What’s the best laptop for a student for under £500?

Ruqayyah needs a laptop costing up to 500 for her teacher training course. What are her best options?

I'm due to start my teacher training in September. Which laptop should I buy on a 500 budget? Ruqayyah

This question comes up every year. Obviously, the answers change as technology moves on. What doesn't change much, if at all, is the general advice. You can get most of it from last year's answer, though a brief summary might be useful.