TLG, a Christian education charity, reports that almost one in four parents are concerned about their child's progress in school as they return after the summer break. TLG polled 1,000 parents and found that 23% were most concerned about their child making the right progress. The main concerns were about their child being bullied, feeling unhappy at school and being exposed to inappropriate language, conduct or material. The concerns coincide with a decline in the overall proportion of children achieving A* to C in their GCSEs, (from 69% to 67%), and an increase in school exclusions. Pray for churches to do more to support parents who are concerned about their child's progress at school. Pray for the children needing appropriate resources for them at the local school. Home life has 80% of the influence on the child and school only 20%. Pray for parents to be encouraged to support their children more.

Teachers have the enormous responsibility of imparting knowledge to our children, and their job is often difficult. Pray for their intuition and ability to keep peace in the classroom and peace between students and themselves. Ask God to help them to be gentle to each and every one of their students, balancing mercy and discipline in the right measure for all. Pray that no matter how tired or stressed they feel they will be able to give genuine praise as much as possible and constructive criticism in a manner that is acceptable to the young. Ask for God to bless the teachers in our nation that they remain conscientious enough to keep their lessons always interesting, recognising what motivates and be able to accept different individual’s limitations and not hold it against them. May they never judge their students too harshly, but rather be fair to all.

Great Britain will have a team of 264 athletes, competing in nineteen sports, at the Rio Paralympics. The British team has never finished outside the top five in the medal table. At London 2012, the members won 120 medals, including 34 golds, to finish third behind China and Russia - and hopes are high they can surpass that in Brazil. To watch an incredible three-minute all-music all-dancing ‘Yes I Can’ Paralympics video, click the ‘More’ button.

Theresa May said that the UK could become ‘the global leader in free trade’ as she faced calls to clarify the government's post-Brexit vision. Making a G20 summit statement, the PM refused to give a running commentary or ‘reveal our hand prematurely’ after Australia and the UK began preliminary discussions about a new trade deal. The Australian trade minister predicted an agreement between the countries. But, with the UK unable to sign deals while still in the EU, he said an agreement would not happen until the UK left the EU in 2019. Australia is earmarked as the first potential new trade partner for the UK once it leaves the EU. Addressing MPs, Mrs May said that India, Mexico, South Korea and Singapore were also keen to remove trade barriers. She pledged to ‘think through the issues in a sober and considered way. So we will not take decisions until we are ready.’