Schools right across England and Wales are set to reopen next week and will welcome children back through the doors for the first time since the coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown began.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson delivered a statement yesterday encouraging parents that it is safe to send children back to school in September.
He emphasised that a swift return to schooling is “vitally important” for children as the risk of contracting the virus is “very small”.
He also added that it could end up being “far more damaging” for children to remain at home and these are claims that are backed up by the official advice of England’s top medical experts, who have expressed that returning to the classroom next month is both safe and necessary.
The UK government has recently issued fresh information for families ahead of institutions reopening – including social distancing measures, face covering rules and exam resits – and an insight into what the typical school day is set to look like post-lockdown was also revealed earlier this month as well to offer as much piece of mind as possible, but how do parents and carers in Greater Manchester really feel about sending their children back to school?
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Naturally, there is some apprehension.
Is it too early to be returning to studies? Or an appropriate time? Do parents/carers feel confident it is as safe as it could be? Have children seemed happier and more willing to learn at home? Or are they eager to return to normality?
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Here at The Manc, we always want to know where you stand.
Ahead of the big day for schools reopening next week, we were keen to gather your views and so we took to our social platforms this morning to ask our loyal audience of Mancunians on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram – ‘How do you feel about your kids going back to school?’
Are you comfortable with it, or completely against it? Either way, we asked you to let us know your thoughts.
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This is what you said:
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Facebook
Our growing audience over 580K people on Facebook were keen to share their thoughts on this topic and these are a few of the responses we received.
Are you comfortable with/ completely against it? Either way, let us know your thoughts ??
We also posed the same question to our active audience over over 180K followers on Twitter to gather their thoughts on the situation and invited all manor of response.
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Here are just a few of the viewpoints provided.
How do you feel about your kids going back to school in September? Are you comfortable with/ completely against it? Either way, let us know your thoughts ??
We received a large number of replies to our question across all social platforms, so we unfortunately haven’t been able to include every single one in this article. Instead, we chose to feature a few that seemed to resonate the best with our audience and received the most interactions overall.
Are you keen to have your say?
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Well, there’s still time to chip in, so make sure you head on over to The Manc to read the other responses, leave your thoughts and discuss with other Mancunians in the same or different positions to you.
If you would like to read on how the opinions and attitudes toward schooling amongst Greater Manchester residents amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic have changed over time, then you can also have a read our article – ‘The Manc Asked: Would you feel comfortable sending your child to school next month?’– published back in May here.
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For the latest information, guidance and support during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the UK, please do refer to official sources at gov.uk/coronavirus.
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The first-ever Gladiators Live Tour is coming to Manchester
Danny Jones
Gladiators, ready! Mancs, ready? We certainly hope so because the first-ever ‘Gladiators Live Tour’ is setting across the UK and is coming to Manchester.
When we first heard that the beloved British version of the hit TV show (which first ran here in the UK for eight seasons between 1992 and 2000) was coming back, we were buzzing, and now we’ve heard it’s coming to us live and in person, we’re about ready to fight you with big pugil sticks over a seat.
Since returning in 2024 and the second series beginning at the start of this year on BBC One and Player, with a third season set for January 2026, Gladiators has recaptured imaginations across the country, bringing in both new viewers and those who remember the original back to the screen.
We’ve always wondered what it would be like to take part – not that we’d stand a chance, mind you – but we suppose seeing the Gladiators in action live right here in Manchester is the next best thing.
Set to deliver an action-packed experience, the global debut of the Gladiators Live Tour is ready to drop a superhero landing in the heart of Manchester city centre at none other than the legendary AO Arena.
Promising a thrilling two-hour watch featuring fan-favourite events and, of course, an ultimate Eliminator, the live Gladiators experience has all the charm of the much-loved TV show with the added excitement of different twists each night.
There are a pair of dates in Manchester, as well as two events a pieces available in Liverpool, London and Birmingham, with the AO matinee shows spread across a weekend this autumn.
It goes without saying that the fast-paced and fun-for-all-ages spectacle will see some serious athleticism and stunts, as well as purpose-built sets and state-of-the-art lighting in order to bring the gladiatorial battleground truly to life in front of your very eyes.
We may have just missed out on the latest recruitment drive, but we can guarantee you’ll find us out there in the audience.
GLADIATORS, READY!⚡ For the first time ever, the Gladiators Live Tour is here to electrify Manchester!
Gladiators The Live Tour comes to Manchester on 22 and 23 November 2025, and you have two chances to access pre-sale: first through the AO Arena itself from 10am on Tuesday, 15 April and then again the following day if you’re a Three Mobile member.
As for general admission, tickets go live at 10am on Thursday, 17 April and trust us, these things will go faster than a round of ‘Unleashed’.
Manchester United fan group call for full investigation into security after sit-in protest
Danny Jones
A prominent Manchester United fan organisation have called for a full investigation into Old Trafford security after an alleged assault during the sit-in protest this past weekend, detailing what they called “not only unprofessional but completely disgraceful” conduct from stewards.
Large groups of Man United supporters stayed in the stadium beyond the full-time whistle was blown following a lacklustre 0-0 Manchester derby – one both Reds and City fans alike will soon forget – to voice their complaints as part of a planned sit-in protest on Sunday, 6 April.
The peaceful demonstration was a response to the news of season ticket price increases for the 2025/26 campaign and other policy changes in recent months; however, it seems frustrations in the stands reached boiling point in at least one instance, as a man is said to have been forcibly removed.
Now, a few days on from the incident, The 1958 group who were among the core group of sit-in protestors have raised “a formal and urgent complaint” against CSG (Controlled Solutions Group) Security over the “unacceptable behaviour” from at least one steward.
🗣️Update on the incident in East Stand
Just in the way of an update we have spoken to the fan involved in the incident during the sit in protest on Sunday.
There are obviously some details we cannot reveal with respect to the fan involved and also for legal reasons.
Penning a letter to United CEO Omar Berrada directly, the vocal arm of supporters have called for “the complete removal of CSG security services from all home games” following a fracas shared multiple times on social media.
Although the fan remains anonymous out of respect for his privacy and for legal reasons, they claim that the individual was “physically assaulted by a steward without provocation”.
They go on to add that “others in the area were verbally abused with foul and aggressive language”, noting that the incident in took place in the East Stand happened in full of view of both young and elderly match-goers.
Writing in an early post after being made aware of the accusations, The 1958 said: “United fans should not be targeted or bullied for protesting legally and peacefully.”
Having been sent some of the footage directly prior to the letter, official channels and contacts were made aware immediately but are still waiting for response from the the club.
You can see more images from the sit-in protests down below, including an image of 81-year-old and lifelong Red, Michael Carney, who is being forced to give up his season tickets after 74 years to make room for new hospitality seats as part of the ‘New Trafford’ stadium designs.
As mentioned, the club are still yet to officially address the alleged assault of the fan during the sit-in protest United, but supporters are continuing to pile of the pressure both through further planned demonstrations and online.
The organisation go on to reiterate that the club were informed of the protest “well in advance of the game” and took their own measures to “ensure fans’ safety”.
Describing how the events unfolded as a failure before asking that the letter be shared with Manchester United’s data protection offer(s), the sign off as follows:
We ask for urgent confirmation that this issue is being investigated seriously and expect a full repoinse outlining the steps the club will take to address this matter.”
The Manc -
25th August 2020 
