A new ‘MBacc’ qualification could be introduced later this year, and it’s set to offer high school students an alternative to university.
It’s all part of Andy Burnham‘s grand plans for Greater Manchester in 2024.
Now that we’re just a few days into the new year, the Greater Manchester Mayor has been reflecting on how far the region has come within the last 12 months, and has taken a moment to appreciate all the successful new projects that were delivered in 2023.
But now that the region’s plan for public transport is well underway and “proceeding at pace”, Mr Burnham has decided it’s time to turn his attentions onto two other “fundamental issues” that he claims “also need fixing” this year.
Wasting no time in kick-starting plans for potential change within the education sector this year, Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has announced plans to launch a new Greater Manchester Baccalaureate – or the ‘MBacc’ – this autumn, and it’s intended to sit alongside the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) that already exists in secondary schools throughout England.
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Currently, almost two-thirds of 16-year olds in Greater Manchester do not pursue or achieve an EBacc, and an MBacc is “designed to plug that gap”.
GMCA says the EBacc is designed to maximise young people’s chances of a good university place, while in comparison, the MBacc is designed to “maximise their ability to get a good job in the growing success story of the Greater Manchester economy”.
The new qualification will give the region’s young people two clear equal paths to choose from when it’s time to pick their options at age 14 – one academic path, and one technical.
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Speaking ahead of the launch of the MBacc later this year, Andy Burnham said: “The MBacc will steer young people towards GCSEs and other qualifications that are most-favoured by employers, and then on to post-16 opportunities and the many great jobs we have in the Greater Manchester economy.
“It will offer young people an equal and clear technical pathway in life, help employers fill workforce shortages, and give investors another reason to come here.”
Mr Burnham explained that the MBacc will be built through the academic years of the rest of this decade.
And then, when looking ahead to the future, he hopes that by 2023, the MBacc will mean Greater Manchester boasts the country’s employer-driven “integrated technical education system”.
Featured Image – gov.uk
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Teenager jailed for 21 years after murdering man in Atherton last year
Emily Sergeant
A teenager has been jailed for life after being found guilty of murdering a man in Atherton last year, it has been confirmed.
The 17-year-old – who can now been named as Jordan Rance, following reporting restrictions against him due to his age, having been lifted by a judge – appeared at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court yesterday (Wednesday 8 May), where he was sentenced to a minimum term of 21 years after being found guilty of murdering Paul Marsh last year.
The sentencing comes after Greater Manchester Police (GMP) were called reports of a man being unconscious at a property on Samuel Street in the Greater Manchester town of Atherton at around 6:08pm on the evening of 17 November 2023.
Police attended the scene to find that a 49-year-old man had sustained an injury described as being “serious”.
Despite the best efforts of all emergency services who attended the scene, Mr Marsh tragically passed away a short time later.
GMP’s Major Incident Team subsequently launched a murder investigation launched a murder investigation following the incident – which concluded with Rance, who was 16-years-old at the time, being charged with murder.
Following Rance’s sentencing yesterday, GMP has now released further details of the incident.
The police service explained that the victim and Rance had been at the address in Atherton together, along with others, when an argument commenced between the pair that eventually escalated and Rance was witnessed to “lunge towards the victim with a knife” and stabbed him in the shoulder.
Rance and his friend immediately ran from the scene, GMP revealed, while others at the address called for an ambulance and attempted first aid.
During the sentencing yesterday, the court was shown an image of Rance holding a knife that he had taken on his phone, and this image has now also been released by GMP to the public.
Speaking following Rance’s sentencing yesterday, Detective Chief Inspector Neil Higginson, of GMP’s Major Incident Team, branded this a “tragic case”.
He continued: “A seemingly innocuous exchange has escalated and resulted in a loss of life, and our thoughts remain with Paul’s family at this time.
“We also have a young person going to prison for a long time, so this case should serve as a stark reminder that carrying a knife is illegal and you could be jailed if you’re found to be in possession of one.
“No good can come from carrying a knife and self-protection is not a reasonable excuse.”
Featured Image – GMP
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Man City star Jack Grealish handed hefty fine for speeding in 30mph zone
Emily Sergeant
Manchester City star Jack Grealish has been fined for speeding in 30mph zone, it has been revealed.
During a hearing at Worcester Magistrates’ Court yesterday (8 May), where the Manchester City and England midfielder pleaded guilty, the court was told that Grealish was caught speeding by a mobile speed camera on Station Road, in the Wythall area of Worcestershire, while driving a Range Rover Sport on the morning of 17 July 2023.
The 28-year-old – who was said to have had a full, clean driving licence at the time of the speeding offence – was caught driving at 44mph in a 30mph zone.
After pleading guilty through his barrister at the hearing, of which he did not attend, the Birmingham-born footballer has been fined £666 for speeding, ordered to pay £110 in court costs, and a victim surcharge of £266 – which leaves him with a total bill of £1,042.
Station Road in Whythall, where the speeding offence took place / Credit: Google Maps
He was also handed five penalty points for the speeding offence.
A charge of failing to give information to the police relating to the identification of the driver, however, was withdrawn.
Grealish’s barrister, John Dye, explained that the sports star “means no discourtesy by not attending” the hearing yesterday, according to Sky News and BBC News reports, and that he was “instructed to enter a guilty plea in relation to speeding” on Grealish’s behalf.