Soaring numbers taught in ‘supersized’ classes

Latest updates and essential advice from The Independent [View in browser]( [Alternate text] Daily briefing August 09, 2021 Today’s essential news from the source you trust This morning’s headlines The number of school pupils in England packed into “supersized” classes has [risen by 20 per cent under Tory rule](, analysis reveals. A study of government figures by the Labour Party shows that just over 900,000 pupils are now in classrooms of more than 30 - an increase of 150,000 since 2010. Labour said the government was responsible for a “major crisis” in schools, with children from the poorest backgrounds “hit hardest” as the analysis showed that some of the most disadvantaged communities suffered from the worst overcrowding. Peter Kyle, the shadow schools minister, said: “Boris Johnson promised that education would be a priority on his watch. Instead, his government has continued with the Tory trend of rising class sizes and lowering social mobility. This was a major problem before the pandemic, this is now a major crisis.” A “devastating” new UN report is expected to set out [a stark message on runaway climate change]( in what the government hopes will be a “wake-up call”. The UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, published on Monday, will be the first comprehensive assessment of scientific knowledge about the threat to the plant from human activity since 2013. An interim report said global warming was likely to hit 1.5C, the disastrous limit world leaders have pledged to try to avoid, between 2030 and 2052. But reports indicate that a new landmark study will bring the window forward by a decade to 2040 at the latest. Climate minister and Cop26 president Alok Sharma said he expected the report to act as “a big wake-up call for countries to do even more”, he said on Sunday. “I suspect the IPCC will reinforce the fact that we are running out of time. It will genuinely be a decisive moment in history.” Ministers have been accused of issuing [confusing advice over whether civil servants should continue working from home]( or return to the office. The government has reportedly scrapped plans to require Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) staff to be based in the office part-time from September. England’s order to work from home where possible, which was put in place in March 2020 as part of efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus, was lifted on 19 July. DHSC staff were told that there would be a “minimum expectation” that they would attend the Westminster office for between four and eight days every month, unless there was a business or health-related reason. But an announcement sent out to staff on Thursday states that the requirement to work partly from the office has been dropped. . We need your support The Independent employs over 100 journalists around the world to bring you news you can trust. Please consider showing your support with a contribution. [Contribute]( . Top stories [Fears over patient safety amid plans to ‘water down’ nurses training]( [Government spends nearly £100,000 on art for Downing Street]( 112 councils and charities vow to boycott Home Office policy [112 councils and charities vow to boycott Home Office policy](112%20councils%20and%20charities%20vow%20to%20boycott%20Home%20Office%20policy) . . Stories chosen for you - [Thousands of EU citizens set to have benefits cut off from next month]( - [Boris Johnson told to ‘stop picking fights’ amid Rishi Sunak row]( - [Could the Tories lose northern seats over Boris Johnson’s coal mines joke?]( - [Letters:We’re fooled into thinking rent is a waste of money and a mortgage is not]( - [Keir Starmer is an unconvincing Blairite with an authenticity problem | John Rentoul]( . News you can trust The Independent has a 100% NewsGuard trust rating [NewsGuard] [Find out more]( . If you can spare two minutes we’d love to hear your [feedback]( on our newsletters [Alternate text] Join the conversation or follow us [Twitter]( [Facebook]( Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's News email. Add us to your safe list of senders. If you do not want to receive The Independent News Daily Briefing email, please [unsubscribe](list_name=IND_Headlines_Masterlist_CDP). If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe [here](. This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5HF. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our [privacy notice]( and [cookie policy](.