Vik Chechi-Ribeiro is a science teacher at a Manchester academy and candidate for the National Education Union’s Executive. The union represents over 450,000 teachers and education staff in the UK. Nick Prescott speaks with him about exams, community organising, and the future of education. The highest growth of COVID-19 cases has been within the North […]
Bytes won’t feed a family – the widening educational digital divide during Covid
The Covid crisis is driving a wedge into the digital divide in education due to the growth in online teaching during lockdowns.
Growing unemployment is producing more families that will have to decide whether to buy bytes online to aid their children’s education, or put food on the table.
Pressure grows on Andy Burnham to scrap plans for school-based police officers
Deputy metro mayor Beverley Hughes insists SBPOs will create “positive relationships between young people and the police”. Campaigners say police presence in schools causes “harm”, urging the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to “divest from penal approaches”.
ALL FM: radio ‘for the community, by the community’
ALL FM are an award-winning community radio station that normally broadcasts live from their Levenshulme studio.
But when the pandemic hit they had two options: transition their 100+ volunteers to working from home, or close down. Conrad Bower finds out how ALL FM has kept the show going.
Manchester’s teachers and Co-op Academies Trust clash over school safety
Workers at Co-op Academy Manchester write to headteacher and the Co-op Academies Trust calling for school closures and better working conditions, while Andy Burnham lends support for partial closures under a “tier system” during the winter.
Urgent need to prioritise anti-racism in Greater Manchester schools
Report highlights racism in Manchester schools with problems of lack of teacher racial literacy, a too ‘white and narrow’ curriculum, institutionally racist police in vulnerable schools and outdated school policies.
Manchester teachers union slams Burnham for putting more police in schools
Motion passed by teachers union condemns plans for school-based officers and says evidence supporting their use is ‘non-existent’.
Curious kakapos and violin plots: my data expedition discoveries
Maddy McCormack took a first dive into a data expedition organised by Open Data Manchester.
She discovered that violin plots are not generally created by scheming orchestra members and that you should always question the data, be very thoughtful about power dynamics and keep in mind who the information can hurt and why.
‘Diverse, stimulating, exhilarating’ – NEON Spokesperson Network launches in North West
The UK sees exclusion and exploitation, and the UK media landscape fails to platform progressive voices on key economic, political and social issues. Through its Spokesperson Network, NEON trains and supports progressive and diverse voices, equipping spokespeople with skills and confidence for the media spotlight. Applications to become a NEON Spokesperson are open until 31 August.
‘Carry on asking questions’ Andy Burnham tells primary school reporters ignored by Boris Johnson
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham and children’s commissioner of England answered Manchester Media Club mini-reporters’ questions in live press conferences and encouraged them to keep trying to have their voices heard. Mini-reporters from Greater Manchester interviewed Andy Burnham, Greater Manchester mayor and Anne Longfield, children’s commissioner for England, about their post-pandemic future. The six […]