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.
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🗣️Andy has set out his ambitions for 2024 in Greater Manchester as we enter the New Year
🚍This includes more buses coming under public control with the @BeeNetwork, the launch of the Good Landlord Charter, and the trailblazing Greater Manchester Baccalaureate 🏫
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”.
New ‘MBacc’ qualification to offer Greater Manchester high school students an alternative to university / Credit: GMCA
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”.
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The ENTIRE Manchester Village Pride lineup cost £20k less to book than ONE headliner last year
Daisy Jackson
Bosses behind Manchester Village Pride have revealed that the entire lineup has cost significantly less than the amount spent on just one headliner last year.
In a statement promising transparency, organisers said that the entire weekend of artists has cost less than one single headliner from 2025.
And by some margin – £20,000.
The announcement comes less than a year after the previous Manchester Pride organisation entered voluntary liquidation amid rising costs, declining ticket sales and an ‘ambitious refresh’ of the festival format.
That refresh included moving the main music portion of the annual LGBTQ+ celebration away from the Gay Village itself, and over to Depot Mayfield.
The collapse of Manchester Pride followed reports that performers from the 2025 event were still waiting to be paid, with entertainment union Equity later saying its members were more than £70,000 out of pocket.
Manchester Village Pride was subsequently established as a not-for-profit Community Interest Company, with organisers promising a more community-focused approach and greater transparency around finances.
The 2026 event is being delivered with unpaid directors, while organisers have also signed an Equity agreement guaranteeing fair pay and professional standards for performers – the first UK union agreement of its kind for a Pride event.
Performing at Manchester Village Pride this year are major artists like Nadine Coyle, Danny Beard, Gareth Gates, Kate Nash, Cascada, and Rowetta.
They’re joined by a lineup of fantastic home-grown talent, including artists, DJs, and drag queens, taking our city’s Pride celebrations back to their roots, and keeping things firmly in the Gay Village.
In their statement, Manchester Village Pride said: “Transparency time! Booking this entire weekend of fabulous artists cost us £20k UNDER what was spent on a single headliner last year. This is what community Pride looks like!”
Manchester Village Pride will once again take place over the August bank holiday weekend, with the party running for four days from Friday to Monday.
The celebrations will culminate in the moving candlelit vigil in Sackville Gardens.
Ticket prices this year, even with just over a week to go, are only £40 for the full three-day festival, or £25 for one day. Monday will be free to attend.
Second arrest made on suspicion of murder after man stabbed to death in Levenshulme
Emily Sergeant
A second arrest has been made following the death of a young man in Levenshulme this past weekend.
The victim has now also been formally named to the public.
Earlier this week, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) explained that officers were called to reports of a man who suffered ‘serious stab wounds’ on Chapel Street at around 7:06pm on Saturday evening (15 August), and once they arrived on the scene, the victim was pronounced dead despite the best efforts of emergency services.
According to police, it is believed that this was an ‘isolated incident’ with no wider threat to the public.
As mentioned, the victim has now been named as 24-year-old Zherko Rasul Osman, and his family are being supported by specialist officers at this time.
When the investigation was first opened, a 27-year-old man had already been arrested on suspicion of murder and was being kept in police custody, but it has now been confirmed that a second man has also been arrested.
Yesterday evening (Tuesday 18 August), a 23-year-old man was arrested, also on suspicion of murder, and he remains in custody for questioning.
“This arrest marks a significant step in our investigation and shows our continued commitment to securing justice for the victim and his family,” commented Detective Inspector Alex Wilkinson, from GMP’s Major Incident Team.
“Our officers are working at pace to establish the full circumstances as officers on scene are conducting investigations.
“As our investigation is ongoing, we would like to hear from anyone who may have information that can assist us.”
Can you help? Anyone in the Chapel Street area around the time of this incident, or who has mobile phone, CCTV, Ring doorbell and dashcam footage, can contact police on 0161 856 9008 quoting the log number 2983 of 15/08/2026.
Alternatively you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Emily Sergeant -
5th January 2024 
