Tiffany Rowlands

Local business owners and MPs across southern England react to Andy Burnham becoming prime minister, expressing a mix of optimism and concern over his plans to devolve power and support regional economies. Business leaders hope for relief on issues such as business rates, while some residents question the political transition and call for a general election. MPs highlight differing priorities between the south and Manchester, particularly around demographics, investment, and coastal community needs.

Bedales School in Hampshire reports positive outcomes from its Bedales Assessed Course system, introduced as an alternative to GCSEs and designed to provide broader, more coursework‑focused assessment. A government curriculum review recommends broader subject study and reduced exam time, while state schools such as Bohunt express interest in reforming current assessments. Ecctis finds Bedales’ English Literature course comparable to GCSEs but broader in skills developed, and the Department for Education emphasises the need to modernise the national curriculum and maintain trust in GCSEs.