England students to have ‘six-day travel window’ to get home for Christmas
Universities will have to stagger student departure dates from 3 December to 9 December, in accordance with instructions set out by the Department for Education.
Students in England are set to be given a six-day ‘travel window’ in December to get back in time for Christmas – with mass testing conducted on campus before they leave.
Universities will have to arrange staggered departure dates from 3 December to 9 December, in accordance with instructions set out by the Department for Education.
Any student that tests positive must self-isolate for ten days.
As teaching is currently scheduled to continue beyond 9 December, universities are being encouraged to provide most classes online from this date so students can continue learning from home up until the festive break.
According to The Guardian, the logistics of mass testing and arranging the travel window has already raised concerns with some Vice-Chancellors across England.
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Jo Grady, the general secretary of the University and College Union, said: “Allowing just a week for around 1 million students to travel across the country leaves little room for error.
“If the government instead told universities to move online now it would provide much more time to stagger the movement of students and better protect the health of staff, students and their wider communities.”
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Thousands of students have experienced a turbulent first term since leaving home to start in higher education in September.
Fresh outbreaks of the virus have left hundreds confined to their halls of residence for quarantine periods, whilst many are also having to learn via Zoom instead of attending normal classes.
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Tension has been building in the community for months, and the tipping point came last week when the University of Manchester constructed fences around accommodation overnight as a ‘safety’ precaution without informing residents.
Mass COVID-19 testing is expected to take place on campus in the week leading up to 3 December.
Health Secretary Matt Hanock also confirmed this week that the ten boroughs of Greater Manchester would be included on a list of new counties set to benefit from rapid-speed testing.
The new tests launched as part of a pilot scheme in Liverpool last week and are capable of giving results in minutes.
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Pep Guardiola says Manchester United fans should be ‘ashamed’ after ‘sick’ chant
Man City manager Pep Guardiola has condemned the Man United fans who began what has been described as a ‘sick’ chant during this weekend’s Manchester derby.
It was a forgettable outing for both sides of the city after a game where a lack of quality in the final third ultimately led to a bore draw at Old Trafford.
Speaking in the post-match press conference, having already made a point of consoling him on the pitch after the full-time whistle, Guardiola said it displayed “a lack of class” from the home support.
Although the Catalan coach added the caveat that “it’s not United, it’s the people [instead]” and does happen all over the world, he still questioned the need to draw family members into chanting.
Described by many online as abuse, he went on to state that those involved “should be ashamed” and simply showed a lapse in “integrity” from those who continued well into the second half.
Foden himself could be seen reacting to the chants during the game, giving the crowd a sarcastic thumbs up and then swinging his arm upwards as if to ask for them to keep it up.
It would have no doubt stirred plenty of motivation in the 24-year-old Stopfordian, but he was ultimately subbed off just before the hour mark to a further chorus of jeers and looked to be somewhat limping down the tunnel after all was said and done – again, with the chants about his mum continuing.
Striker Troy Deeney told talkSPORT that it is merely “part of the game, unfortunately”, and United legend Gary Neville still criticised both sides for being too friendly both before and after what is supposed to be a fierce rivalry.
Is he right?
Though an arm around the shoulder from Pep in the immediate aftermath served as a touching gesture and consolation for Foden following a difficult evening, the England international has so far refused to comment on the treatment from the opposition supporters afterwards.
If anything, his subsequent post on social media was a standard but defiant one, simply writing: “We keep going.”
Despite struggling to hit the same heights he did last season and has shown in spells over recent years, former City defender Micah Richards still believes we’ll see a “better” Phil Foden when team talisman De Bruyne leaves at the end of the season.
You can watch the highlights from the game down below.
UK Girl group Sugababes are returning to Manchester and although we’re going into ‘Overload’ we’ve got everything you need to know ahead of their Co-op Live gig.
The formidable trio, also known as Sugababes, are heading to Manchester and the only question I have is “Can we bring yesterday back around?” because I should’ve bought those tickets sooner.
Sugababes entered the music scene in the new millennium, 2000, and since then have continued to bring non-stop sass, femininity and flirtatious energy for the past 25 years.
After dominating the West Holts stage at Glastonbury in 2024, attracting unprecedented numbers, this trio are no stranger to belting out a hit or two to a packed crowd. Get them on the Pyramid Stage, stat!
Sugababes are returning to Manchester and they’re bringing nothing but hits to Co-op Live.
They’ve recently made a return to the airwaves too with the dance-oriented single ‘Jungle’ garnering success nationwide, with many celebrating this new era of music for the girls.
Just wait for the roars of the fans at Co-op Live once they hear Keisha’s huge line, “I’ve been dropping so many hints, and you’re still not getting it” from their smash-hit, ‘Push The Button’.
This UK girl group announced their tour back in October with tickets going on sale just a few days later, however, there are a very small handful of seats and standing options left.
Obviously, tickets to see these girls play out to huge arena crowds are far and few between, but you’ll be able to take your very limited pick of the bunch. Just make sure you ‘Push The Button’ HERE (Sorry).
UK girl group Sugababes are bringing their self-titled tour to Co-op Live Manchester on 11 April.
Sugababes setlist
There is no official setlist as the tour is yet to kick off, so we’re basing our info off their latest run of shows in Australia.
*Disclaimer: this was before the release of their newest track, ‘Jungle’, which we are sure will slot in this list perfectly and have the crowd on their feet…
Freak Like Me
Red Dress
Hole in the Head
Ugly
Too Lost in You
Shape
Overload
Flowers
Flatline
Stronger
When The Rain Comes
Today
Encore:
Push The Button
Round Round
About You Now
What are the stage times for Sugababes in Manchester?
Co-op Live has a strict curfew of 11pm, meaning concertgoers can be safe knowing they’ve heard a quarter of a decade worth of hits without flatlining (Sorry, again).
Doors for ‘Sugababes ’25’ are scheduled for 6:30pm with a kick off time of 7:30pm with support from Vogue-featured act Rose Gray and Luna, who’s just clocked off from touring the world with Eurovision legend, Loreen.
How to get to Co-op Live
Tram
For those of you heading to Co-op Live, luckily it’s right next door to a rather famous big blue stadium and its integrated Metrolink stop.
Head along the light blue or orange lines directly to the Etihad Campus or Ashton-under-Lyne, and you can get off the tram literally spitting distance from the arena. You can find the full map HERE.
Trams run frequently on the Ashton-Eccles line to the Etihad stop, with services leaving every six minutes from the city centre, as well as until 01:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.
Bus
You can find the full list of bus routes HERE, with the one in closest proximity to the venue being the 53 bus, which runs from Cheetham Hill through to Higher Crumpsall, Old Trafford and Pendleton, leaving just a two-minute walk to Co-op Live. You also get free Bee Network travel with any valid event ticket.
Getting there by car and parking
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If you’re driving, there is limited parking available at the venue, but this must be pre-booked ahead of time and there are designated drop-off areas.
The postcode is M11 3DU and you can follow the signs towards the wider Etihad Campus as you get closer; directions to the adjacent drop-off points will also be signposted.
Keep in mind that congestion on the roads close to the stadium is expected to gather around two hours prior to any event, so if you are travelling on the road, these are the suggested times they provide come event day – though estimates will obviously vary:
Alan Turing Way (both directions): plan an additional 20 minutes into any journey by road.
Hyde Road (eastbound): expect an additional 15 minutes to be added to your journey.
Mancunian Way (westbound): plan for an extra 10 minutes of travel time.
There are also three park-and-ride facilities near Co-op Live, but be advised that the Velopark and Holt Town stops will be closed post-event to help safely manage crowds:
Ashton West (Ashton line) – 184 spaces and 11 disabled spaces
Ladywell (Ashton-Eccles line) – 332 spaces and 22 disabled spaces
Walk/cycle
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Lastly, Co-op Live is only a half-hour stroll from Manchester Piccadilly, and you could even walk along the canal all the way to the front door if you fancy taking the scenic route.
Greater Manchester now also offers the option to hire bikes through Beryl, with riders able to locate, unlock, get to their destination and then safely lock up the bike all through an easy-to-use app. There are plenty of points just near the southwest corner of the Etihad Stadium on Ashton New Road.
For more information on all travel options, you can check out the enhanced journey planner.
The Manc -
11th November 2020 
