Girls miss more school or college days due to periods than any other reason – including colds, mental health or truancy, according to a new report. Periods cause girls to be absent from school or college for three days a term on average, compared with colds and flu (2.6 days), mental health (1.9 days) and truancy (1.2 days), the data released by washroom provider phs Group has revealed. This equates to 54 lost education days over the course of their teen years, the equivalent of 11 academic weeks. The findings form part of phs Group’s Period Equality: Breaking the Cycle report, now in its third year, for which Censuswide polled 1,262 girls aged 13-18 years across the UK. The majority (82%) cited cramps as the main reason for this, while almost one in five (19%) said they stay away from lessons because they’re embarrassed about being on their period, and one in 12 (8%) said it’s because no period products were available to them. This is despite the introduction of period equality measures in recent years, designed to improve access to free period products in education settings. “It’s important to recognise that huge advances have been made in giving girls access to free period products in schools across the UK. What we must do now is close the gap between providing schools with all the products they need and getting them into the hands of any girls that need them, for whatever reason,” said Kelly Greenaway, period equality lead at phs Group. “We know from our own data providing schools with products, that they have more than enough for their girls, so we need to tackle the misconceptions around free access to products in washrooms, and the stigma and shame that goes hand-in-hand with failing to have open conversations about menstruation.” Since the launch of the Government’s Period Product Scheme in January 2020, which provides free period products to education settings in England, via phs Group, 99% of secondary schools and 94% of post-16 organisations have ordered products through the scheme. However, the report published today highlights how periods remain a barrier to education for many girls – with the number of girls missing school due to their periods almost the same for the 2023 findings (54%) as the findings in 2019 (52%), before free sanitary product schemes were introduced. Despite the roll-out of such schemes, over half (52%) of the students surveyed said they did not find period products freely available in their school and college settings, while one in seven (14%) said they did not know if they were available. To help tackle the issue and raise awareness, phs Group is launching a new period equality podcast – called The Blobcast: Free The Period – hosted by menstrual wellbeing and confidence educator Kasey Robinson. Robinson said: “I know too well about the barriers facing so many of us when it comes to our menstrual health. It’s simply not enough to blame absenteeism figures on access to products alone. “On the ground, the story is clear: we aren’t being educated, supported and informed enough about periods. Menstruation is still a taboo subject, and our experience is a secret to keep to ourselves and something we feel forced to hide. In education settings, this is leading to more and more girls staying away from school. “Without workshops, learning resources and the support for and from teachers and caregivers, this issue will stay the same, or get worse,” Robinson added. “It should not be a revolutionary act to teach people about periods, it’s a right. We need to break the cycle of shame and encourage open and honest conversations about periods – exactly what The Blobcast is seeking to do.” The Blobcast: Free The Period launches on all free streaming platforms on October 18. More information can be found at www.phs.co.uk/TheBlobcast.

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New York Congressman Jamaal Bowman shared his gleeful reaction to Donald Trump’s mug shot after the former president surrendered for arrest at Fulton County Jail in Atlanta, Georgia. Mr Bowman, a former educator who won his seat back in 2020, shared a video of himself laughing at the mug shot, saying “we got you, and more to come” before calling Mr Trump a “crook,” “clown,” “criminal,” and a “thug”. Like Mr Trump, Mr Bowman used the mug shot to fundraise for the Democratic effort to take back the House. In a lengthy statement on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, Mr Bowman wrote: “In a normal world, Donald Trump’s mugshot would be the end of his political career. But in this world, his poll numbers are actually going up.” He continued: “This mugshot is not what you think it is. It’s a jackpot for Trump who will use this image to raise MILLIONS of dollars from his cult – and the worst part is they are going to use it to win even more elections so they can change our laws to make it easier to steal our Democracy. “It’s a symbol of everything that is wrong with our country. It is a reminder of the deep divisions that exist, the hatred that is spewed, and hate is tolerated. It is a sign that our democracy is in danger.” The New York representative said that the GOP “will solidify their support around Trump and our fate will be sealed ... because Republican voters trust Trump more than their own friends and families. They believe that Trump is one of them and they want revenge”. Other Democrats also reacted to Mr Trump’s arrest. At 7.30pm on Thursday night, just as Mr Trump arrived at the Atlanta jail, President Joe Biden’s account on X also called for donations. “Apropos of nothing, I think today’s a great day to give to my campaign,” the memo read. Maine Democrat Chellie Pingree tweeted: “In the United States, no one is above the law. No one.” Meanwhile, Pennsylvania Democrat Madeleine Dean wrote: “Four indictments and 91 charges in total now against the former President. This is not normal. “I’m sad for our country; hopeful for justice; thoughtful for Mr. Trump’s day in court; disappointed yet confident for our democracy and rule of law. No one is above the law.” Mr Trump’s mug shot has also prompted plenty of memes, including several from the Lincoln Project, an anti-Trump campaign group operated by former Republicans. Kari Lake, the 2020 Republican nominee for Arizona governor, tweeted a heavily edited image of Mr Trump in sunglasses and a mullet. Comedian Jordan Klepper of The Daily Show responded by tweeting a mug shot of his own. One X user compared Mr Trump’s mug shot pose to “The Kubrick Stare”. “A method of shot composition where a character stares at the camera with a forward tilt, to convey to the audience that they are at the peak of their derangement,” they wrote. But, some people warned that Democrats in particular won’t be laughing for long as Mr Trump’s arrest and mug shot could help his 2024 bid. “The Democrats are likely going to regret the Trump mug shot politically. It’s over the top,” Republican consultant Ford O’Connell told NBC News. Presidential historian Craig Shirley added to the outlet: “On a political level, this only strengthens Donald Trump’s hand. “The Fulton County DA represents the establishment. Joe Biden represents the establishment. [Attorney General] Merrick Garland represents the establishment. All of these establishment forces have been arrayed against Donald Trump, who is the epitome of the anti-establishment,” he added. “Everyone has a tale of woe about their run-ins with some form of government. There’s no downside for Donald Trump. He’ll laugh all the way to the White House.” Read More Trump cashes in on historic mug shot with ‘never surrender’ merch as codefendants’ arrest deadline looms: Live From smiling Jenna Ellis to scowling Donald Trump: All of the mugshots from the Georgia election arrests Trump’s mugshot was a theatrical masterstroke with a showman’s flair for the outrageous

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