A level results showed a big rise in students taking maths, further maths, biology, chemistry and physics. Experts say this is behind an increase  in A and A star grades for boys this year, helping close the traditional gender gap between boys and girls achievements.

As the scramble for A Level places continues, Jenni Russell comments on the lack of real alternatives for young people, including the scarcity of decent apprenticeships. She comments “Only 1 in 10 firms offer apprenticeships at all and those that exist are of varying quality. Some are nothing more than opportunities for firms to take on cheap labour without offering any training at all.”

Following the riots, columnist Terrence Blacker calls for “a type of national service as part of every child’s education” where “a year would be spent in community activity, offering many of the lost generation the chance to escape the downward spiral into which they were born.”

Guardian data, based on their access to information from the magistrates courts reveals clear links between those that took part in the riots and economic hardship. Analysis of the addresses of defendants in riot cases found that the majority of people appearing in court were from poor neighbourhoods.

Ofgem, the energy regulator has ordered gas and electricity suppliers to explain how they calculate energy bills, in the wake of the increasing pressure on customers facing price increases.

Inditex, the parent company of Spanish fashion label Zara is being investigated for ‘slave labour’ in a Brazilian factory. A team of workers making clothing for the Zara label have been rescued from sweatshop conditions and will be receiving compensation the retailer has confirmed.

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