A long-awaited Manchester city centre primary school has got the go-ahead following years of campaigning by residents in the Piccadilly and Deansgate wards.
The plans have at last been given the nod of approval by council bosses, in a move that is sure to be welcomed by local parents living in the area.
The new school will serve the growing number of families already living in the city centre as well as helping to attract more families to the area.
It has also been revealed the school will have 210 places for primary school-age children, as well as a 26-place nursery. The school is expected to open in September 2023.
Plans for the school were first agreed by the Council’s Executive in February 2020 with a decision to proceed with a free school presumption to develop a new primary school for the city centre.
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Since then, the council has been working in partnership with developer Renaker on plans for the school, which is being delivered as part of a wider residential development.
Additional capital funding of £2.45m in the 2022/23 financial year and £0.25m in the 2023/24 financial year, funded by external contribution, was unanimously agreed by councillors, along with a further £0.250m in 2021/22 and £3.250m in 2022/23 from the approved Education Basic Need unallocated budget.
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Councillor Garry Bridges, Executive Member for Children and Schools, Manchester City Council, said: “This is a big moment for Manchester and a big statement on what we want our city centre to be – a family friendly place with lots of homes and jobs for all.
“People want to make the city centre their home and so it’s important for us to provide the infrastructure they need to enable them to do this through every stage of their lives.
“Having a good local school on their doorstep is what every family wants and our city centre residents deserve no less.
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“In just under two years they’re now set to benefit from a brilliant new school, a mere stroll away from where they live, that will serve them and future generations of children in the city centre for years to come.”
A public consultation on the new school is currently underway and is open until 15 November, after which the Council will seek proposals from potential sponsors for the school.
A recommendation of a preferred sponsor will then be made to the Regional Schools Commissioner who will decide on the most suitable proposer to take forward the school.
Feature image – Renaker/SimpsonHaugh
News
Sara Cox tipped to replace Scott Mills for Eurovision 2026
Danny Jones
Greater Manchester’s very own Sara Cox is reportedly set to replace Scott Mills at the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest following his sacking from the BBC.
Mills was axed by the news and entertainment corporation on Monday, 1 April, for ‘misconduct’, which has now been revealed to involve a historic relationship with a boy aged under 16.
While the fallout surrounding Scott Mills is only just beginning, the task of finding his replacement in multiple roles has already begun – though it looks like one may have already been decided.
Now reported by multiple outlets, it appears as though Bolton-born Sara Cox is first in line to pick up Mills’ co-hosting duties for this year’s Eurovision show.
Having already been involved with coverage of the event on multiple ocassions in the past, it now appears that she’ll be in post for the Grand Final too.
As a long-standing radio and TV staple, it only takes a quick look at social media to see how much backing she has already received in the past, with a post from last year reading, “Great to have Sara Cox back commentating on Eurovision“, and others from over a decade ago praising her past presenting.
In fact, it might not end just here either, as many are already calling for her to replace the 53-year-old breakfast show host.
From her days as a Radio 1 favourite to becoming a BBC mainstay across the board, her popularity only seems to have grown over the last decade, especially thanks to her charity fundraising efforts.
While an official announcement is yet to be made, the feeling is that it is all but confirmed for her to take over from Mills as part of the Eurovision commentary team.
As for the now vacant early morning slot on BBC Radio 2, the likes of Claudio Winkleman, Vernon Kay, fellow Manc Nick Grimshaw, the aforementioned Rylan, and several others have all been floated as potential stand-ins/future full-time hosts.
Do you think both should be given to Sara Cox, and if not, who would you like to see replace Scott Mills?
Millions of UK workers to get pay rises from today as National Living and Minimum Wage increases
Emily Sergeant
Millions of workers across the UK are set to begin receiving substantial pay rises from today.
After the Government announced back in November that it would take the recommendations made by the Low Pay Commission, and increase both the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage, those changes have now come into force in a bid to ensure people on lower incomes are ‘properly rewarded’ for their work.
If you’re unfamiliar with the Low Pay Commission, it’s an independent body made up of employers, trade unions, and experts whose role is to advise the Government on the minimum wage.
As mentioned, the rate recommendations introduced today were agreed unanimously by the Commission.
This means that the living wage, for eligible workers who are aged 21 and over, has now risen by 4.1% from today to £12.71 an hour.
For a full-time worker, that means a pay increase of £900 a year.
Millions of workers in the UK are getting pay rises from today / Credit: John Kakuk (via Unsplash) | Pexels
The National Minimum Wage rate for workers aged 18 to 20-year-olds has also increased today by 8.5% to £10.85 an hour, and then for 16 to 17-year-olds, and those on apprenticeships, the rate has increased by 6% to £8 an hour.
“The recommendations we made last autumn sought to balance the need to protect the economy and labour market, whilst providing a real-terms increase for the lowest-paid members of society,” commented Baroness Philippa Stroud, who is Chair of the Low Pay Commission.
“A lot has changed since we gave our advice to the Government last autumn, and we are now beginning to gather evidence for recommendations later this year.
“The current economic uncertainty makes it essential that the Commission hears from those affected by the minimum wage and builds consensus for evidence-based recommendations.
Workers aged 21 and over are now legally entitled to the National Living Wage after the age threshold for the highest rate was lowered from 23 in 2024.
National Minimum Wage rates are available to workers aged 16 upwards.
The Manc -
22nd October 2021 
