Bridget Phillipson instructs Public Sector Fraud Authority to look into whether millions of pounds falsely claimed

Fraud experts will investigate the university loans system amid concerns that students are falsely claiming millions of pounds without intending to study, the education secretary has announced.

Bridget Phillipson has instructed the Public Sector Fraud Authority to coordinate the response to allegations that individuals with no genuine academic intent are enrolling in degree courses to secure loans.

John Butcher and Karen Ahmed respond to Susanna Rustin’s article on the vocational qualification

I am grateful to Susanna Rustin for her trenchant analysis of government failure to tackle the post-16 academic/vocational divide ( T-levels are a disaster – and young people are suffering because ministers won’t admit it, 17 March ).

While I agree that there is little evidence that T-levels are signalling the end of the “second-class status” of vocational education, the problem is only partly the fact that T-levels are too hard (overreliant on outmoded written examinations) and too narrow (how many of us can honestly look back to being 16 and knowing which career we wished to pursue?).

Stuart McPhillips donated a lump sum to his primary school. Robert Barnes celebrates his time in the school’s carpentry workshop

Your editorial expressing the value of the arts in schools ( 20 March ) prompts me to share what I did for my 70th birthday, which others could copy: I donated a lump sum to my first primary school.

I was supported by donations from family and friends in lieu of any birthday gifts to me. The one stipulation I made to the school was that the money was to be used for creative activities. The result was a sensory garden with artworks created by the children.
Stuart McPhillips
Garstang, Lancashire

• England 38-5 Italy
• Five first-half tries give Red Roses well-deserved victory

No one expected it to be easy for Italy. No one expected it to be anything other than straightforward for England. The Red Roses achieved an overwhelming six-try victory in kicking off their attempt at a seventh successive title but, after four scores and one penalty try before the break, they then stuttered significantly and were forced to wait until two minutes from time for a second-half score.

England’s hot streak now stretches to 21 consecutive matches, dating back to the Rugby World Cup final against New Zealand in 2022, but there was ultimately a lack of fluency here that may concern the head coach, John Mitchell.

More than a thousand flights were cancelled on Friday after a fire at an electrical substation caused a power cut

Heathrow airport returned to normal business on Sunday, two days after it was forced to close when a fire at an electrical substation caused a power cut.

Europe’s busiest airport had more than 1,000 flights cancelled on Friday after the fire at the substation in Hayes, west London.

Gaie Delap on the shocking failures in healthcare and support she saw in jail, and how she coped with being there

“I was behind bars for Christmas, new year and my birthday on 10 January,” said 78-year-old Gaie Delap, who was sent back to prison in December when the right-sized tag for her wrist could not be found.

The Just Stop Oil protester who had been released under Home Office detention curfew said she was “furious and frustrated” over her treatment and return to prison.

• Bath 42-26 Gloucester
• Leaders score six tries against West Country rivals

Bath cemented their position as the team to catch in the Premiership race this season with an entertaining victory against their west country rivals Gloucester. Assisted by the return of their chief playmaker Finn Russell following the Six Nations the hosts scored six tries and, in a neat example of symmetry, are six points clear of the field with six regular-season fixtures to play.

It has already been a good month for Bath, who won the Premiership Cup last weekend to secure their first trophy for 17 years, and here was further evidence of the significant squad depth at their disposal.

• Team say they will learn from mistakes at Chinese GP
• Hamilton’s sixth place undone in second race for Ferrari

Ferrari have admitted they were at fault for the mistakes that led to the disqualification of both their drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, from the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday, in what was a disastrous close to the weekend for the Scuderia and a hugely disappointing outcome for Hamilton in only his second race for the team.

Leclerc and Hamilton had finished fifth and sixth respectively in the race, which was won with ease by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri . However, three hours after the flag, and in the wake of the usual post-race inspection of the cars to ensure they are in compliance with regulations, Ferrari were found wanting over two clearly defined rules.