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Day: 16 November 2015

Review: Dice

Written by Matthew Staite on . Posted in Music.

DICE certainly seems to be making waves the gig ticket industry. After initially launching in London, the service has now launched in other cities including Manchester and Bristol. Rejoice!

The biggest drawing point of DICE for students will almost certainly be that the app charges no booking fees. The price you see is what you pay – much better than other ticketing platforms like Ticketmaster or Seetickets where by the time you have finished booking your tickets, you’ve had to pay a transaction fee, postage fee, credit card fee and generalripoff fee that together seem to cost as much as the ticket itself. A ticket to Beirut’s show at Albert Hall next February costs £22.50 through DICE, in contrast to £30.70 through Ticketmaster after all the fees have been added on. Once you’ve bought a ticket on the app, all you do is have to show your phone at the door.

Touts may soon be a thing of past too. The mobile-based platform is immune to touting robots that buy up the tickets as soon as they are released, so everyone has a fair chance in buying tickets to popular events. The excellent waitlist feature of DICE means if you want to sell a ticket to a gig you can no longer go to, you can sell your ticket to a fan on the waitlist for the actual price you bought it for, and buy one vice versa.

The simple and sexy interface of the platform itself is really nice to use too. It’s a tailored tool for finding up coming gigs in Manchester, and you can listen to songs by the artist from within the app. You can then use the app find a gig you want to go to and buy the tickets straight away. Forget about finding a band then looking up their tour schedule to see you have no chance to see them. The shows on the app are hand-curated by a dedicated team led by radio DJ Jen Long, so you know you are in good hands.

My only minor qualm with DICE is that you will no longer have a ticket stub to remember the gig by, as all the tickets are done through mobile. What music fan doesn’t like looking back through tickets of years gone by? But with more and more tickets going the way of simply printing out an email, maybe this is inevitable. Being able to use simply your mobile is pretty convenient too.

There are loads of great Manchester gigs upcoming on the DICE platform, including Savages, Kurt Vile, Disclosure, Alt-J, The Maccabees, Grimes, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, and Father John Misty.

Live: Warehouse Project – The Ape 10th Birthday

Written by Mark Holland on . Posted in Music.

30th October 2015

Store Street

7/10

It was a night of few surprises at Store Street on the eve of Hallowe’en, with an impressive, if slightly predictable, lineup curated by Ape to celebrate their 10th birthday.

Backed by a screen of colourful visuals, Toddla T welcomes the enthusiastic crowd into Room One with a summery electro house and grime-heavy set that joyously warmed up the crowd as it began to grow. His recent, and infectiously catchy, remix of KDA’s ‘Rumble’ received a massive reaction, becoming the first track of the night that really got the crowd jumping. The decks were then passed to Shy FX, who followed with a typically heavy thumping drum and bass set, managing to throw in a few garage and jungle cuts before finishing with a rousing version of Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Alright.’

As we reached Hallowe’en, the night culminated with a powerful double headline slot between two acts that have owned 2015: the current spearhead of the UK grime scene, Skepta, against US hip hop titans, Run The Jewels.

It’s RTJ that took to the stage first, confidently flopping their pieces out, entering to Queen’s ‘We Are The Champions’, which displayed the flair for grandeur and twisted sense of humour that has come to define the New York duo. Opening with a thunderous performance of 2013’s ‘Run The Jewels’, they then began to power through a vibrant set of tracks from their excellent new album. It was a relentless set full of energy and droll crowd interaction in equal measure. Tracks like ‘Blockbuster Night Part 1’ and ‘Early’ received the reaction they deserved, impressively pulling off a really tight show that managed to still feel very fresh at the same time.

Unsurprisingly, it’s Skepta who pulled in the biggest crowd of the night, completely packing Room One to the point where moving your arms was completely impossible, and huge balls of sweat were regularly falling from the ceiling. It’s hard to argue with Skepta’s tune arsenal; he knew what the people came here to see and gave them exactly what they wanted. From the first discernable beat of ‘That’s Not Me’ to his explosive finale of ‘Shutdown’, it was a set packed with huge crowd pleasers as it is massively predictable. The problem with this, is that it offers little in the way of excitement. The room is too packed to allow anything in the way of movement, and with a crowd that seemed keener on Snapchatting the performance rather than experiencing it, it never reached its full potential.

Following Skepta’s departure, the crowd dispersed to around half the size as Preditah began his slot, filling in for Oneman. It started very strongly—opening with the filthy 2-step remix, featuring the Rocky theme tune, that has now become synonymous with his sets. But what started as a fun, inventive selection of offbeat and quirky belters quickly descended into safer territories, which effectively became more grime-by-numbers. Playing three Stormzy tracks in a row, followed by ‘Rari Workout’ and ‘Feed Em To The Lions’ offered nothing new, but in a night where grime, bangers, and predictability reigned supreme, it still went down a treat.

Whitworth gallery claims Manchester tourism award

Written by George Ball on . Posted in News.

The University of Manchester’s Whitworth Art Gallery, has won an award crowning it the top Greater Manchester tourist attraction for 2015. The grade II listed building, which reopened in February after a £15m overhaul, won the award for top large tourist attraction at the Greater Manchester Tourism Awards.

Since reopening the gallery has had great success and received numerous awards. In October, it was named Europe’s Best Emerging Culture Destination and in April it fought off competition from buildings such as Manchester Metropolitan University’s Student Union building to win the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) North West Building of the Year and was shortlisted for the national RIBA Stirling Prize. It also scooped £100,000 after winning the ArtFund Museum of the Year award.

After the renovation, which doubled the size of the building, the gallery has become home to a number of prominent exhibitions. Notably, it hosted Cornelia Parker and Cai Guo-Qiang. It has also been lauded for facilities such as the ‘cafe in the trees’ and the Victoria Grand Hall.

The President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Manchester Dame Nancy Rothwell was full of praise for the gallery, saying “These awards for the Whitworth show just how important it is to the city as an attraction and now, following its refurbishment, an iconic building”.

On the same day the gallery was also named Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce Building of the Year. It was one of three University of Manchester buildings to be in the running for the award, on a shortlist of six. The Manchester Cancer Research Centre, opened in May, and the National Graphene Institute, opened in March. Rothwell cited the triple nomination as an example of the excellence the University is aiming for, looking to the future.

She added: “Having three buildings nominated for the Building of the Year is testament to the ambition of our ongoing campus developments as we seek to create a world-class environment for researchers, students and visitors.”

 

 

 

Review: Alan Carr

Written by Elise Gallagher on . Posted in Theatre.

The 2015 NTA winner Alan Carr will be ‘yapping’ his way around the UK & Ireland with his stand-up show ‘Yap, Yap, Yap!’  The BAFTA and British Comedy Award winning comedian, author and chat show supremo returns to his stand-up roots with his hilarious take on life.

Love or loathe him, Alan Carr is one of Britain’s most successful comedians. Arguably a national treasure, his unique humour and effortless stage presence have earned him a catalogue of awards including Best Chat Show host at the 2015 NTA’s, winner of the 2013 BAFTA for Best Entertainment Performance and 2013 British Comedy Award for Best Comedy Entertainment Personality. Taking to the stage on Friday the 6th of November, he had Manchester Apollo’s audience in the palm of his hand.

The sketch ranged from topics such as TripAdvisor, going on a safari holiday with his mum, dog walking and the dating scene. The main premise surrounding the show was his hate for people who simply had too much to say. TripAdvisor was naturally his prime example, where he noted comments and ratings, such as a lady giving Windermere two stars because she’d lost her handbag there.

However one of my favourite moments within the show I imagine wasn’t actually part of the sketch. On two separate occasions, Carr stopped mid ‘yap’ to shame audience members who were texting—and rightfully so. “Sorry, am I boring you?” This gathered both laughs and respect for Carr in equal measure. Moments also included Alan posing for pictures at the beginning of the second half; you can just imagine some of the poses.

A live comedy show wouldn’t be anything without the hecklers. Especially drunken, middle aged hecklers. For those who weren’t aware, Carr has a special place in his heart for Manchester, having lived here for a while so when he asked for romantic meals in Manchester the audience rang back with a plethora of stereotypical Northern delicacies such as “fish fingers,” “pie” and “spag bol.” Hilarity ensued.

In previous years, he has garnered a clutch of awards from the 2012 National Television Award for Best Talk Show, and the 2012 Loaded LAFTA Award for Best Stand Up and the 2010 TV Choice Awards for Best Entertainment Show. There were also nominations for Best New British Comedy & Best Comedy Entertainment Personality at the 2009 British Comedy Awards.

The mammoth tour is raking in over 140 theatre shows throughout 2015. If you didn’t catch him in Manchester, there are still seven locations remaining before the tour concludes. Be sure to book soon as remaining tickets will sell fast.

An evening full of charged mincing, his incredulous “what’s-that-all-about” and making the most unenthused of people actually laugh out loud. ‘Yap, Yap, Yap!’ is a complete success.

Tour Dates:
14th – 15th November: City Hall, Hull
19th – 21st November: Dome, Brighton
22nd – 29th November: Waterfront Hall, Belfast
10th – 13th December: Millennium Forum, Derry
19th of December: Eventim Apollo, London
18th of March: Sentrum Scene, Oslo
19th of March: The Edge, Tromso

Police still looking for key witness in Fallowfield rape

Written by Jennifer Sterne on . Posted in News.

Last month a 19-year-old student was raped in Fallowfield on her way home from a night out in the city centre. After the attack police believe she was walked home by their key witness, whom they are still looking for.

Detectives describe the witness as white and skinny with messy brown hair made into a quiff. On the night he was wearing black skinny jeans and a black leather jacket. Greater Manchester Police now believe that the key witness they are looking for in the Fallowfield rape could be a freshers student.

The witness met the victim at the bus stop near McDonald’s on Wimslow Road after she had been attacked. Police say they believe he then walked her safely home through Fallowfield, but later left without leaving any details.

Officers stress that he is not a suspect and they do not believe he harmed the victim in any way. They however believe that he could have vital evidence for the case.

Detectives are appealing for students to help find him and they believe that he is probably a fresher.

Det Insp Damian Simpson told the MEN: “We need to stress that he [the witness] is not a suspect and we don’t think he’s harmed this female in any way. He has looked after her and made sure she had got home okay. If you are the witness we’re looking for, please contact us.

“We would also like to speak to anyone who saw this couple walking together. We have already released a description of him, and she is a white female.”

The 19-year-old victim was raped on Wednesday, October the 7th between the hours of midnight and 4:30am and met the witness during this period.

Anyone with information should call police on 0161 856 1911 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Government takes first steps of legislation with HE green paper

Written by Emily Hulme on . Posted in News.

The recent proposals regarding higher education changes have been published in a Green Paper entitled Fulfilling our Potential: Teaching Excellence, Social Mobility and Student Choice.

Proposals include a bringing together of higher education regulatory bodies entitled the Office for Students (OfS), a contentious Teaching Excellence Framework, and an easier route for new universities to enter the market.

The student community has not responded warmly to the green paper. James Elliot, from The National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts (NCAFC), the organisers of the London protest on the 4th of November, summarised the green paper in The Independent with this warning: “It will be a disaster for students and education workers alike, meaning more fees and debt, and threatening jobs too.”

The OfS will see the merging together of the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and the Office for Fair Access, putting students “at the heart of education,” the green paper reports. However, students already fear that their voices will be lost within the OfS because it is directly under government influence. The NCAFC describe the OFS proposal as a “vague threat” of “increased government control of Students’ Unions,” linked to the controversial trade union bill currently being put through Parliament.

But it is the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) that seems to be the most controversial proposal. The TEF will have powers to establish three or four groups of universities based on their standard of teaching, research and employment-post-graduating statistics, enabling student ‘consumers’ and their future employers to differentiate between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ universities.

As a result, the TEF can permit the best performing universities to raise tuition fees from 2018  – 19. Labour MP Gordon Marsden has likened the proposals to a “Trojan horse for raising fees,” which many students at Manchester have agreed with. President of the NUS Megan Dunn has said “Students should not be treated like consumers,” opposing the government’s attempt to “marketise” education.

Ministers will be in charge of setting the inflation cap for fees due to new powers set out in the green paper. The government would “set the uplift each year,” potentially allowing for fee rises every year, “not exceeding real terms increases.”

Michael Spence, the Education Officer of the University of Manchester Students’ Union said: “This makes their claim that they will keep the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) at arm’s length from Ministers both laughable and demonstrably false. It is an affront to democracy, a blatant ministerial power grab, and an attempt to shut down debate about what the fee level should be.”

A green paper is a step forward in turning these proposals into legislation; however, this stage is still a consultation period where many actors can intervene and contribute their suggestions and opinions. Megan Dunn, NUS president, ensures that the “the student voice is too loud for the government to ignore.”

SPORTLIGHT: The University of Manchester’s Lacrosse

Written by Harry Newton on . Posted in Sport.

What is lacrosse?

Lacrosse is a game for those who want to play in a team. There is no time for hogging the ball, and there must always be a line of communication open throughout the game. Flo Elliott, the women’s first team captain, simplifies the rules of the game to describe it as “hockey in the air”.

Lacrosse is quite different to other sports; the men’s and women’s games are very different. The men wear helmets, shoulder pads and arm pads due to their game being more contact-based, whereas the women’s game does not have any major contact, and so they wear no extra equipment. Furthermore, the men’s sticks have deeper pockets for tricks, and the women’s sticks are shallower for control. Even the pitch lines are very different.

Campus Sport & Sporticipate

Lacrosse is offered at a variety of different levels across the university, and a campus league is set to begin in semester two for the first time ever, in order to add yet another way in which you can get involved in lacrosse. It will be a mixed league, which highlights just how open these leagues are to including a variety of people, and how it can also be a great way to make new friends and have fun. If you think you may be interested in joining the lacrosse campus league, then go onto the Mancunion Sport facebook page for the sign-up link.

If you are interested in getting some practice before your campus league season begins, or if you simply want to learn lacrosse at a relaxed, friendly level, then Sporticipate is for you! Here at The Mancunion, we are big champions of Sporticipate, because we understand some people just want to play sport very casually, to meet new people, and to do both cheaply (free, in fact!). Sporticipate’s lacrosse sessions take place every Sunday 1-2PM on the outdoor pitch at the Armitage Centre, which means that you have no excuses of a timetable clash, or a hangover, since nobody can afford club prices on a Saturday night! Also, don’t worry either if you had no idea what lacrosse was until a minute ago! Despite the fact that lots of people have registered interest in coming to the lessons—most of them are beginners.

Lauren Magee, a second year Adult Nursing student, has been going to the lacrosse sessions this year and has had this to say: “I have found it really fun and easy to pick up. Each session is led really well, which makes things a whole lot easier. It’s okay to make a mistake, because everyone’s a beginner. I wouldn’t say anything has been particularly difficult, but like all sports, things take time and practice.” Lauren obviously has taken to the sport of lacrosse, so it may seem hard to believe that prior to playing with Sporticipate, she had never played lacrosse before, and she admits this did put her off to begin with, but has since really enjoyed the sessions. She goes on to add that she “found it way more relaxed and open to beginners than other sports, so wasn’t too worried about it being competitive or difficult.”

The sessions themselves begin with a warm up, then a separation into two groups due to the large turnout. Then there will be a focus on a skill each week, as the weeks progress, with time to focus on the previous week’s skill also.

The Women’s Team

To take that next step up the ladder, and further your skill with a more competitive edge, then the university clubs may be for you!

First team captain Flo Elliott is full of praise for the influx of first years that have embraced the sport this year. This season has been going really well for the women’s first team. They drew with Loughborough, a team against whom they usually struggle, and thrashed old rivals Nottingham 20-4! Flo gives some credit to two of the players, who have been helping them improve in training. “We currently have the England and Wales U19 captains, who has been brilliant for improving our game, because we’ve managed to harness their plays and techniques to add a new, more professional dynamic to our game.” The belief is definitely there that the team can finish higher than they did last year, despite some rocky away form this year. Flo believes the team has a chance at finishing third in the tough Premier North League.

The women’s second team are doing well, too! Second team captain Georgia Aynsley expresses her pride in the season so far, with the team having won three of their opening four games, including a win over Manchester Metropolitan University two weeks ago (which everyone loves to hear)! The girls really showed their determination in this game, and they defeated the local rivals despite having no substitutes, after working hard in recent weeks with extra intense fitness sessions. Second team coach (and one-time first team player), Fabienne Johnson, described the performance of the girls late in the second half as displaying “some of the most controlled play I’ve ever seen to secure a well-deserved victory 11-9.” With strong performances so far this season from Sally Boultbee, Yui Watanabe, Harriet Price and Charli Musgrove, the team are excelling this season. Georgia highlights these players, but also states that the team have clicked since the very beginning of the season.

The Men’s Team

On paper, the men’s teams have not had as successful a season as the women’s teams; however, they are showing signs of improvement, with such a tight-knit group of players demonstrating that they are beginning to click. Still without a win, the first team highlighted marked signs of promise in the latest defeat—to Leeds Met. Despite being 5-0 down in the first quarter of their game, the team showed great strength to get back to 12-10 at the final whistle; a significant improvement on the 24-4 loss to Durham on the opening day.

The second team are also stranded at the bottom of the BUCS table at the moment. However, when you look at whom the team are playing in their league, credit must be given to the lacrosse second team. Out of the six teams in the 2A league, they are the only second team there, since Bangor, Chester, Liverpool, Keele and Lancaster all have their first teams in this league. Last season the team saw themselves finish fifth, escaping relegation, so there is hope that they can do the same again this year!

Timperley

The university’s partnership with local club Timperley Lacrosse gives the club that unique cutting edge over others. The partnership has been ongoing for seven years, and aims to recruit new talent and to improve our university clubs. Timperley offer the club’s players extra training and matches with the Timperley squads, which may be why the teams are so successful. Fabienne Johnson now plays for Timperley, and states that “it was great to know I had a club I could join once I finished university.”

Fabienne describes the importance of playing sport at university. “My involvement in university sport taught me as many useful and employable skills as my degree, and I would encourage everyone to get involved with some sport at university no matter what, it doesn’t have to be a club!” And, with so many levels of lacrosse available for any player at the University of Manchester, maybe this is the sport for you to gain those skills and have a good time!

That’s your (Job) Lot

Written by Alice Williams on . Posted in Lifestyle.

Let me invite you to play a game next time you find yourself bored at a party. Walk right up to the nearest person, look them right in the eyes and ask them where they see themselves in 5 years time. If they are doing anything other than medicine, witness the catastrophic failure of their mental faculties as the suppression of utter job prospect panic becomes too much to bear and they begin weeping over their mug of vodka.

It seems that for about half a decade now the media has been informing Generation Y just how much the job market is preparing to fuck us up as soon as we leave the safe confines of our university bubble. When many do reach the great outside world, they are often faced with the terrifying reality that today’s twenty-somethings have been horribly misinformed.

Years spent chasing qualifications no one even bothers to ask about will lead you to spend an inordinate amount of time telling any poor sod that will listen the exact breakdown of your EPQ presentation, delivered 4 years ago in a dusty secondary school assembly hall while you desperately try to find meaning for all those wasted hours. After all, the grown ups had told us that we were in a considerably better position than them—education was the name if getting a job was the game.

But after the SATs, the 11-plus, the GCSEs, the AS Levels, the BAs, the MAs, the MScs and finally even maybe the death rattle of a PhD, employers turned around and announced that in fact what they were looking for was a wealth of experience. Funnily enough, this wealth of workplace experience was something you missed out on while you were preoccupied with trying to work out what the hell D.H. Lawrence had ingested before he wrote The Rainbow, or hyperventilating during a maths exam you had a day to prepare for.

So the horror begins. Having asked us what we wanted to be when we grew up and then finding that society can’t provide the goods, the generation before us proffers internships. Internships—the solution to a problem that wouldn’t have existed had someone realised earlier on that droves of students perfectly capable of long division but totally incapable of splitting the bill wasn’t ideal.

Internships, zero-hour contracts and an unusual amount of part-time jobs are leading us students further and further into a situation where youth unemployment is a major issue. By October 2013, the figures had risen by four times that of 2004, and had tripled in the first 3 years of the coalition government.

So, other than cry and eat an unprecedented amount of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups from the Union’s Grab and Go, what can Manchester students proactively do to try and do to help themselves? Well, some good news amongst a barrage of bad is that, in being at The University of Manchester, you are already in a better position of employability than many.

According to recent research from The Graduate Market in 2015, and High Flyers Research, we are the most targeted university by Britain’s top graduate employers. Graduates destination data reveals that in 2013/14, 84 per cent of Manchester graduates who got jobs went straight into graduate-level employment and the average starting salary for Manchester graduates was £22,000.

However, don’t get complacent, there’s not enough grad schemes to go round; there was recently an interview on The Debrief which gave an insight into the life of strippers from ‘Amy, graduate of the University of Manchester, 2:1 in English Literature.’ Ultimately, no-one’s going to get a job from complaining.

It’s worth getting involved in as many extra-curricular activities as you’re interested in without sacrificing your degree qualification, and if you’re really stuck about what direction to go in then visit to the careers service will yield helpful information about what you need to focus on to get where you want to be.

Manchester’s 1st Round FA Cup Games

Written by Toby Webb on . Posted in Sport.

It is undoubted that a certain level of indifference towards the FA Cup pervades the attitudes of Manchester’s Premier League teams; League titles (at least for City anyway!) and progression in the Champions League are the priority, with the prestige and financial benefits being far superior. However, amongst the clubs lying in the depths of the English footballing pyramid, the fervour surrounding the competition is as strong as ever.

This fervour could not be more appropriately characterised than by Salford City. The club, currently in their second season following the takeover by a string of ex-Manchester United stars and Singaporean business-man Peter Lim, had their moment in the spotlight when their first round match was picked for broadcast by the BBC. The change in ownership had brought immediate effect, with the club being promoted as champions of the Northern Premier League Division One North.

The media focus following the takeover meant a considerable amount of hype surrounded the club come match-day. The stage was set for Salford.

They took their opportunity in some style, recording an impressive 2-0 victory in front of the BBC cameras. In truth, Salford dominated the match from start to finish. Their home ground, Moor Lane, was packed to the rafters, providing a hostile atmosphere for the opponents, Notts County. It would be an injustice to Salford to say that Notts County were dreadful, and as a result, they came home comfortable winners.

Salford began like a team possessed. They closed down the opposition with lightning efficiency, not allowing the team who were 59 places above them in the English league structure to get a foothold in the game. Both teams were showcasing a selection of ex-Premier league players: Alan Smith (ex-Man United), Jon Stead and Danny Webber to name a few. However, it was Salford’s Danny Webber that made the telling difference.

Webber’s obvious talent, talent that enabled him 39 appearances in England’s top division and nearly 200 in the division below, provided Salford with the cutting edge to break the deadlock. A brilliant cross from Salford number 12 James Poole was finished off coolly by Webber to put the home team up 1-0 less than 20 seconds into the second half. Following this, a fine substitution by the Salford management paid dividends; Richie Allen was brought on in the 70th minute, scoring within 3 minutes of his entrance. A fine individual goal, with Allen beating numerous opposition defenders, led to a calm finish in the corner from inside the box. Rapturous celebrations around Moor Lane ensued, not least of which by Gary Neville, Salford City co-owner, whose euphoria was caught by the television cameras: a true FA Cup giant-slaying was on the cards.

An anxious last quarter ensued; the team’s nerves unmasked when a horrible mix up in defence resulted in a Salford defensive clearance rebounding off the goal-keeper, diverted towards the Salford net. Steven Howson made up for his error with a heroic goal-line clearance. This bravery effectively sealed the win on a historic night. Salford City FC were rewarded with a home draw with Hartlepool in the next round. The match is to be played on Friday December 4th.

Salford’s success could not be replicated by their city rivals, FC United of Manchester, who suffered a 4-1 home defeat to Chesterfield, a team ranked 78 places higher than them in the league standings.

Unlike Salford, who were able to shut-down their opponents through relentless defensive pressure, FC United found themselves 2-0 down within 12 minutes. Chesterfield, who had ex-Manchester United reserve Sylvan Ebanks-Blake in their ranks, learnt from Notts County’s mistakes. They immediately pressed their technical advantage, silencing the home crowd before FC United could get into the game.

While the match lacked spectacle, it did contain controversy. FC United were founded in 2005 by a group of supporters angry at the Glazers’ takeover of Man United. The club is owned by its fans, with membership (£12 for adults and £3 for children) allowing one to vote in club decisions. The club seek to champion sustainability in a football world dominated by excessive spending and high ticket prices.

The club’s supporters weren’t happy at the team’s FA Cup match being rescheduled for a Monday night in order for it to be broadcast by the BBC. They took to protesting, with around 100 fans choosing to not enter the stadium in the first-half, following the match by radio. Additionally, there was a plethora of banners around the stadium, the designs of which expressed anger at the FA; they felt that the FA was putting TV interests ahead of football fans’ interests. Thus, while the football was largely uninspiring, FC United as a club were able to voice their opposition to the state of football in 2015.

Other notable results from Greater Manchester include:

Altrincham 1-0 Barnsley; non-league Altrincham defeated a team 56 places above them to progress to the 2nd round for the first time since 2001. They will play Colchester United away in the next round.

Bury 4-0 Wigan; Bury inflicted a crushing defeat on the competition’s 2013 winners. They will face a short trip to Rochdale in the second round.

 

Manchester climbs world employability rankings

Written by Ailsa McNeil on . Posted in News.

The Times Higher Education‘s Global Employability University Rankings were released this week with positive results for the University of Manchester, which has once again climbed the international employability leader-board.

This week it was revealed that the redbrick establishment has maintained an impressive position in the annual Global Employability University Ranking. The list, which rates how universities perform on graduate employability, puts Manchester in 24th place, a steady improvement on its standing in both 2013 and 2014, where it landed in spots 26 and 25 respectively.

Otherwise dominated by US establishments, which make up 39 of the top 150, Britain does well, with 12 universities making it on to the list.

However, Manchester’s performance is standout, joining only four other UK institutions in the top 25: Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial and Edinburgh. Notably, it also storms ahead of London heavyweights UCL and KCL, confirming the global desirability of Manchester graduates.

The ranking was produced by French Human Resources consulting group, Emerging Associates. It compiled the results of a comprehensive questionnaire, which put questions about the ideal attributes of graduates to recruiters and managing directors from over 20 countries.

On average, grades come at the bottom of the priority list, reflecting the shift of focus away from the traditional hallmarks of result-driven academic success.

Instead, it reveals that where you study is decisive; 31 per cent of companies admitted to having a preferred list of institutions from which they hire. In selecting which universities to take employees from, survey respondents cited past experience with graduates and international exposure as influential factors.

Positioned amongst global institutions such as Harvard and Yale, Manchester’s place in the rankings underlines its status as a world-renowned centre for excellence. The results provide a valuable insight into the perspective of future employers, and are sure to offer reassurance to students faced with the prospect of an unforgiving job market upon graduation.

6 Reasons why the Chelsea board must not sack Mourinho

Written by Patrick Harvey on . Posted in Sport.

Firstly, the league table clearly shows that it is already impossible for the Champions to retain their title this May and even Champions League qualification appears highly improbable. Even if Chelsea were to turn the tide and do as well in the remaining 26 fixtures of this season as they did last year in a title-winning campaign, they would still only finish on 66 points.  Last season that tally would have placed them 4 points below a Champions League qualification place.

Dismissal at this point would serve no logical purpose, as even if a new manager arrives he will still almost certainly fail to qualify for the Champions League. The board should have acted earlier if their aim was to achieve some form of league success this season. The smarter choice in my view would be to write off this season and keep José. The Premier League campaign is doomed by this stage anyway, and here is an opportunity to instil some continuity in the club and begin another assault on the title next year with José at the helm.

This leads nicely onto my second point. The dire situation that Chelsea are currently experiencing is an opportunity for the board to truly show that they have changed and have a legitimate desire to instate some stability into the club. Between Mourinho’s departure in 2007 and his return in 2013, seven different managers had their chance in Stamford Bridge’s hot seat. Although there was significant success during these years, it is not a sustainable way of managing a football club.

Since José’s return there has certainly been a hope among fans that this is the opportunity for a Ferguson-like regime at Chelsea. The board could learn a lot from taking a look at what happened up north. This current dip in form therefore gives the board the prospect of making this a reality. Things will most likely never be worse than they currently are and sticking with the Portuguese tactician should encourage confidence in José and the fans that the board really have changed their approach and are planning for a long-term future with Mourinho.

In addition, in the event that the board do resort to old habits and discharge Mourinho, who would they chose to replace him? The options available in the current environment are extremely limited. Firstly, from the inter-Mourinho years, Chelsea have almost exhausted the available opportunities when it comes to world-class managers. Hiddink, Ancelotti, Benítez, Villas Boas and Di Matteo have already had their chance in West London and been rejected by Abramovich. And if they look elsewhere, there are not any genuine contenders currently available. The bookies presently favour Pep Guardiola and Diego Simeone but both are under contract to huge clubs and would not be available until at least this summer. Alternatively, there have been reports linking Brendan Rodgers to Chelsea. It would seem unimaginable however, that Chelsea would remove a two-time winner of the Champions League for a man who only six years ago was sacked by Watford.

Another factor for the board to consider when deciding whether to stick or twist must be the fans who, thus far, have unanimously backed Mourinho. Chants of ‘Stand Up for the Special One’ have been sung more frequently and passionately than ever by the Chelsea faithful in recent games. Most notably during the away defeat to Stoke in the Capital One Cup where, despite losing on penalties, cries of ‘José Mourinho’ from the 5000 fans were the soundtrack as the players and staff exited down the tunnel. This must be taken into account, as the there is no way the board will want another situation of fan revolt as seen during Benitez’s turbulent spell as boss.

Alongside the fans, the players also seem to be in support of their manager. In spite of questionable reports in some sections of the media that a player would rather lose than win for Mourinho, all tangible evidence shows unilateral backing from the major first teamers. Diego Costa, Cesc Fàbregas, John Terry and Asmir Begović have come out publically and backed the manager. There is a reputation among the Chelsea playing staff for revolt against the manager but in fact the only remaining player from the old guard is John Terry, who has been arguably the most vociferous in support of Mourinho. Although his comments regarding a certain BT Sport pundit grabbed the headlines from the Dynamo Kiev pre-match press conference, his main message was the team’s wholehearted backing for Mourinho. It would therefore be ludicrous to sack a manager, revered by both the fans and players.

Finally, on closer inspection of the last few games, it appears that performances have vastly improved despite the disappointing results. Both away games to Stoke in the League and Cup were Chelsea-dominated affairs where the home side managed to score with virtually their only chance. Additionally, the performance and comeback against Dynamo Kiev was full of encouragement for any doubters within the board. It was not just a dominant performance but the team showed impressive fight in making a late comeback, another sign that Mourinho has not lost the players.

The loss at home to Liverpool was also not as disastrous as the result may indicate. Chelsea were dominating the game until, against the run of play, Coutinho scored a deflected winner – and the third by Benteke was simply a result of too many men forward in search of the equaliser. Plus, Chelsea have had their fair share of injustice when it comes to refereeing decisions in recent weeks. For example, a definite red card for Liverpool’s Lucas brushed aside as well as the mystifying decision last week, not to award a penalty for Butland’s impedance of Loïc Rémy. This sort of bad luck has been a feature throughout and especially in the last few games. Therefore, it is surely only a matter of time before the team start to accumulate the points that their performances deserve.

I rest my case.  It would be both reckless and futile for the Chelsea board to relieve José Mourinho of his duties as manager of Chelsea Football Club.

Theatre goes digital: The ‘live broadcast’ revolution

Written by Kate Harvey on . Posted in Theatre.

We now have the potential to vastly enhance our experience of contemporary entertainment and revolutionise the arts, with efforts being made to bridge the gap between the big, bold world of cinema and its quietly sophisticated cousin—theatre. National Theatre Live has been at the forefront of these innovations for a few years now, operating directly from the National Theatre and The Barbican in London. Their live broadcasts of theatrical performances reach over 700 screens worldwide and are subsequently setting the bar high for the likes of Royal Shakespeare Company, who have also chosen to ‘go digital.’

NT Live does well to strike a balance between farcically filling the stage with celebrities and giving classically trained performers the exposure they deserve. Take for example, the performance of Hamlet which was broadcasted directly from The Barbican last month. It didn’t take long to realize that the (largely female) audience were diehard Cumberfans—yet the celebrity protagonist in no way detracted from an expert cast that knew the stage like the back of their hand.

Besides, the ‘celebrities’ that wider audiences are flocking to see are no strangers to theatre themselves. Ralph Fiennes, both a noted Shakespeare interpreter and Harry Potter villain, delivered a flawless performance as Jack Tanner in Bernard Shaw’s Man and Superman during the summer. Bringing household names to the stage has been used for decades as a mode of publicity, and that shouldn’t have to stop at live theatre broadcasts.

Admittedly, I’m still not sure where I stand in regards to the sound of rustling popcorn during a stage production (particularly when somebody spills it all over my lap half way through Hamlet’s iconic “to be, or not to be” monologue). Although it’s all very well for watching loud, Hollywood blockbusters, there’s something about eating at the theatre doesn’t seem quite right. However, if it means newcomers are dipping their toes into the world of theatre, I’ll put up with it.

This expansion in viewership is, in my opinion, doing wonders for theatre at a time often referred to as ‘dire straits’ for the arts—a sector often hit hard by government cuts. It really hit home for me when a woman sat next to me in a NT Live performance of Comedy of Errors told me she had never stepped foot into a theatre before, or when I had realised, that over half of the audiences watching Hamlet were parents with children. NT Live should be praised for its efforts in diversifying its audience, introducing them to timeless theatrical performances.

The invention of live broadcasting is pretty ingenious really, and although there are fears that it may replace the original concept of going to the theatre, I don’t think audiences will go to watch a live broadcast thinking that it is a substitute for the ‘real thing.’ I’d argue that the emotional exchange between the actor and audience sharing the same space is by no means lost; it seems quite clear onscreen that the actors are fully aware of the audience’s presence. Live broadcasting should be seen as a new experience alongside theatre, not something that is driving it towards extinction. Internationally speaking, it is both an excellent way of showcasing British talent and bringing audiences together under the newly undiscriminating banner of contemporary theatre.

Rejoice, for NT Live season is upon us! It may be getting colder, but the caliber of performing arts is heating up in the UK for the seventh season running—and there are plenty of performances in the pipeline. Get them into your diary to avoid disappointment (they sell out fast!): Jane Eyre on the 8th December; Les Liaisons Dangereuses from the 28th January; As You Like It from the 25th February; and encore performances for Of Mice and Men (with James Franco and Chris O’Dowd) on the 19th November. Performances will be broadcasted from the Odeon, AMC, and HOME cinemas in Manchester over the coming months.

Live: Acid Mothers Temple

Written by Tom on . Posted in Music.

Tuesday 20th October

Band on the Wall

8.5/10

Kawabata Makoto’s experimental collective Acid Mothers Temple came to Band on the Wall on Tuesday night to perform a mesmerising set. The Nihonjin commune sorcerers released their 73rd studio album in May—a reworking of Osamu Kitajima’s Benzaiten. In reality it’s less of a reworking, and more of a platform for the Temple’s usual droning, post-pyschedelic exploration.

‘Benzaiten (God of Music and Water)’, the opening track of the album and set, had a bluesy funk-like structure with a lot more groove than expected. Along with elements of free jazz and Japanoise, the central riff was complemented by improvised electronic sprinkles generated by Higashi Hiroshi.

Stood at the centre of the stage behind a sonic control panel, Hiroshi embraced his wizardly appearance by swinging his long white beard around as if possessed by the God of Music and Water himself. After about an hour, mood-inducing drones were interrupted by Hiroshi’s looped electro melody that heightened the tempo and increased the urgency of the three guitarists’ experimentation.

In terms of their style, there’s definitely continuity with ‘70s space rock bands such as Hawkwind and Gong, but Acid Mothers Temple’s swooshing, unanchored soundscapes certainly represent something unique. As everyone became more assimilated to the band’s sound, Makoto’s enchanting drones became more and more captivating. One song even broke the half hour barrier few have ever dared break (or so it seemed). The ‘Benzaiten’ reprise worked perfectly as Makoto, with a feather woven into his guitar, returned to his favourite riff.

Tsuyama Atsushi brought the cosmic voyage to an end with some recorder improvisation punctuated by jazz drum fills, and then attempted to play his guitar and recorder at the same time. Although, while selling their own merchandise, they wouldn’t let an angry Southerner barter down the price of a t-shirt from £15 to £10, Acid Mothers Temple produced a hugely enjoyable and authentic performance that even trumped Hawkwind’s spectacular display at Academy 1 earlier in the month.

Russian doping must be a wakeup call for professional sport

Written by Alex Whitcomb on . Posted in Sport.

The decision taken by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to recommend Russian suspension from international athletics was absolutely unprecedented. The scale of the widespread doping by Russia has come as a surprise to many, including former WADA President Dick Pound and the new President of the IAAF, Lord Coe. The uncovering of a state-sponsored, complex organisation of cheating on an industrial scale should cause those in all sports across the world to question how much doping is taking place in order to prevent it.

The independent report stated that Russia should be suspended from athletics. It went on to report that the Russian Sports Minister personally ordered that anti-doping labs “manipulate particular samples”. Moscow’s anti-doping lab was infiltrated by the Russian secret police and was the scene of the “intentional destruction” of 1417 samples. The report also describes the London 2012 Olympics, stating that they were marred by “widespread inaction” against Russian competitors.

Moscow’s original response was one of aggressive denial, with the Russian Sports Minister describing British Anti-Doping of being “worse than Russia’s”. However, one of the most spectacular row backs has since taken place, with Vladimir Putin announcing a public enquiry and, on Thursday, Russian Athletics revealing that it would admit some of WADA’s charges.

It’s no secret that certain countries have taken anti-doping more seriously than others. The Secret Race, Tyler Hamilton’s award winning memoir on cycling in the Armstrong era, details the contrast between the strict French doping laws and the lax controls in Spain. Hamilton’s team used the Madrid-based Dr Eufemiano Fuentes, who supplied many of the top riders at the Tour de France, and is also alleged to have assisted Tennis and Football stars (although he is yet to disclose the exact details of such links, despite trying to sell the information in 2013).

However, WADA has never recommended that any country be removed from cycling, which makes their statement on Monday all the more astonishing. Whether the IAAF act upon it is another matter, but WADA clearly have a large amount of watertight evidence, otherwise they could not have even contemplated taking on the might of the Russian Federation.

Whatever the outcomes of this episode, it will be seen as a dark day for international athletics and Olympic sports in general. However, that is the greatest hurdle that anti-doping crusaders face, and reputation damage will continue to prevent governing bodies from taking action. Sunday Times journalist David Walsh played a major part in the downfall of Lance Armstrong and is one of the most notable anti-doping campaigners.

Walsh tweeted on Monday that the report’s allegations “would jeopardise its [athletics] place in Rio” and that this made it “a big day for anti-doping”. The problem is that these kinds of threats make many athletics administrators prefer to cover up doping rather than expose it, because announcing doping scandals causes almost irreparable damage to a sport’s reputation.

As the other major sport to have been affected by recent scandals of this kind, professional cycling gives a hint as to what will become of athletics in the coming weeks, months and years. While the consensus among journalists and the authorities seems to be that cycling is the cleanest it has ever been at the moment, its reputation for doping is still overwhelmingly negative among the wider public. The fact that Chris Froome must continue to face a barrage of questioning and protest over the nature of his wins shows that the distrust of cycling remains strong.

It is an odd paradox that for a sport to be able to crack down on doping, it must drag its own name and those of its clean athletes through the mud in the process. Athletics and Lord Coe must be prepared to go through this uncomfortable process if the sport is ever going to clean up properly and hopefully this will be the moment at which that process begins.

It also proves how woefully the WADA can be at enforcing their regulations at major events. This is not due to widespread incompetence, but more a sheer lack of resources. They operate on a £19 million annual budget, which they have justifiably complained is too small an amount to deal with the problems. Global anti-doping working on a budget similar to that of a Champions League footballer’s salary makes it of little surprise that a large country could engage in the practice of “state-sponsored doping” and get away with it for years.

If the athletics’s sponsors desert them and the public loses all trust in the governing body, then it’s unlikely that any other sports will risk the commercial turmoil of exposing their dopers. However, if athletics does manage to clean up without its reputation being completely ruined, it could be a real watershed moment for anti-doping. It’s also worth remembering that the IOC were marred by corruption allegations after awarding the 2002 Winter Olympics to Salt Lake City, but has since managed to drastically reduce criminality within the organisation.

What happens in the coming months will surely shape how all sports are governed in future. If the correct procedures are followed, testing is stepped up and athletics comes out of the other side with its reputation restored, then it really will be a victory in the fight against doping.

University society forms independent association in order to host event

Written by Francis Edge on . Posted in News.

In response to controversies over the Students’ Union’s Safe Space policy, and in order to hold their event, ‘From Liberation to Censorship: Does Modern Feminism Have a Problem With Free Speech?’, previously banned, the Free Speech and Secular Society have formed a new group called the Manchester Free Speech Association (MFSA).

This group was formed to, according to member Ed Pletscher, “hold events that are not possible inside the SU.” Pletscher adds that “the banning of Julie [Bindel] and Milo [Yiannopoulos] was the cause of the Manchester Free Speech Association.”

The University of Manchester’s Safe Space policy has been a controversial topic on university campuses recently. Last month the Students’ Union decided to ban the appearance of both Julie Bindel and Milo Yiannopoulos at a debate hosted by the society, due to concerns that their transphobic views were in breach of their safe space policy. The Union said in a statement at the time that they were “made aware of various comments lambasting rape survivors and trans* people, and as such we are concerned for the safety of our students on the topic of this event.”

The aim of the policy is to predicate that “societies and representatives must not allow visiting speakers at events they have organised, or promoted, to: Say things that are likely to incite hatred against any individual or group based on age, disability, marital or maternity/paternity status, race, religious beliefs, sexual orientation or sexual activity, gender identity, trans status, socio-economic status, or ideology or culture.”

The Free Speech and Secular Society are proposing potential amendments to the safe space policy which is up for review at the next senate meeting on the 3rd of December and the result of this meeting may have serious implication on the campus culture in future.

Commenting on the policy and its need for reform, Leonardo Carella, a leading member of the Free Speech and Secular Society, said: “It’s more of a problem within the student body, between the SU and the rest of us. The SSP (Safe Space Policy) creates a grievance culture that doesn’t help the people it’s supposed to protect and pits student against student.”

Mr Carella further adds: “It demeans us students by not treating us as reasonable adults, it infringes the right to free speech, it gives the university a bad name, it fails to prepare students for real life, and it gives the Exec powers they should not have.”

Due to the fact that this is not a society that wishes to be associated with the university, the funding for the MSFA must come only from the pockets of the members of the MSFA.

The newly-created event includes a third speaker, Jane Fae (a writer for The Guardian and a well-known feminist), to be included in the debate.

In the end, Ed Pletscher is “glad it is going ahead” and hopes “it will be a good debate where all three speakers will be challenged.”

GCSE results reflect a north-south divide

Written by Yasmin Mannan on . Posted in News.

Education data firm SchoolDash has mapped this year’s national summer GCSE results and it emerges that 4.7 percentage points more school students in the south of England achieve five ‘good’ GCSEs, including English and Maths, that their northern counterparts.

In 2012, the gap had been 1.8 per cent, rising to 2.8 per cent in 2013 and then spiking to 4.8 per cent in 2014. A breakdown of the results implies that London has consistently been the top achiever, with the South West and East Anglia showing improvement. SchoolDash founder, Timo Hannay, stated that the overview of the mapped results suggests that regional performance up to the age of seven “correlates closely with deprivation except in London, which does unusually well.”

The north-south education gap is by no means a new phenomenon this year. Statistical evidence from IPPR North’s ‘The State of The North’ report shows that “many children in the North get off to a bad start in life, particularly those from more economically disadvantaged backgrounds.”

In London, a much higher proportion of the poorest children achieve a “good level of development”: they have a 12 percentage point advantage over their northern peers. It also shows that, since 2010, the North’s overall GCSE attainment scores have slipped more than the national average.

Unsurprisingly, this ‘early years gap’ between northern and southern children proves extremely hard to equalise as they get older. In 2011, The Sutton Trust showed that a higher proportion of students from London and the South-East achieve three A grades at A-level and that young people from the London and South East of England are more likely to get places at top universities, even though 75 per cent of the UK’s population do not live in those regions.

London rents only for wealthy international students

Written by Lexi Bickell on . Posted in News.

Tom Copley, the chair of the London Assembly Housing Committee, has written an open letter to Boris Johnson warning against purpose-built student housing in London catering solely “for an affluent market.” London has the highest percentage of international students in the UK, with London First and PwC stating that out of 366,605 students, approximately 67,000, (almost 20 per cent) are international.

Many of these students come from wealthy backgrounds—the costs of studying in the UK as an international student are great, with tuition fees alone being £27,000 per year to read a science subject. International students are therefore estimated to bring in huge sums of money for the capital’s economy; one report noted that they provided London with an extra £2.3 billion in a single year, less £540 million for public service costs incurred.

As well as the increase in volume of international students, increasing privatisation of the student housing market in London has caused rents to skyrocket, with the average weekly price in 2012/13 rising by 26 per cent to £157.48 since 2009/10, according to an annual NUS survey.

As well as standard accommodation prices being on the rise, properties are being shouldered out of the way by investors clamouring to create luxury flats for the more affluent students from whom they can generate greater profits.

A new development in Camden designed for students has top prices reaching as much as £355 per week. To give some perspective, Save the Student has recorded the average weekly rent for a student in Manchester as £75.

A current third year student at UCL commented: “Students are being squeezed out of the housing market. I know loads of people who choose to live at home and commute purely because of the cost… I’m bleeding out of my pockets to live in Zone 1. It’s definitely becoming more tailored to an overseas market.”

Housing privatisation is causing ordinary families to rule out London universities as higher education options because the cost is simply too great. Copley has urged the Mayor to provide “more affordable housing in London” by altering his policies on the issue, suggesting that Johnson “encourages inner London boroughs to require that new student accommodation contribute towards the delivery of affordable housing.”

Religious studies GCSE faces strong opposition from secular groups

Written by Merle Streck on . Posted in News.

A recent decision by the government to rule out the study of non-religious worldviews in the curriculum for the Religious Studies GCSE has been met with fierce opposition by parents and children.

According to the curriculum, students are asked to conduct in-depth research on two different faiths. A study of a non-religious world views such as humanism are not permitted as part of this research.

In a statement to The Mancunion, a spokesperson for the University of Manchester Free Speech and Secular Society said: “As secularists we strongly support the right to religion. That means the right to have, enter and leave a religion, and not to be part of any religion. Given that—according to recent surveys—only 47 to 51 per cent of the British population is religious, we think it’s absolutely necessary that children be exposed to reason-based views of human nature.”

When the curriculum was introduced in February, multiple religious leaders, including the then-Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, wrote to the Department of Education to question the government’s judgement on excluding the study of humanism. Since then, three parents have taken the government to court, arguing that the new curriculum is inconsistent with the government’s obligation to respect freedom of religion and belief.

On the topic of humanism, the Free Speech and Secular Society adds: “If religion has a place in taxpayer-funded schools, surely a comprehensive doctrine like humanism that teaches to reject received wisdom and develop critical thinking should be introduced for the sake of balance and to reflect the diversity of modern Britain.

“We welcome the fact that pupils now have the opportunity to choose between a wide range of religions, but it should not be forgotten that—from Christopher Marlowe to Bertrand Russell—questioning established religions has been a fundamental part of British culture. Therefore we think the decision to exclude non-religious views from GCSE is fundamentally unfair, and parents have good reasons to be concerned about it.”

World’s best teacher opposes standardised tests

Written by Elinor Bridges on . Posted in News.

Nancie Atwell, winner of the Global Teaching Prize, has criticised the test-culture of the American education system during a recent visit to London. Atwell, who teaches in the United States, claims that frequent testing does not help teachers to gauge the ability and progress of their students, saying: “You don’t need a standardised test to tell teachers who’s struggling with reading and maths. They should know already.”

Atwell also explained that testing limits the freedom teachers have in their classrooms, stating that the test system “practically condemns kids to teaching for the test” and “inhibits teachers’ creativity.”

Strongly emphasising the importance of strong literacy skills, Atwell believes that the American curriculum can discourage students from reading a wide range of books. She argues that students feel they must instead focus intensely on a small number of texts in order to pass tests.

Aside from the impact on students, Atwell also noted the effects this system may have on teachers. She said the tests have “done nothing but decimate morale.” She believes the scope for personalised teaching is reduced, claiming: “It takes away teachers’ autonomy, their ability to respond to who their students are and what they see is going on in their classroom.”

She has suggested that some parents are unhappy with this educational system, saying: “Parents are recognising that their children are being tested rather than taught.”

Rather than focusing on the importance of standardised tests, Atwell teaches based on what the students want to learn, allowing them to choose their own topics for reading and writing.

Atwell’s comments follow announcements that the British government is considering implementing standardised tests for seven year-olds at English primary schools. This proposal has faced criticism as it may be detrimental to the education of young children, along with creating unneeded and damaging stress.

Cuts could mean 40 per cent of colleges close

Written by Georgie Hines on . Posted in News.

Based on research by the House of Commons library, Labour says that if the Conservative government’s cuts to education go ahead, further education colleges would lose £1.173 billion, along with £451 million lost by sixth-form colleges. Labour’s calculations predict the closure of  up to 40 per cent of the 335 colleges in England. 

Lucy Powell, Shadow Education Secretary and the MP who conducted the research, said the current government is “putting post-16 education on a cliff edge, harming opportunities for the next generation and holding our young people and our country back.

“Before the last election, Labour committed to protecting the whole education budget from the early years to 19, because we value the entire journey of a child through education, including early years and post-16.”

Writing for The Guardian earlier this week, she said “the Tories’ assault on further education will cost Britain dearly.” She predicts that 25 per cent cuts will lead up to four out of ten sixth-form colleges closing in England.

She also addressed Education Secretary Nicky Morgan’s recent comment on her understanding that further education is “in a fragile state.” She said: “I’m not sure how much her understanding is worth,” since it is “her government that is modelling a further 25 per cent to 40 per cent cut to 16 – 19 funding.”

An open letter penned from 129 college chairmen to the Chancellor George Osborne has warned that this will push further education “over the precipice,” and damage the country’s productivity and future.

From this year, the compulsory leaving age of education is 18. These cuts have called this policy into question, along with the viability of the government’s plan to create three million apprenticeships by 2020.

University and College Union General Secretary Sally Hunt said “colleges need stable investment to continue to help people of all backgrounds fulfil their potential,” and that such cuts make her scared for the future of the department.

Post-16 education is not the only area to be affected. The chancellor has asked nearly all government departments to cut their spending between 25 – 40 per cent in the Spending Review on the 25th of November. Health and overseas aid are amongst the departments that have had their budgets protected.

He said that “I know some ask: Why do we need this surplus? I’ll tell you why: To protect working people… it will make our country more resilient, safe and secure.”

John McDonnell, the Labour shadow chancellor, has said the move is “more about politics than economics.”

Further education cuts in the 2015 Spending Review come as members of the University and College Union strike over pay disputes. 20,000 members of staff are estimated to be taking part.

In August this year, a survey of 93 colleges in England suggested that further education was on “starvation rations”, with classes being dropped and extra-curricular activities at risk. Large classes are also an increasing problem.

Almost all college principals blamed the lack of government funding for the financial health of their establishments. 36 per cent of these do not think that under the current conditions they will be able to provide the support students need.

Since 2011, colleges have faced three separate spending cuts, totalling a 40 per cent reduction in the budget.  Many fear that further budget evaluations next year could lead to a further 40 per cent drop in funds for post-16 colleges. Only education for 5  – 16-year-olds is protected in this current review, with all other areas vulnerable to cuts.

“College budgets have been decimated in the last five years and the sector, as innovative and flexible as it is, simply cannot take more cuts,” said Martin Doel, Chief Executive of the Association for Colleges.

Skills Minister Nick Boles has shown his support for the budget cuts, adding that “we need to move towards fewer, larger, more resilient and efficient colleges.”

A spokesperson for the government said that “we have protected the schools budget and ended the unfair difference between post-16 schools and colleges by funding them per student, rather than discriminating between qualifications.

“We have provided sufficient funds for every full-time student to do a full timetable of courses regardless of institution—and increased support for those who successfully study four or more A-levels and large TechBacc programmes.”

Some argue that this simply isn’t enough. James Kelvin, deputy Chief Executive of the Sixth Form Colleges Association, has said that the cuts “confirm our fears that some sixth-form colleges could be wiped from the education map.”