Latest news with #EducationSelectCommittee
Daily Mail
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Pro-Palestine campaigner accused of bombarding Labour MP with anti-semitic emails
A Pro-Palestine campaigner has been accused of bombarding Labour MP Helen Hayes with anti-Semitic emails. Austin Crick, 55, appeared at Croydon Magistrates' Court on Friday after being charged with racially aggravated harassment of the MP. He is said to have sent the MP for Dulwich and West Norwood anti-Semitic emails concerning the ongoing Israeli-Gaza conflict. The prosecution say the constituent had sent emails on February 21, March 4 and April 9 and May 20. Hayes, 50, has been the MP for Dulwich and West Norwood since 2015 and Crick resides in East Dulwich. Wearing a white shirt, dark red tie with a large Palestinian badge attached to his jacket, Crick indicated a not guilty plea and elected for a Crown Court trial. Prosecutor Medinat Muhammed told the court: 'The defendant repeatedly sent anti-Semitic emails to his MP. 'They relate to the ongoing crisis between Israel and Gaza.' The court heard that Hayes, who is the current Chair of House of Commons Education Select Committee, took the decision to report Crick to the police because his behaviour was effecting members of her team. Crick was bailed to appear at Southwark Crown Court on July 25 on condition he does not contact the MP or her senior parliamentary assistant Niall Adams.
Scotsman
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Hugh Grant says screens in schools 'ruining' children
An expert says tech can be a powerful force for good in education - when used wisely 💻 Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Actor Hugh Grant has recently spoken out against schools using tech for teaching But an education expert says schools should seek balance rather than an outright ban She says there are benefits to having devices in the classroom These range from helping with revision, to helping build pupils' digital literacy One educator is calling for a more balanced approach to tech in the classroom than a screen ban - after an A-List celeb hit out UK schools' reliance on them for learning. Actor and father-of-five Hugh Grant is championing a new push to ban devices like laptops and tablets from schools. The Telegraph reports that he's teamed up with social psychologist Dr Jonathan Haidt, who claims that test scores have fallen since the introduction of 'ed-tech' to the classroom - and that apps that gamify children's learning mean they find it 'painfully boring' to learn in other ways. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Grant described himself as 'another angry parent fighting the eternal, exhausting and depressive battle with children who only want to be on a screen'. And he's got a point. A 2024 report published by Parliament's Education Select Committee found that young people's screen time has shot up an enormous 52% between 2020 and 2022. One in four children with a smartphone used it in a way that was consistent with behavioural addiction. In schools, The Telegraph says that tablets and laptops are now available to 9 out of 10 pupils. Actor and father Hugh Grant has spoken out against screens in schools | (Image: National World/Adobe Stock/Getty via AFP) But Lucy Kirkham, head of STEM at online revision platform SaveMyExams, believes technology can be a powerful force for good in education, when used wisely. She said that while concerns around excessive screen time were valid, blanket phone bans meant that pupils were missing out on the chance to learn more responsible tech use and digital literacy in schools. 'Phones are often dismissed as classroom distractions, but when integrated responsibly, they can actually enhance learning outcomes,' she continued. 'Used correctly, they are revision tools, not just recreational devices. Phones can support, not sabotage, learning and it's time we start recognising their educational potential rather than writing them off entirely.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad She also shared a few of the potential benefits devices can have in the classroom. Here's what she had to say: Three benefits of having screens in schools - from an education expert 1. App-based learning can improve engagement and retention Ms Kirkham said that education apps like Duolingo and Kahoot! Were used widely by teachers in the classroom, to turn revision into interactive learning experiences. There are a whole host of these available, which can help break down topics from music, to maths, to languages into bite-sized lessons - even allowing children to compete with one another to show off what they've learned. 'These platforms enable students to engage with topics actively, whether individually or collaboratively, helping to reinforce knowledge more effectively than passive learning alone,' she added. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 2. On-the-go revision tools can boost exam performance Save My Exams' own research had found that nine out of ten students used mobile-accessible platforms - such as revision apps - as part of their exam preparation. This is particularly significant now, with GCSEs getting underway in just a few days' time. 'Digital flashcards, quiz apps, and audio resources make it easier for students to revise on the go, particularly when applying proven techniques like the 2 3 5 7 revision rule,' Ms Kirkham continued. 'Effective revision is key to exam success, with studies showing that a solid revision strategy can improve performance by up to 30%.' 3. Encouraging digital literacy sets pupils up for future success Ms Kirkham called for a more balanced approach to tech in the classroom. She said schools should be 'teaching students how to use technology responsibly, from setting screen time limits to understanding digital wellbeing, equips them with vital life skills'. 'Rather than banning screens outright, a healthier approach is to build students' digital literacy and guide them in using their phones as tools for self-directed learning and collaboration,' she said. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad
