Matilda Head

The Independent • 13th May 2023

AI could take over much of ‘heavy lifting’ involved in teaching, says Keegan

Artificial Intelligence could take much of the “heavy lifting” out of teaching, by marking and making lesson plans, the education secretary has said.

Gillian Keegan spoke about the “transformative change” AI could bring to education at the opening of the Education World Forum in London.

In her opening address to the forum of education experts and global leaders, she said: “AI could have the power to transform a teacher’s day-to-day work.

The Independent • 6th May 2023

Rochester Castle hosts festivities for coronation crowd

Hundreds of people braved the rain to watch the King’s coronation from the lawn of Rochester Castle in Kent.

The rain was fairly constant throughout the service but it failed to dampen the celebratory spirit in the crowd who cheered when the Archbishop of Canterbury crowned Charles.

Iza Oshea, 28, who watched wrapped in a Union flag – with a temporary tattoo of the King on her cheek, said: “We don’t care about the rain, to watch it with the castle in the background is so cool, we love the King

The Independent • 5th May 2023

Briton caught up in ‘pandemonium’ in Naples as fans celebrate title ‘all night’

A Briton caught up in Napoli fans’ Serie A title celebrations in Naples on Thursday evening said the atmosphere was “pandemonium”.

Videos circulated on social media showing hundreds of fans chanting, honking horns and letting off flares and fireworks after Napoli secured their first Serie A title in 33 years thanks to a 1-1 draw at Udinese.

The achievement sparked incredible scenes in Naples, with Nigel Page, 42, from London, telling the PA news agency: “You couldn’t move for several hundred m

The Independent • 4th May 2023

Dogs flock to polling stations with Star Wars outfits and photo ID

A poodle dressed as a Star Wars character and a golden retriever with her own photo ID have joined an election tradition as dogs gathered at polling stations across the UK on Thursday.

The hashtag #dogsatpollingstations has become a highlight of election days for many animal lovers on social media, as people share photos of themselves exercising their pets and democratic rights at the same time.

This year’s local elections are the first major electoral test for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, but

The Independent • 24th April 2023

Labour ‘committed to halving incidents of violence against women and girls’

Labour are committed to the “mission” of halving incidents of violence against women and girls (VAWG), Sir Keir Starmer says.

The Labour leader held a roundtable discussion on Monday with campaigners and industry experts at St Giles Trust, a south London charity which provides support for a variety of at-risk groups, including services to help vulnerable women.

Speaking alongside shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper, Sir Keir said: “One of the things we are committed to is halving the incidents

The Independent • 20th April 2023

‘Four months in the middle of nowhere was absolutely paradise’

A woman who spent four months managing the world’s most remote gift shop said the experience was “absolutely paradise”.

Natalie Corbett left her life and new husband behind for a spell in Port Lockroy, on Goudier Island in Antarctica, where there was no running water, wifi or flushing toilets, but said “every day was just incredible”.

With a background in retail, the 31-year-old joined a team of three other women who headed to the historic site to run the gift shop, post office and museum, as

The Independent • 20th April 2023

Frank Skinner: I wouldn’t have deserved MBE if I didn’t make Anne laugh

Comedian Frank Skinner said if he had failed to make the Princess Royal laugh as he was made an MBE he would not have felt he deserved the honour.

The 66-year-old, who was honoured at Buckingham Palace for services to entertainment, said he does not like to meet anyone and not make them laugh.

Skinner, who received the honour from Anne on Thursday, told the PA news agency: “If I didn’t make the Princess Royal laugh today I wouldn’t feel like I deserved the medal.

“I had her laughing throughou

The Independent • 20th April 2023

Actor Stephen Graham and comedian Frank Skinner among those receiving honours

This Is England actor Stephen Graham, and comedian Frank Skinner will be among those receiving honours at Buckingham Palace on Thursday.

Graham, 49, best known for his role as Andrew Gascoigne in 2006 film This Is England, will be made an OBE for services to drama.

The Liverpudlian actor, who recently starred as Mr Wormwood in the Matilda The Musical film, and featured in BBC hit series Line Of Duty, dedicated the honour to his mother, who he announced on December 31 had passed away.

Graham s

The Independent • 19th April 2023

Former Metro editor joins Ipso complaints committee

The former editor of the Metro has been appointed to the complaints committee of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (Ipso).

Ted Young, who served as editor of Metro for eight years, will join the committee that regulates press operations by judging complaints about breaches of the Editors’ Code and levying sanctions.

Mr Young, who served for five years on the Editors’ Code of Practice Committee, said: “I am delighted to join Ipso’s complaints committee having been at the sharp end of

The Independent • 13th April 2023

Ainsley Harriott hails power of food with invitations to Coronation Big Lunch

Chef and TV presenter Ainsley Harriott hailed the power of food to bring communities together as he knocked on doors to hand out invitations to a local Coronation Big Lunch.

The Big Lunch ambassador, known for hosting twenty-one series of Ready, Steady, Cook, joined the street party planning around Richmond, south-west London, by knocking on doors and posting invitations.

Thousands of street parties are expected to be held during the coronation weekend, with people encouraged to come together