Peter Jackson’s handling of archive film and sound is masterful and innovative, but his generalised account of the First World War risks re-entrenching some deeply conventional myths and misconception
Learning disability nursing is celebrating its 100th birthday next year, just as I hope to be taking my first steps in this amazing branch of nursing.
The 2018 Budget delivered on Monday 29 October by the Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond is likely to be the last fiscal statement before BREXIT which is scheduled on 29 March 2019.
As we near the climax of the centenary of the First World War, a nagging question remains: how and why did the British people endure four and a half years of such bloodshed?
Pia Gilland is undertaking a year-long placement in North East Arizona University in America through the University’s exchange scheme with a number of European and American universities.
Charlotte Lem, 21, a third year Multimedia Journalism student, blogs about her experiences and gives advice about what to expect in the first few months of University.
As the clocks go back and the nights get darker, it's tempting for people to stay in and exercise less. Who wants to run in the cold or dark or go to the gym when it's chilly?
Sebastian Groes blogs about his new research into what the Black Country smells like. Do we need to pay more attention to smell?
The location of the University of Wolverhampton means that various parts of the City Campus are separated by an inner ring road in the central areas.
Theresa May is set to deliver her speech to the Conservative Party conference later today. As George Kassimeris explains, the event has been dominated by divisions in the party over Brexit.
This month, we’re celebrating 25 years of success in sign language interpreter education and training at the University of Wolverhampton.
A few years ago I made a decision to study in the UK – and I have never regretted this choice, writes Multimedia Journalism student Sabine Trezune.
Exploring the ideas of ‘filth’ and ‘dirt’ in society, I am particularly interested in their relationship to the ‘highest’ values, the ideas of the sacred and the transcendent.
Serena Williams’ claims of sexism regarding the way she was treated by umpire Carlos Ramos during Saturday’s US Open final have been backed by high profile figures and organisations.
Dr Bianca Fox, Head of Film, Media and Broadcasting and Course Leader for Multimedia Journalism, is researching the connection between social media and loneliness. She talks about her early findings.
Professor Geoff Layer, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Wolverhampton, talks about why a second renaissance is vital to keep the arts relevant
Manufacturing is undergoing an amazing revival in the region and the Elite Centre for Manufacturing Skills (ECMS) has up to 50 apprenticeships available with employers
3D printing is established as Disruptive Technology with its ground breaking revolutionary benefits in almost all sectors of Manufacturing.
As Greece Recovers From Trauma, Will Alexis Tsipras Be Able To Re-establish Himself? Professor George Kassimeris, Chair in Security Studies, blogs about what leadership means in times of crisis
Chemical Engineering at the University of Wolverhampton has come of age. This year we graduated our first cohort of students and sent 100% of them off into either the world or work or further study.
Recently, Matt Hancock listed his top three priorities for the NHS as tech, workforce and illness prevention, with the NHS receiving £487m for technology. But where should this money go?
Last week The Guardian newspaper claimed that we were one of three universities which were to outsource its student mental health support service. This couldn’t be further from the truth.
Social Cyberpsychology researcher Dr Lisa Orchard takes a look at our motivations for posting on social media.
Following England’s heart-breaking defeat in the semi-final of the World Cup, Professor of Sports Psychology Andy Lane looks at how we overcome defeat.
In a series of blogs, Professor of Sport Jean Williams looks at some of the artefacts that feature strongly in the history of the World Cup.
Nursing student Aimie Morgan tells us why she loves the NHS, and how her own experiences led her to seek a career in healthcare.
With England winning their first ever World Cup penalty shoot out, Professor Tracey Devonport, a sport and exercise psychologist, examines what made them successful.
Social historian Dr George Campbell Gosling, author of Payment and Philanthropy in British Healthcare 1918-48 takes a look at its significance and how healthcare was provided before its introduction.
In the last of three blogs, Professor of Sport Jean Williams looks at some of the artefacts that feature strongly in the history of the World Cup.
The flipped classroom is pedagogical approach that is designed to deliver a more active learning experience for students.
A new report from the Office of National Statistics reflects an overall ten year increase in student suicide, writes Clare Dickens, Senior Lecturer in Mental Health.
In the second of three blogs, Professor of Sport Jean Williams looks at some of the artefacts that feature strongly in the history of the World Cup.
In the first of three blogs Professor of Sport Jean Williams looks at some of the artefacts that feature strongly in the history of the World Cup.
BLOG: With the first game of Russia 2018 fast approaching, teams are beginning to fine tune their preparations.
Dr Steve Iafrati reflects on the impact and legacy of the Grenfell Tower fire one year on.
For over a year now I have been trying to get the message out that Data Protection is changing, writes Tony Proctor, Principal Lecturer, Cyber Security.
The reaction of Alfonso Alonso, the leader of Spain’s governing Popular Party in the Basque region, when asked to comment on Eta’s decision to dissolve itself, spoke volumes.
Multi-organ transplants are rare but could become more common practice, according to Dr Paraskevi Goggolidou, Senior Lecturer in Clinical Genetics.
Professor Andy Lane is a sports psychologist and marathon runner. He offers some advice to those taking part in Sunday’s London Marathon on how to ensure their recovery isn’t too painful.
Sarah Whitfield, blogs about the lost musical - Jack of Spades. Does the vital relevance of this piece mean that more needs to be done to reinstate it back into the story of the musical in the UK?
As England battled Australia in a final of the netball tournament at the Commonwealth Games on Sunday, commentators made numerous references to the role of leadership, writes Dr Chris Sellars.
Well who knew? Well the whole of the Netballing family actually believed that history could be made by the England Roses at the Commonwealth Games.
It is a truth widely acknowledged that humour, in its varieties of forms and modalities, occur in all human cultures.
Anniversaries are a time to take stock and the twentieth anniversary of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement (GFA) is leading to increased analysis and reflection.
Today marks the start of competition of the Commonwealth Games. The Gold Coast of Australia is hosting the 21st Games against the usual backdrop of protests which now accompany global sporting events.
BLOG: Thoughts on the recent scandal surrounding the allegations that Cambridge Analytica used data harvested from Facebook users, matching it with answers to a personality questionnaire.
BLOG: Senior Lecturer in English Josiane Boutonnet says, yes, ‘accentism’ is still widespread in the UK:
BLOG by Prof Kate Moss: Theresa May and the Legislative Quick Fix
Not content with the four-nil drubbing in the Ashes series, Australia now hits us when we are down with Australian ‘flu?
BLOG by Prof George Kassimeris: Macron’s visit to the UK underlined his credentials as a transformative political leader.
Mike Haynes, a professor of International Political Economy at the University of Wolverhampton, takes a look at Carillion's collapse in this blog written for the Express & Star.
BLOG by Prof Sir Alan Tuckett: Twenty years on from an influential education paper, a conference is set to consider what happened to our vision of a learning society.
The vulnerability in major chipsets that has been announced this week is being referred to as Spectre and Meltdown.
BLOG by Wendy Nicholls and Tracey Devonport. It’s the time of year when there are treats and temptations everywhere ...
BLOG by Sharon Mc.Intosh-Dalmedo: It is well known that many female adolescents may experience body image concerns, with research into this expanding greatly over the last quarter of a century.
Dr Danny Hinton, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, takes a look at the psychology behind Star Wars ahead of the release of The Last Jedi this week.
BLOG by Dr Tracey Platt: While this week’s wintry weather may have brought chaos to some, for others the sight of snow evokes pure joy.
BLOG: Social Cyberpsychology researcher Dr Lisa Orchard explains why a re-evaluation of your network may be beneficial.
BLOG by Prof George Kassimeris.As there is war and human conflict, there will always be people willing to commit atrocities in exchange for power and privilege
BLOG by Sarah Williams: It’s that time of year again, M&S is beguiling us with Paddington’s Innocence, Aldi is wooing us with lovesick carrots and John Lewis is taking on the monster under the bed.
BLOG: Reports linking teenage depression and smartphones overlook the positive benefits these devices also bring, says Dr Chris Fullwood, Reader in Cyberpsychology.
BLOG by Professor George Kassimeris: By heading to Belgium, the president of Catalonia missed his chance to stand up to Madrid – and to show himself as a leader sticking to his principles.
BLOG: Emeritus Professor in the Faculty of Social Sciences, Professor Mike Haynes, considers the centenary of the Russian revolution.
BLOG: Dr Stuart Farquhar comments on the Bank of England announcing a rise in interest rates
Funny things – Wolverhampton’s new comedy festival - will be joined on Friday by Dr Tracey Platt, who will be explaining the links between the Psychology of Humour and Well-being.
Find out how the University of Wolverhampton is part of the global conversation about musical theatre.
So here I am writing for Student Stigma and I am excited but I am going to include a trigger warning, just to be considerate.
Consumer label confusion? Professor Claire Hannibal, who is researching supply chain sustainability, looks at what lies behind the brands.
Why bother with the future? Well hopefully we will all have one. It is the future where we will be spending the rest of our lives.
The UK’s foreign minister, Boris Johnson, is set to address the Conservative Party conference today amidst suggestions that he is deliberately undermining Theresa May’s leadership of the party.
I was born in Barcelona in Catalonia where I spent almost 30 years of my life before moving to the UK. My feelings are hard to describe but I would say they are a combination of sadness and anger.
With what we eat coming under the spotlight more and more, our food choices are frequently being judged as ‘good’ or ‘bad’. Dr Tracey Devonport looks at the increasing trend for food shaming
I was an extremely late starter, not going to University until I was 52 and then only for a year to do a Creative Writing Master’s.
Filmmaker Andrew Rutter recently won Leicester’s 2017 The Short Cinema Main Competition Award for Best Film which is the culmination of many years hard work for the local director.
At the age of 31, record-breaking England goalscorer Wayne Rooney announced his retirement from international football.
As the World Judo Championships kick off in Budapest (28 August to 3 September 2017), we thought we’d give you the low-down on some of our own sporting successes in judo and beyond.
Renowned sculptor Emma Rodgers has exhibited her striking work worldwide, from the Victoria & Albert Museum to the Royal Academy of Art.
The role of the news media has always had an almost sacred role in democratic societies. But a right to free speech does not entail a duty to tell the truth...
Caiçara researcher presents her PhD thesis at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, on geotourism potential and strategies of geoconservation on the tourist trails in the region
Tanweer Ikram was appointed by the Queen as Deputy Senior District Judge (Chief Magistrate), one of the top roles in the judiciary, earlier this year.
A-Level results day can be a time of mixed emotions ...
With a new season of 'Game of Thrones' just beginning, the frenzied fan talk starts once more. Dr Spencer Jones, a Senior Lecturer in Armed Forces and War Studies in the University’s Department of History, Politics and War Studies, takes a look at where the writers have found inspiration in real life historical events for some of the major storylines in the popular fantasy drama.
These are heady times for England Lionesses as they beat France for the first time in 43 years to reach the semi-finals of Euro 2017. As a nation that identifies football as its national sport, the question many are asking is what is behind this recent success?
My name is Andrew Rigby and I currently study Multimedia Journalism and this is my experience of UCAS clearing.
Professor of Sport Jean Williams takes a look at the history of women's football, which once saw women banned from competing
Yasmin Qureshi, Photography degree student, blogs about the Wolves PhotoFest.
Katie Wood, senior lecturer at the University of Wolverhampton, discusses the topic of cyber security and how IT skills gaps in your business could put it at risk.
With a strong Labour campaign and an unexpected outcome, it looks like a return to the 1970s for modern politics. And that’s no bad thing, says Professor of Labour and Social History Keith Gildart.
Theresa May has a serious terrorist problem in her hands – there’s no question about it. In the space of less than three months, the UK has suffered 3 terrorist attacks, resulting in 32 deaths and there is most probably more to come, if we are being brutally honest with ourselves.
The threat of indiscriminate terror, even if our intelligence and police work improves a great deal, will be with us for some time. That's why we must understand its root causes rather than just try to defend against it.
So the NHS got hacked last Friday. Already evidence of “the blame game” is beginning to appear. Why were the NHS using outdated / unpatched systems? Why did the NSA “loose” a cyber weapon? Why did Microsoft stop patching XP?
The Precarious Position of Human Rights Protection in the UK after Brexit
Professor George Kassimeris, Professor of Security Studies at the University of Wolverhampton, has been researching and writing on terrorism and political violence for more than 20 years.
The death of Martin McGuinness will inevitably lead to a period of reflection on both his personal activities and his legacy.
For International Women’s Day, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering and Professor of Science Education Nazira Karodia presented the University of Wolverhampton’s first Athena Swan Gilkison lecture. The event celebrated the University’s female professors. Here, Professor Karodia summarises some challenges in STEM education and the future.
A Coventry man has just been sentenced to four weeks in jail for being homeless and begging in a car park.[i] Professor Kate Moss asks: ‘Is this a good use of prison and does this approach demonstrate good governance or public policy?’
When the Statute of Artificiers was passed in 1563, there were many more apprentices in the City of London than there were university students or graduates.
In a modern society where tolerance of failure can be low and fear of failure paralysing, it is important to learn how to manage adversity. England Rugby has shown that it is possible to create a climate where growth follows failure. This is something everybody can learn from.
The on-going toxic vendetta between President Trump and the American media establishment (New York Times, Washington Post, CNN, and NBC etc.) regarding fake news, alternative facts, lies and hypocrisy has to do with only one thing: political survival.
An article published in the Guardian last week asked what would happen if a university went bust.
Tony Proctor gives his expert opinion on why not upgrading to the latest software can leave websites vulnerable to hacking.
Recently we blogged about the High Court ruling regarding the challenge to Theresa May’s ability to trigger Article 50
The immediate cause of the current 24-hour tube strike on the London Underground is about staffing levels and associated society issues.
Brexit means Brexit and we will have to help Theresa May make the best of it, says Andy Westwood
In the list of new words to enter the dictionary in 2016 - Trumpism, Brexit, post-truth - hygge seems somewhat out of place. Or does it?
Professor Kate Moss and Lynn Ellison, from the University of Wolverhampton’s Law School, take an in-depth look at Article 50.
Expert comment on the news that retail giant Marks and Spencer is to close 60 stores in the UK
Dr Christopher Stone, Senior Lecturer (Interpreting and Deaf Studies), recently spoke in the European Parliament
Where do the future cyber threats lie?
Images of armed police supervising the undressing of a Muslim woman on a Nice beach have gone viral in the last few days. The officers were apparently upholding the ban on the ‘burkini’, a swimsuit that covers the legs, arms and hair, and is contentious because of its religious connotations, read as provocative to the secular values of the French state.
Professor of Digital Learning John Traxler, is working with The United Relief and Works Agency for Palestine (UNRWA) to support education efforts where schools are running within areas of conflict. Here, he recounts one of many experiences working in these conditions.
Despite charitable support and awareness-raising, homelessness is still being criminalised in many areas.
Wales in the semi-finals of the Euros. One game away from the final and playing against a team that is yet to win in normal play. Why have Wales been successful?
In a time of ‘bregrets’, Dr Stuart Connor, Reader in Social Welfare at the University of Wolverhampton, reveals how research at the University of Wolverhampton is identifying and developing potential scenarios for medium to long term futures.
The European Union referendum campaign exposed both the complexity of the issue(s) and how poorly informed the electorate are about the EU
It is the worst UK constitutional crisis in living memory and it is not going away. Don't believe those politicians who tell you that the vote has to be respected.
The vote to leave the EU has major implications economically and politically. Economically, the £ had fallen by over 10% against the US$ and over 7% against the € before 9am today (Friday 24th June)
“Seeking a competitive advantage” mind-set is embedded in modern sport with athletes following lifestyles, training methods and diets aimed at giving an extra edge
As Euro 2016 excitement reaches fever pitch, Dr Chris Sellars at the University of Wolverhampton and examines how inspiration and inspirational leadership in sport has a dramatic impact.
Dr Debra Cureton, Research Development Manager, discusses how the University of Wolverhampton is working to reduce the differing degree outcomes between ethnicity groups.
Brain tumours are a leading cause of death in young children and an increasing cause of neurological morbidity and mortality in adults.
At the invitation of the China-Britain Business Council, I recently presented to a high-level Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education forum in Tianjin, one of China’s four provincial-level municipalities. My topic was ‘Entrepreneurship Education in Higher Education in the UK’.
Leicester City, The Premier League and the Steel Crisis
The advent of social networking has undoubtedly changed the way the world communicates.
Feminist scholarship has exposed how men use respectability to ‘other’ women and exclude them from the public realm (Skeggs, 1997; Haram, 2004). There is however, limited literature on the respectability and inclusion projects of academic women, particularly in non-British contexts.
Valentine’s Day is almost upon us again. It is no coincidence that we are at the beginning of the new Spring; the sap flows, the leaf buds are ready to burst forth and the first flowers of new season are with us.
One of the prevalent aspects of post-recession Britain has been the rise in significance of food banks both in signalling a growing role for the voluntary sector in providing welfare, but also as a stark measure of the persistence of poverty in many neighbourhoods across the country
The need for drugs for cancer treatment is urgent but development of a new drug takes an average of 15 years and costs billions.
A new book entitled Public Indecency in England 1857-1960, co-authored by David J. Cox, Reader in Criminal Justice History, University of Wolverhampton, has been published by Routledge
Three British players in a Grand Slam tennis semi-final. The Murray brothers and Johanna Konta
An old army song had First World War soldiers looking forward to the end of the conflict:
The NHS fails to recruit sufficient staff to fill all its vacancies, in nursing, some medical specialties and other clinical professions
In the local high streets and shopping centres store after store have sales on. But it is still several weeks to Christmas when buying at full price is supposed to be at its peak.
The very first thing I tell my students who choose to take my ‘Terrorism and Political Violence’ class is that terrorism never ends,
One of the principal dangers of admitting hearsay evidence in court is that a witness’s veracity cannot be tested by cross-examination...
I attended the TUC conference in Brighton last week. The highlight was a speech by Jeremy Corbyn...
The old gag about something being ‘déjà vu, all over again’, seems particularly apt in relation to the current problems in Northern Ireland...
15th September 2015 marks 75 years since what is now known as the Battle of Britain day took place over the summer skies of Britain...
The crash of the Chinese stock market is sending shock waves around the world. In the murky world of global finance nobody really knows who is owed what until it is too late.
The death toll of migrants at sea has increased over the summer. The dramatic situation is mainly caused by the conflicts in Syria, and the unstable situations in Afghanistan, Iraq and Eritrea.
Professor Graham Brooks, Professor in Criminology and Course Leader for MSc Cybercrime, School of Criminology
No doubt every politically conscious person in Britain has a pretty good idea by now of the main issues selected by the various political parties fighting each other for votes in the upcoming General Election. An obvious way of finding out what those issues are is to read the manifestos of each of the parties.
Did you know there’s an election looming? Yes, I’m sure you did and I guess you all have your own pressing concerns that you are hoping will appear in the manifesto of your favourite party.
The NHS would seem, temporarily at least, to be like the Queen and Alan Bennett- beyond reproach, almost untouchable.
Despite all the media coverage about a potential EU referendum, leaders’ debates, and even a recent newspaper exclusive about Nigel Farage’s coat, the main issue of the forthcoming election and the one that genuinely affects us most should be what can be done about poverty...
"In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes". I almost was. But the balloon burst. I blame the BBC economics correspondent Robert Peston, and Radio Four's the Today Programme. They offered hope and then took it away.
We live in an instantaneous world, a culture of now. The story of the moment last week was that of the demise and speedy resurrection of the Page 3 Girl.
Christmas is a major time for all television channels. From the beginning of the autumn season the television schedules build up to the crescendo of Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Soap Opera and Popular Drama are not the first genres which come to mind when thinking of Public Service Broadcasting.
“My personal view is that I don’t think it is appropriate and that I am uneasy at using the First World War to sell groceries, no matter how sensitively it is done or that it involves giving some monies to the Royal British Legion. I simply don’t like it.
As the latest version of the ultimate football management simulation, Football Manager 2015, hits the streets two University of Wolverhampton academics share their love of the series which even led them to research the relationships gamers struck up with the virtual football world and its players.
The 31st October is a date that today tends to be associated with ‘Trick or Treat’, carved pumpkins and a night that ghosts roam the earth, but rarely is there a consideration of where it started and how it evolved.
With huge fanfare the new JLR plant is opening today (Oct 30, 2014) at the i54. Britain's newest car plant is strategically situated at the junction between Wolverhampton's Stafford Road and the M54, just a couple of miles away from the M6. It is, says the local Express and Star, 'the crowning glory for the West Midlands'.
Lord Richard Attenborough died on 24th August and we lost an actor, producer, director, whose many achievements are well known and audiences can see his performances in many films, including In Which We Serve, Brighton Rock, The Great Escape, Jurassic Park, Miracle on 34th Street, or we can see his skills as a Director in Oh What a Lovely War and his Oscar winning production of Ghandi followed by Cry Freedom.
The death of a chess player in the middle of a match at the world’s most prestigious competition may have shocked those who view the game as a relaxing pastime. Kurt Meier, 67, collapsed during his final match in the tournament and died in hospital later that day. But chess, like any other game or sport, can lead to an immense amount of stress, which can be bad for a competitor’s physical health too.
There is much research linking creativity and madness - we all know about Van Gogh and Sylvia Plath – but mental illness blights the lives of comedians too; indeed, the image of the sad clown is one of the oldest clichés in the book. It is epitomised by the tale Groucho Marx tells of a patient who goes to see his psychiatrist with depression: the psychiatrist advises him to go to the circus and cheer himself up by watching the world famous clown, Grock. The patient replies, ‘I AM Grock.’
This Thursday (August 14th) many students will receive their ‘A’ level results and the University of Wolverhampton wishes them all the very best.
This notion reflects my interest in the event, the moment, the participation that holds the key - with photography reflecting these dearly held moments for reflection ‘after the event’. The role of the spectator can also be reflective of the moment when human presence through endeavour confounds even those without an interest in sport, providing the figure and ground for the photographer.
Looking back on the start of the First World War, we are conscious of a world and a Britain very different from our own. The countdown of events that led to Britain declaring war rings like a death-march in the heads of everyone who knows them.
The recent publication of the 2014 Deloitte annual review of football finance highlighted the ever-increasing financial power of the Premier League. For the 2013/2014 season it is forecast that total revenue will break the £3bn barrier.
A recent article in The Learner (http://thelearner.com/the-latest-news/parental-involvement-is-overrated ) and The New York Times claims that parental involvement in education rarely benefits children’s test and grade scores and in some cases has a negative effect.
After the fabulous start of the 2014 Tour de France in Yorkshire on Saturday, British hopes are somewhat dashed by the withdrawal of our two leading riders, the 2013 winner Chris Froome and Mark Cavendish, the Manx missile, and GB rider of the most stage wins. Interestingly the focus in the press has been on the tactics employed by team Sky and the decision not take former Tour de France winner Sir Bradley Wiggins as back up the lead rider.
“He’s bitten again," said a flight attendant as I queued to check in a flight returning from Spain. Uruguay vs Italy in the World Cup and Liverpool footballer Suarez goes to bite his opponent
Britain’s number one tennis player must have been looking forward to an opening week of Wimbledon with the pressure slightly off… but thanks to England’s stuttering World Cup, ‘a nation turns its lonely eyes to you’ Mr Murray...
Michael Gove has apparently ‘banned’ American classics such as John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men from the GCSE English syllabus in favour of a British-oriented curriculum.
Or is Hope a dangerous thing? England head for the World Cup with hope in their hearts!
In the past, countries hosting the world cup finals have had a high probability of winning or at least being runners up in their ‘home’ competition. England’s one and only success in the World Cup came on home soil in 1966, and more recently France in 1998 and Argentina in 1978 were both victorious as hosts.
2014 is a momentous year for military history. In November we commemorate 100 years since the start of the First World War. The BBC alone have already started over four years of programming which will ultimately result in over 3,500 hours broadcasting spanning radio, television and the internet.
Raising awareness about children who sleep rough on the streets of Europe.
Professional historians have had a long time to think and plan about the 100th anniversary commemorations of the First World War: almost a decade has passed since our first discussions.
Bob Crow, the general secretary of the RMT trade union, died at the age of 52 on Tuesday 11 March. All of us who knew him send sincere sympathies to his family and close friends.
n a recent blog entry in The Guardian (6/2/2014), Mike Cladingbowl, Ofsted’s national director for schools, raised a number of interesting questions relating to the future of Ofsted.
Recent months have seen a small number of high profile footballers openly disclose their homosexuality and once again the question of why this disclosure remains so fearful to these athletes has been raised across the media.
The English Defence League (EDL) emerged in 2009 as a mass street protest movement able to attract supporters in the thousands to demonstrate against ‘Islamic extremism’ in towns and cities across the UK.
The Channel 4 documentary series Benefits Street has caused a legitimate outcry from the residents of James Turner Street in Winson Green, Birmingham.
The five part series was filmed over a year and shows the residents of the area as people on benefits and living, what the production portrays as, a rather feckless life.
Michael Gove’s comments about the First World War have ensured that what some of us feared would happen has come to pass.
For Theo Walcott, the first sound he heard would have been the savage twist of gristle and the next his own screams of pain. The very moment the 24-year-old striker hit the turf in Arsenal’s recent FA Cup game against Tottenham Hotspur, he must surely have known how serious his injury was. The hope of performing on the big stage, the excitement in what that brings, the months of training in in the build-up were, he must have acknowledged, all lost in that brief moment in time.
The principle of open justice, in one form or another, has rarely been out of the news recently. Although the first few televised Court of Appeal cases have been aired, the introduction of legislation to permit the filming and broadcasting of court proceedings has been the subject of much debate.
The recent case of match fixing in football is nothing new. There have been a number of cases throughout the years in British football but few to mention. The problem is really spot fixing. This is a problem for all sport not only football. We blame wayward individuals and/or ‘foreign’ organised criminal elements or the gambling industry.
Earlier this month saw the publication of University Challenge 2013, a report into access to higher education for disabled students, commissioned by the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign.
Human rights and the empowerment of women who sleep rough in the EU.
The cure for poverty has a name in fact, it is called the empowerment of women– Christopher Hitchens.
It may seem strange, but I, like most South Africans who grew up under the Apartheid regime, only became aware of Nelson Mandela’s signifcance once I’d left the country. I was too young to follow the Rivonia Treason trial and by the time I was reading newspapers, all mention of him and the ANC was banned from the South African press. In those pre-internet, pre-budget travel days, South Africans had little exposure to international pressure groups such as the Free Nelson Mandela movement.
This blog post is in relation to Colley Lane School, Halesowen, banning their pupils from writing or talking in a Black Country dialect
This blog post is in relation to National Anti-Bullying Week, held this year between Monday 18 November - Friday 22 November.
Recent government suggestions that walk-in centres be closed as a consequence of them not achieving the necessary reductions in Emergency Department (ED) attendance anticipated are ill-conceived.
How about this, then? Richard Cairns, Head of Brighton College, wants it made compulsory for school pupils to assess the performance of teachers (http://yhoo.it/16rwEiz) Mr Cairns is certainly sincere - he claims to use this system in his own school already.
A recent study has shown that listening to music can help to alleviate physical pain. Four out of ten people who suffered persistent pain said listening to music helped relieve their symptoms, a figure which rose to 66% for young people aged between 16-24.
A recent Contact a Family survey of more than 400 families with disabled children provided disturbing results which highlights the lack of support inside schools.
The number of rough sleeping children across Europe is on the rise. These are young people who have mostly run away either from home or from sheltered accommodation. They may also include minors who have made border crossings in search of a better life and improved opportunities or for any number of other reasons.
As has been noted by Lord Neuberger, the President of the Supreme Court, we live in a country committed to the rule of law and central to that commitment is the principle that justice should not only be done, but also seen to be done. That is, court proceedings and a court’s decision should be open to public scrutiny wherever possible.
In 1977 the first national fire fighters’ strike took place over pay and conditions. After a bitter few weeks the settlement included a system whereby pay was index linked to the pay movement among other similar groups. This meant that there was no need for national pay strikes until 2002, when the system broke down.
Saturday 31st August 8.00pm, and 10 million viewers saw the return of ITV1’s ratings topping talent programme The X Factor, back for its 10th series.
Does Friday 13th worry you?
Well, Paraskevidekatriaphobics have a morbid fear of Friday the 13th, which falls at least once a year, and sometimes three times a year.
On a Euston-bound train to the BERA (British Educational Research Association) conference that took place in the first week of September, I fell into conversation with three other passengers. Two were retired, one was close to retirement. The conversation began with stories about them looking after and reading to grandchildren and helping with homework.
Seamus Heaney, who died last week, is perhaps the only poet for whom a minute's silence will ever be held at a major sporting event: 80,000 Gaelic football fans paid their tribute to him before the Kerry-Dublin semi-final in Croke Park. Their response marks Heaney as a special cultural figure, in Ireland but also elsewhere. Before him, poets were often English and upper class: after him, most of them seemed to be from Northern Ireland.
Deadline day on the transfer window sees a number of high money deals taking place.
Cyber bullying is a recent phenomenon, with health impacts. Recent postings on Twitter have contained threats of rape and murder, Facebook messages have been linked to suicides. Both can be anonymous. What is the link between anonymity and bullying?
This Thursday (August 15th) lots of students will receive their ‘A’ level results and the images of the day will mainly show happy smiley faces.
The appalling murder of Daniel Pelka by his mother, Magdelena Luczak, and her partner, Mariusz Krezolek, has yet again been followed by soul-searching and a storm of criticism directed at ‘the authorities’ for their failure to protect Daniel from the child abuse that eventually led to his death.
In the Victorian era there were sweatshops, child labour, few worker rights, and casual employment with no guaranteed income.
The recent and significant change in how we train teachers in England, introduced by the Secretary of State for Education Michael Gove, is not well thought through and could have a significant impact on teacher supply.
This blog post is in reference to 'RideLondon', an annual two-day festival of cycling taking place over the weekend of Saturday 3 August and Sunday 4 August 2013.
The ‘best’ nurseries use a variety of different approaches to support the children in their care, not just testing or assessing.
I was way too young to watch Enter the Dragon (1973) when it was first available on video. but that didn’t matter because I watched it at my Uncle’s house (on his old ‘piano keys’ video recorder) and it was deemed infinitely more suitable than the ‘video nasties’ prevalent around that time.
The cast were joined on stage by two former Spice Girls who were “devastated” and “gutted” that the show announced its closure after a brief six month run in the West End. Producer Judy Craymer (famous for hit musical Mamma Mia) and writer Jennifer Saunders admitted that despite standing ovations from wonderful audiences, they just “couldn’t make it work”. They stand resolute in their assertion that the “legacy of the Spice Girls will never fade.”
Students and academic staff enjoyed hearing Sir Liam Donaldson, the former Chief Medical Adviser in the UK, share his thoughts on how public health issues can be addressed during his talk in Wolverhampton on Friday 28 June.
Wimbledon time, and up go the hopes that the 77-year wait for a British male champion will end this Sunday.
This year is the 100th anniversary of the first Bollywood movie.
I was never a fan of Bollywood as a kid. In fact, I hated it. We had one TV and video recorder in the house (not like today) and the last thing I wanted was such dull competition for its use.
Nick Drake was one of several wonderful musicians to emerge from the fertile folk and folk-rock scenes of the 1960s and early 1970s. While always a solo artist he worked with some of the great musicians of the time; Richard Thompson played on his first album, and John Martyn’s Solid Air was written for and about Drake. Nick Drake’s work is intimate, intricate and highly personal; the themes are universal and the performances captivating.
Before I attempt to answer this controversial question, I’d like to re-phrase it into this instead: “Why do parents want to send their children to a ‘faith-based’ school?”
I was born in 1959, and, like most people of my age group, can remember watching the big Royal media events of the 1960s and 70s: the “Royal Family” documentary of 1969, followed by the Investiture of Prince Charles (clustered round the school TV set at St Michael’s Primary in Tettenhall). Then came the wedding of Princess Anne and Mark Phillips in 1973, and the Queen’s Silver Jubilee in 1977. But I was always conscious of having missed The Big One: the Queen’s Coronation of 1953.
Around this time of the sporting calendar, talk invariably comes round to the issue of what makes a winning team. Pundits start picking their dream teams. Various combinations of players are suggested but being individually brilliant is only part of what matters. “We all dream of a team of Carraghers” is a song lovingly sang by the Liverpool fans; a song that pays testament to the fighting spirit of Jamie Carragher. Would this team be successful?
In the next few weeks trials will be taking place with trained contractors attempting to cull badgers (largely by shooting) to wipe out TB in parts of Somerset and Gloucestershire. TB is endemic in some local populations of badgers and is also present in some cattle and it is thought (though the link is as yet wholly unproven) that TB is transmitted from wild badgers to individual cattle resulting in the need to destroy entire herds...
There has been much press coverage recently concerning the apparent crisis in emergency services, and in particular the provision of care within hospital emergency departments.
Better This Time? Afghanistan as the 'Graveyard of Empires' 1979-2014
The 25th anniversary of the Afghanistan withdrawal announcement by the Soviet Union
In February 2013, President Barack Obama announced the withdrawal of major United States combat units from Afghanistan by the end of next year. It is impossible not to hear the historical echoes.
FHM’s top 100 sexiest women – decided by popular vote and featuring the likes of Mila Kunis and Kelly Brook – is undoubtedly commercially successful, but how might we think critically about this publication and its success?
In an era of economic uncertainty with rising unemployment, never has there been a more important time to consider the topic of mental health.
A day to celebrate the seventh least densely populated state of the USA? Sadly, no. In fact, IDAHO is that odd acronym which stands for the International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, and it took place this past Friday, May 17.
The arrival of May offers us many national treasures such as the FA Cup Final and the Chelsea Flower Show, but few can argue with the longevity and passion aroused by Eurovision, the music competition to outlast all other music TV events.
The 16th/17th May 2013 marks the 70th anniversary of RAF Bomber Command’s iconic raid on dams in the German Ruhr valley. New books, magazines, memorabilia are being marketed and the BBC has commissioned various radio and television programmes to commemorate this event.
Olivia Colman was the undoubted star of the 2013 BAFTA Television awards. Colman triumphed for her work in the serious drama ‘Accused (Mo’s Story)’ and the sitcom ‘Twenty Twelve’, and both gongs were well deserved. While it is easy to be blasé and pretend that award ceremonies don’t matter, Colman accepted her two awards with enthusiasm and excitement, and it’s clear that recognition from peers is still a big thing for actors and actresses.
"So Sir Alex Ferguson has retired. We’ve had “Fergie time", “hairdryers", the “Beckham’s boot”, and rows with other managers – Kevin Keegan and Rafa Benitez being the most memorable spats. When it’s all said and done however he leaves Manchester United as champions for a record 20th time. So what comes next?
The major talking point of the 2013 local elections was the rise of UKIP which gained 25% of the vote and has given rise to much speculation about the reasons for their success and their likely future impact.
Memories of the MMR scare of about a decade ago had all but faded until news came of an outbreak of measles in Swansea. To prevent measles epidemics in other parts of the country, Public Health England has launched a vaccination catch-up campaign. They estimate that up to a million children aged 10 to 14 are at risk of catching measles because many of them were not vaccinated as babies owing to widespread fears that the combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR) could cause autism.
Today we live in an era where knowledge about DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) and our genetic code has a profound effect upon our society.
Luis Suarez is an outstanding footballer. He can make a chance out of almost nothing, score goals with either foot, or shows tremendous determination to win which can inspire his team mates.
Among the many assessments of the Thatcher legacy, relatively little has been said about her role as a political communicator. In the understandable focus on her role in the Falklands War, the Miners’ Strike, the Poll Tax, the economy, Europe, and a host of other policy areas, there hasn’t been a huge amount on how she went about securing the three election victories without which none of it would have been possible.
It would have been hard not to know that Doctor Who BBC1’s sci-fi drama series was 50 years old last weekend.
So who were the biggest winners in this remarkable summer of Olympic and Paralympic sport? The likes of Mo, Usain, Ellie and Sarah, obviously. This was the year when not only Olympian but Paralympian heroes became recognisable by their first names alone. The Games Makers, unquestionably, along with Seb Coe and his team; the crowds; and all of the millions who have watched both festivals of sport with such keenness.
The Paralympics have captured the imagination of the country, they have accepted the metaphorical baton from the Olympic Games in spectacular fashion.
The success of the London Paralympics so far has rested on a number of factors: the obvious public appetite for tickets; the extensive media coverage; and, of course, the extraordinary achievements of a number of GB paralympians.
How do you measure if something is having an impact? How many times do we use the word ‘impact’, without actually fully appreciating what it means to us and to the situation which we are attempting to discuss?
It was announced the other day that the BBC will show the two Olympic football warm-up games on July 20: one for women’s football, and the Brazil tie in the men’s.
The essence of the legacy of the Olympics is sport; the success of the Games themselves, the motivation and inspiration caused by successful medal winners and the encouragement to participate in sport by the people of the host country.
Tricky times, these, for the rolling news channels: especially for BBC News’ 24-hour channel.
The ability to control emotions under pressure is a key skill.
Cyclist Sir Chris Hoy won a sixth gold medal with the weight of history on his shoulders, and we all watched heptathlete Jessica Ennis control her emotions under the extreme pressure of being the ‘face of the Games’, on top of the usual pressure of competing at the Olympics.
We are experiencing some remarkable performances at the London Olympics.
Team GB won its first gold medals of London 2012 yesterday, with an impressive first Olympic title for the women’s pair Helen Glover and Heather Stanning in the rowing and cyclist Bradley Wiggins winning the time trial in some style to add to his Tour de France victory.
Last night Great Britain women’s football team beat Brazil 1-0 in front of 70,584 spectators at Wembley.
It is one of the accepted wisdoms of Olympic media coverage that the great sporting festival affords an almost unique opportunity for experimentation with the latest technological developments.
During the world swimming championships in 2009, Rebecca Adlington took third and fourth respectively in the 400m and 800m freestyle events having won both at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
Mega sporting events such as The Olympics, The Commonwealth Games and the Football World Cup are important for reasons that extend beyond the events themselves.
Winning the Tour de France is a truly impressive achievement; truly impressive.
The Olympics were once the preserve of the amateur, who competed for the love of the sport without receiving payment.
It’s not long at all now before the Jamaican Track and Field teams arrive in this region for their pre-Olympic training.
Whilst a number of the venues for the Olympic and Paralympic Games 2012 are around the country, most of the events will be held in or around the Olympic Park in Stratford, East London.
The Olympics are not just about the sporting events. The Cultural Olympiad which spans the four years before the Olympic Festival includes activities inspired by the event – 16 million people are said to have engaged in thousands of performances, workshops and events across the UK for the London 2012 games.
"I will return"... Muhammad Ali's famous quote after a shock defeat to Joe Frazier. Friday night saw the hotly tipped favourite for the 100m, Usian Bolt, beaten in the 100, final of the Jamaican trials.
Excitement is building around this summer’s Olympics, and it’s great that Wolverhampton is having its turn in the spotlight this weekend. The city is, as ever, pulling out all the stops for the torch relay which makes its way through our streets on Saturday.
