Instagram considering new TikTok style feed for stories

  • It appears plans are underway by Instagram to create a vertical feed for the Stories section of the app
  • According to TechCrunch, this would function via vertical swipes up and down, making stories closer to ‘Reels’ the short term video feature released last year to compete with TikTok
  • Instagram confirmed that the vertical stories feed is not currently being tested, but code for the change is already in development according to a screenshot shared by a developer
  • For the full story, select here
  • We will continue to cover this story as it develops in 2021

Woodville school supervisor had sex with underage girl

  • A South Derbyshire school supervisor has admitted committing sex acts with an underage girl, a court has heard
  • The offender worked as a supervisor at Granville Academy, in South Derbyshire, and covered absences within the PE department at the time he carried out the offending, the school confirmed
  • He pleaded guilty to six counts of sexual activity with a child – which included full sex with the girl – and two counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
  • In a statement, Ian McNeilly, Chief Executive of The de Ferrers Trust, which oversees the school, said after the case: “[the offender] was dismissed from his employment at Granville Academy without notice in November 2019
  • For the full story, select here

Alex George appointed mental health ambassador for children and young people

  • A&E doctor and ex-Love Islander Alex George has been appointed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson as youth mental health ambassador for the government
  • He will “shape policy” and advise on how best to support young people in his role, Downing Street said
  • In a post to his 1.7 million Instagram followers, Alex wrote: “Never has mental health been as important as now…mental health matters”
  • The Prime Minister said the focus of Alex’s role will be on children and young people’s mental health, saying they’ve “heroically adapted” in the pandemic.
  • For the full story, select here
  • To learn more about helping young people with their mental health, be sure to watch our recent interview with  Koulla Yiasouma, Commissioner for Children and Young People in Northern Ireland, here

PM names head of school recovery plan

  • The Prime Minister has announced an “Education Recovery Commissioner” to oversee how England’s schools can catch up from the disruption of the pandemic
  • Sir Kevan Collins, was until recently Head of the Education Endowment Foundation, which examines evidence for what works in education
  • He will have to develop a “a long-term plan” for helping pupils make up for lost learning
  • The announcement says getting education back on track and fully opening schools is a “national priority”.
  • Sir Kevan has had a long career in education, a former teacher who went on to be the Director of Children’s Services and Chief Executive of Tower Hamlets, east London
  • For the full story, select here