Children in England are to be taught in school about how to spot extremist content, fake news, and conspiracy theories online.
In the wake of the recent Southport attack at the end of last month, and the widespread protests and riots that followed in the days and weeks after, new Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, has now spoken about her plans to launch a review of the school curriculum, both in primary and secondary schools, in a bid arm children against “putrid conspiracy theories”.
Ms Phillipson says the Department for Education (DfE) is keen to embed critical thinking skills into multiple subjects of the school curriculum, and is aiming to widen students’ access to different cultural subjects.
Ultimately, the Government wants to “give pupils the knowledge and skills they need to thrive at work and throughout life”.
We’re resetting the relationship between the government and those working in education.
Together, we’ll deliver change: the best start in life for every child, high & rising standards and a country where background is no barrier. pic.twitter.com/tojQvUOete
— Bridget Phillipson (@bphillipsonMP) July 8, 2024
Well, as Ms Philippson told The Telegraph this past weekend (10 August), this could mean that schoolchildren would spend time analysing articles in their English lessons to help them learn how to them distinguish between fabricated clickbait and accurate reporting, while in their ICT or computer lessons, they may be taught how to spot fake news sites, and in their maths lessons, analysing statistics in context would form part of the new curriculum.
“It’s more important than ever that we give young people the knowledge and skills to be able to challenge what they see online,” Ms Phillipson told The Telegraph.
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“That’s why our curriculum review will develop plans to embed critical skills in lessons to arm our children against the disinformation, fake news and putrid conspiracy theories awash on social media.
“Our renewed curriculum will always put high and rising standards in core subjects – that’s non-negotiable.”
Greater Manchester Police officers on duty at far-right protests in Manchester earlier this month / Credit: GMP
The news that the Education Secretary is to launch a review of the current school curriculum comes after the moderation and regulation of social media, as a whole, has also been under scrutiny following the UK-wide unrest and disorder in the wake of the Southport attack.
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While the ‘Online Safety Act – which is a regulation of social media platforms – became law in the UK back in 2023, it is yet to fully come into effect nationwide.
London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, declared his view last week that the Act was “not fit for purpose”, which has apparently prompted Prime Minister Keir Starmer to hint that he would look at ways to strengthen social media regulations.
Three men jailed after armed robbery in Trafford left teenage boy with ‘serious injuries’
Emily Sergeant
Three men have been jailed after an armed robbery and stabbing left in Trafford left a teenage boy with ‘serious injuries’.
The incident in question occurred shortly after 3am on Sunday 27 November 2022, when a 15-year-old boy – the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons – was at a cash machine on Upper Chorlton Road, in Trafford, and he noticed a black BMW drive past him, before making a U-turn and pulling up on the other side of the road.
As the boy set off on his scooter, the vehicle sped past him and cut him off.
Before he knew it, three men jumped out of the car and then proceeded to rob him at knifepoint – during which the boy was stabbed twice, and £120 was taken from him, before the offenders made off.
The 15-year-old was rushed to hospital, where he was required to undergo emergency surgery before being stabilised.
Police described the incident as an ‘unprovoked attack on a young boy’.
Following a thorough Greater Manchester Police (GMP) investigation, led by DC Marie-Louise Knight of Trafford CID, the offenders were identified as Callum Henson and Harry Jackson, both from Manchester, and Bailey Mann from Northampton.
Henson was sentenced to five years and six months for robbery and Section 20 assault, and Jackson was sentenced to four years and 10 months for Section 18 assault, while Mann was sentenced to three years in a young offenders institute for robbery, due to being under 18 years of age.
Speaking following the sentencing of the three men, DC Knight said: “I am grateful that [Henson, Jackson, and Mann] have now faced justice for their actions, not only for ourselves from an investigation side, but also for the victim and his family who were left shaken following this incident.
“These sentencings show that we will not tolerate this type of violent crime.
“Knife crime has no place on our streets, and we will do all that we can to make sure offenders are punished, and our communities are safe.”
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Bolton man, 22, jailed after his ‘dangerous driving’ kills motorbike rider just days before Christmas
Emily Sergeant
A man from Bolton has been sentenced to more than a decade in jail after causing death by dangerous driving.
Cormac Sale, 22-years-old of Ina Avenue in Bolton, has been sentenced at Bolton Crown Court after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving following a collision between a car and motorbike in Horwich, which saw another young man lose his life just days before Christmas (Saturday 14 December 2024).
At around 9:40pm that evening, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) were called out to an incident on Chorley Old Road in Bolton.
When they arrived, they found that a Skoda Fabia – belonging to Sale – had collided with a motorbike. Spencer Rothwell-Poole, also 22 and from Horwich, was riding the motorbike at the time and sadly died at the scene.
Following Sale’s arrest at the scene, further testing was conducted and he was found to be almost 10 times over the legal limit for ketamine whilst driving when the incident occurred.
Investigations by GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit led to ‘significant evidence’ being obtained of Sale ‘driving erratically’ throughout the evening, as spotted by multiple other drivers and CCTV footage, and he was also driving on the opposite side of the road when the collision took place.
Sale has been sentenced to 10 years and eight months in prison, as well as being banned from driving for 12 years.
“This sentencing reflects the devastating consequences of choosing to drive recklessly and whilst under the influence,” commented Detective Constable James Maskrey, who is GMP’s Roads Police Lead Investigator.
“Nothing can undo the loss suffered by Spencer’s family, but it is our hope that this outcome offers some measure of justice.
“When someone gets behind the wheel under the influence of ketamine, they have no control of their own judgement or body, and even a moment where drivers are dissociated or unaware on the road can be fatal.
“This case is a stark reminder that dangerous driving destroys lives, and I want to reassure the public that our officers remain absolutely committed to tackling dangerous driving and removing those who pose a risk to our roads.”
Emily Sergeant -
12th August 2024 
