at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute in Ottawa, Canada.

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Money blog: Top Yorkshire chef shares Yorkshire pudding secrets - including mistake you're almost definitely making

Welcome to the Money blog, your place for personal finance and consumer news and tips. Today's posts include Yorkshire pudding tips in Cheap Eats and a look at big brands' returns charges. Leave a comment on anything we're covering in the box below.

Wednesday 21 August 2024 07:33, UK

• The death of the free return - each major store's policy revealed
• New timeline for €7 visa-waiver charge to visit Europe
• Gold price reaches record high - here's what's going on

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• Cheap Eats : Top Yorkshire chef shares Yorkshire pudding secrets
• How much does it cost to buy a Premier League home kit in 2024?
• Pay at every supermarket revealed - and perks staff get
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Every Wednesday we ask Michelin chefs to pick their favourite Cheap Eats where they live and when they cook at home. This week we speak to James Mackenzie, chef and owner of East Yorkshire's only Michelin-star restaurant - the Pipe and Glass in South Dalton.

Hi James, can you tell us your favourite places in East Yorkshire where you can get a meal for two for less than £40?

You can't beat brunch at Drewton's Farm Shop and Kitchen . Nestled in the beautiful Yorkshire Wolds, they serve a fantastic all-day breakfast using local ingredients, including their own craft sausages and Doreen's black pudding. It certainly sets you up for a busy day.

My second choice is Laveracks , a butcher/deli with shops in nearby Holme on Spalding Moor and Pocklington. They make great sausage rolls that hit the spot if I'm out and about - they're a generous size wrapped in delicious home-made pastry. The pies are chunky too, they don't scrimp on the filling and the flavours are fab. They also offer a top-quality selection of meats - everything that a great butcher should be.

What is your go-to cheap eat to cook at home when you have a night in?

You can't beat a family Sunday roast complete with all the trimmings and a sky-high Yorkshire pudding or two. 

Yorkshire pudding is the first recipe that I ever made. I was about five or six, and I can remember cracking the eggs and whisking like mad, and my mum saying, "Carry on, they need more air" - but I think this was just a ploy to keep me occupied and had nothing to do with her recipe.

This recipe is simple and it uses an excessive amount of eggs to create the biggest Yorkies you've ever made.

And make sure you don't make the common mistake of seasoning your batter too early.

Make sure you let it rest before adding salt at the last minute before cooking - otherwise it affects the rise.

Ingredients (makes 10)

• 300ml full-fat milk
• 260g plain flour
• Goose or duck fat or beef dripping, or rapeseed oil if preferred
• Salt and freshly ground white pepper
• Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas mark 4;
• Place the eggs and milk into a mixing bowl and whisk together, sieve the flour in and mix with a hand blender until you've got a smooth batter. Leave to stand for at least 10 minutes;
• In a 12-hole baking tray place a tablespoon of fat into each mould and put in the oven until smoking hot;
• Season the batter immediately before you pour it into the smoking hot tray - this will stop the salt breaking down the egg and your puddings will rise really well;
• Fill up 10 moulds nearly full around the edge of the tray, leaving two moulds in the middle free to allow the heat to circulate evenly;
• Bake for 35 minutes and don't be tempted to open the oven door earlier or they will collapse.

We've spoken to lots of top chefs - check out their cheap eats from around the country here...

Over half of fashion retailers now charge customers for postal returns, new research shows.

The consumer choice website Which? found that 12 out of the UK's 20 biggest online retailers no longer offer free postal or courier returns. 

PrettyLittleThing, H&M and Boohoo are among the stores charging the lowest return fee at £1.99 while MandM Direct charges customers between £2.99-£3.99.

Also among the retailers Which? looked at were JD Sports, Matalan, New Look, Next, River Island, Sports Direct, TK Maxx and Zara.

When Which? examined the pages for Zara, River Island and New Look it found the stores outlined their fees on product listing pages, but many of the other retailers did not explicitly state during the checkout process that customers have to pay for returns.

And apart from Sports Direct - which only accepts online returns via post - all of the retailers in Which?'s research that have physical shops do offer free in-store returns. 

Gurpreet Chokar, Which? consumer law expert, said that it was becoming "increasingly common" for customers to foot the bill if they couldn't return their item to a physical shop as many online retailers were now shifting away from free online returns.

"While some shoppers will be able to return items at physical stores without any extra charges, retailers must ensure that any return fees are clear upfront so that customers can make an informed decision before they place their order," Ms Chokar said.

What are your rights?

Regulations state that consumers have a right to return an item they have purchased online.

The product does not have to be in its original packaging, but a company is entitled to ask for some form of proof of purchase.

Companies are not allowed to charge you for items that were placed in your online shopping basket as a result of a pre-ticked box.

Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, consumers also do not have to pay for returns if their item is faulty or not as described. 

The first £1 coins featuring King Charles have entered circulation, with collectors encouraged to look out for the historic addition to the nation's change.

Nearly three million of the new designs will be making their way into pockets and tills across the country this week, via Post Offices and banks throughout the UK.

The £1 coin has a pair of British bees on the "tails" side, in honour of the King's passion for conservation and the natural world, and Charles' official coin effigy on the obverse, or "heads".

The other designs, which will be introduced in line with demand, are the 1p showing a hazel dormouse, the 2p red squirrel, the 5p oak tree leaf, 10p capercaillie grouse, 20p puffin, and the £2 with the national flowers - rose, daffodil, thistle and shamrock.

Giving workers the "right to switch off" is key to productivity and could boost economic growth, Downing Street has said.

Labour has promised to give employees the right to ignore work-related calls and emails out of hours, so homes do not become "24/7 offices".

Ministers are looking at models in other countries where there is already a right to disconnect, such as Ireland and Belgium.

The prime minister's spokesperson said the plan was about making sure "we're not inadvertently blurring the lines between work and home life".

The plans were not a "one size fits all" and would recognise companies vary and people have different roles, she added.

The number of firms in England and Wales going bust last month rose by 16% year-on-year, according to official figures.

Commentators said the 2,191 company insolvencies showed how many businesses were still recovering from the impact of high inflation and borrowing costs, despite growing optimism about the UK's economic outlook.

The figure was 7% down on June's total, but insolvency levels remain much higher than those seen during both the pandemic and in the years following the 2008/09 financial crisis, officials said.

Rebecca Dacre, a partner at advisory firm Forvis Mazars, said the data was "a strong reminder that many businesses are still a long way off from recovery".

By Sarah Taaffe-Maguire , business reporter

BT's share price has fallen, wiping off an estimated £1bn from the company's value. 

One share now costs £134.45, a low last seen 10 days ago.  

It comes after an internet network rival CityFibre struck a deal with broadband supplier Sky. 

This means that Sky will now use CityFibre's network to offer its services starting next year. 

It's a hit to BT as Sky customers are hosted on BT's Openreach network. Under the plan, Sky aims to connect so-called "hard-to-reach areas".

CityFibre reaches 3.8 million homes and aims to expand and reach "at least" 8 million premises in the coming years, it said.

"This partnership with Sky is a huge vote of confidence in our business and has cemented CityFibre's position as the UK's third digital infrastructure platform," said company chief executive Greg Mesch.

Formerly British Telecoms, BT is worth roughly £14.44bn, based on the number of shares issued and the share price.

The head of financial analysis at investment platform AJ Bell Danni Hewson said the CityFibre detail may not be that significant. 

"BT shares came under pressure on fears of an enhanced competitive threat for its Openreach broadband operation amid chatter Sky might start partnering with CityFibre in 2025. 

"However, CityFibre's modest scale and focus on rural areas suggest it shouldn't be a huge issue."

Sky is the owner of Sky News.

UK citizens will need to pay a €7 visa-waiver charge to travel to Europe from next year after the EU revealed its timeline for the introduction of new entry requirements for some visitors.

The additional charge, which is similar to the US ESTA, is part of a series of new border checks and entry requirements the EU is bringing in.

They'll apply when entering the Schengen area, which includes 27 EU member states, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. 

The waiver will last for three years or until your passport expires.

Its official title is the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), and its implementation will follow the introduction of the EU Entry/Exit System (EES). The latter will require people to have their fingerprints registered and their pictures taken on arrival to airports.

Addressing the rollout, EU home affairs commissioner Ylva Johansson said the EES will enter into operations on ­10 November while the ETIAS will follow shortly after that in 2025 - likely May.

However, it is thought there could be a six-month grace period before the visas become compulsory - taking it to November next year.

By Daniel Binns, business reporter

The price of gold has soared to a record high of more than $2,522 (£1,938) per ounce today.

It comes after months of the precious metal steadily rising in value.

Many factors are thought to have played a part, but analysts believe the latest leap is largely down to the weaker US dollar and growing expectations that the US Federal Reserve will cut interest rates next month.

Lower rates tend to make a country - and its currency - less attractive to investors, because they end up getting lower returns on bonds, shares and other investments.

There are also general worries about the status of the US economy, amid rumblings it could enter a recession this year or next - although some commentators have downplayed the likelihood of this.

But it is not just the US that is on the cusp of reducing the cost of borrowing.

The European Central Bank and the Bank of England both recently cut interest rates - and are expected to do so again this autumn - which may also be off-putting to some investors.

What has all this got to do with gold?

It's largely because of its perceived status as a "safe haven" investment.

Gold is seen as solid and dependable - both literally and in its value as a commodity.

It has been prized and sought after since ancient times - and its valuable status seems certain to continue long into the future.

So when things seem uncertain - and when interest rates are being seemingly cut everywhere - putting your money in gold may seem like a good bet (or so the thinking goes - of course, many would argue there is no such thing as a sure bet in the financial markets).

This "safe haven" status also helps explain why the price of gold may have been steadily rising in recent months, as fears have grown over an escalation of the wars in the Middle East and between Russia and Ukraine.

Tesco is hiking the price of its meal deal from Thursday.

Those using a Clubcard, which Tesco says is 80% of customers, will now pay £3.60.

This is up from £3.40, which had been the cheapest meal deal available at one of the traditional supermarkets.

Those without a Clubcard will now pay £4 - up 10p.

A Tesco spokesperson told the Money blog: "Clubcard members will pay just £3.60 for a main, snack and drink, meaning our meal deal remains great value and the ideal way to grab lunch on-the-go. 

"With millions of possible combinations across our stores, our recent improvements to ingredients and more than 20 new mains introduced this summer, the Tesco meal deal has got something for every taste."

The cost of the premium meal deal is unchanged at £5.

How does this compare?

Waitrose has the most expensive meal deal at £5 for the main, snack and drink combo. 

In July, Sainsbury increased the cost of its lunchtime meal deal by 25p from £3.50 to £3.75. 

A  Morrisons  meal deal costs £3.50, which is the same as  Co-op members - though non-members pay £4.

Asda  doesn't offer a fixed price for its meal deal. Instead, it operates a 3 for 2 system, which gives customers the cheapest item for free. 

If you read the Money blog on Friday you'll remember Gail's bakery chain came under fire for repurposing unsold pastries into croissants and selling them for almost £4 the next day.

We reported how the retailer lists the "twice baked" chocolate almond croissants as part of its "Waste Not" range, which means it is made using leftover croissants that are then "topped with almond frangipane and flaked almonds".

The scheme was criticised online, with many pointing out the £3.90 price tag is 95p more than the original croissant.

It's worth reiterating that the practice was not invented by Gail's - almond croissants were originally created by French boulangeries to reuse day-old croissants and stop them going stale.

We asked Gail's for comment and didn't hear back until late yesterday - this is what they said...

"We created our Waste Not range at Gail's to make good food go further. 

"Our almond croissants and chocolate and almond croissants are strong favourites in our bakeries. The croissants are soaked in demerara syrup and topped with our house-made frangipane spread, alongside crunchy almonds.

"The day-old croissants are sturdier than fresh ones, making them the perfect bake to be used. 

"We are big supporters of improving food systems, working with companies such as Too Good To Go and Neighbourly to reduce our impact on food waste and uplift communities. 

"Any bakes leftover at the end of the day are shared with charitable organisations in our neighbourhoods. Through our partnership with Neighbourly, we have donated the equivalent of 81,000 meals, reaching 239 good causes."

It comes as locals in a trendy London neighbourhood signed a petition against a Gail's bakery setting up shop in their area.

After (unconfirmed) rumours began circulating that the chain was looking to open a site in Walthamstow village, more than 600 have signed a petition opposing the plans.

The petition says the village "faces a threat to its uniqueness" should Gail's move into the area.

Read more...

Basically, Section 75 is a way to get your money back if a retailer hasn't provided the goods or services you paid for - so long as you used a credit card or point of sale loan.

The price of the purchase must be   between   £100.01 and £30,000, but you only have to spend one penny of it using a credit card for your rights to kick in.

Section 75 is enshrined in law - the Consumer Credit Act 1974 - and allows you to raise a claim with your bank for a breach of contract or misrepresentation by the retailer.

The protection was put in place to make sure customers are not forced to pay off debt for faulty goods and services - or those that never arrive - by making the lender just as liable as the retailer.

When does Section 75 apply?

• Goods or services were not as described
• They were poor quality, defective, or not fit for purpose
• An item never arrived - including if the seller went bust
• A service wasn't carried out with reasonable care

How does it work?

You should contact your bank, who will investigate how you made your purchase and who was involved.

There needs to be a clear agreement between the customer, the supplier and your bank.

"They will ask for more details – explain how your consumer rights have been breached, you have exhausted all options with the retailer and cannot resolve your dispute," consumer champion Scott Dixon, from  the Complaints Resolver , told the Money blog.

"You need to push hard on S75 claims, as claims are often rejected on the first attempt."

It is useful to have supporting information to hand, like proof of payment, contracts, terms and conditions, screenshots of product descriptions, correspondence, photo evidence or - in some cases - independent assessments.

Scott added: "If you reach a stalemate with the credit card provider or finance company, ask for a deadlock letter setting out their final position so you can submit a formal complaint (with the final response/deadlock letter) to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). 

"They do not like cases being referred to the FOS as it costs them money."

When doesn't Section 75 apply?

• You paid with a debit card, charge card, cash, credit card cheque, or bank transfer;
• You paid with your PayPal balance (but you are protected if you used PayPal Credit);
• The credit was given under an overdraft or general-purpose bank loan;
• You purchased multiple items that only cost between £100.01 and £30,000 when added together;
• You bought the item from a third-party seller, like Amazon Marketplace or a travel agent;
• You used a buy now, pay later service or a hire purchase.

And read more from our Basically series here...

Rising optimism about the prospects of a ceasefire in the war in Gaza has sent the price of oil - and shares in energy giants – tumbling.

The cost of a barrel of benchmark Brent Crude has dropped to just over $76 (£58), the lowest price since the beginning of the month.

Shares in Shell and BP have also both slipped by around 2% in early trading.

Hopes of cooling tensions in the Middle East have helped ease fears of risks to supplies in the region.

Other factors said to be having an impact on oil prices include an increase in production at Libya's Sharara oilfield and concerns over China's slowing economy, including slower industrial output.

Another big faller this morning is BT Group. Its shares are down more than 5% after it was announced that Sky will launch full fibre broadband services next year on the network of BT's rival Cityfibre.

The falls have contributed to the FTSE 100 dipping by more than 0.5% on Tuesday, with the FTSE 250 also down 0.13%.

Gainers include easyJet Plc, which is up more than 1.2% amid optimism over the tourism industry this summer.

Similarly, Intercontinental Hotels Group is up by a similar level, while British Airways owner IAG is up nearly 0.8%.

Meanwhile, on the currency markets, this morning £1 buys $1.30 US or €1.17.

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Why Schools Are Racing to Ban Student Phones

As the new school year starts, a wave of new laws that aim to curb distracted learning is taking effect in Indiana, Louisiana and other states.

By Natasha Singer

Natasha Singer covers technology in schools. She welcomes reader tips at nytimes.com/tips

Cellphones have become a school scourge. More than 70 percent of high school teachers say student phone distraction is a “major problem,” according to a survey this year by Pew Research .

That’s why states are mounting a bipartisan effort to crack down on rampant student cellphone use. So far this year, at least eight states have passed laws, issued orders or adopted rules to curb phone use among students during school hours.

The issue isn’t simply that some children and teenagers compulsively use apps like Snap, TikTok and Instagram during lessons, distracting themselves and their classmates. In many schools, students have also used their phones to bully, sexually exploit and share videos of physical attacks on their peers.

But cellphone restrictions can be difficult for teachers to enforce without schoolwide rules requiring students to place their phones in lockers or other locations.

Now state lawmakers, along with some prominent governors , are pushing for more uniform restrictions in public schools.

How Has Tech Changed Your School Experience?

Teachers, students, parents and school administrators, tell us in the form below about the technology benefits or tech-related school problems that you have observed. We’re interested in beneficial uses of school tech as well as classroom drawbacks like online learning distractions and cyberbullying.

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