Author Archives: Cambridge Town Owl

TL/DR? See the papers from the Inquiry into the Future of Lifelong Learning (IFLL), commissioned in the late 2000s. Above – some of the papers produced for the IFLL. The phrase according to the IFLL’s Sector Paper 5 – A learning City Perspective (click here, scroll down) came from when Southampton became a unitary council,Continue reading “Cambridge: What would it mean to become a city of learning for the many, not the few?”

TL/DR? On Adult ADHD and an article that resonates with my own experience This is sort of on the back of an earlier post about my 3am brain dumps that I save to my phone. Turns out in the extensive comments posted in response to the article by Noelle Faulkner in The Guardian – alsoContinue reading ““I find myself angry and sad, mourning on behalf of my younger self.””

Because my brain doesn’t seem to switch off, and I otherwise forget things by the morning. Earlier this year, one of the people at the Queen Edith’s Food Hub community cafe (that happens at the same time as the Saturday food hubs – which provide free food packages for anyone that needs it) asked meContinue reading “Brain dump – from the random ideas saved on my phone, normally at 3am”

Newcastle has one – The Farrell Centre which “is a vital new platform for debating the future of architecture and planning, ensuring that everyone has a voice in this critical conversation.“ TL/DR? Read: You don’t need me to tell you why such a venue and facility could be transformational for the future of Cambridge. IfContinue reading “An Urban Room for Cambridge”

The Leader of Cambridgeshire County Council, former MEP Cllr Lucy Nethsingha (LibDems – Newnham) speaks out on Gove’s plan for our city She was quoted in New Civil Engineer magazine here. What’s also been noticeable is the number of Artificial-Intelligence-Generated images (in particular this thread from Create Streets) doing the rounds that have resulted variousContinue reading ““I find the idea that a secretary of state should be the arbiter of what is beautiful for Cambridge deeply concerning.””

Furthermore, they should incorporate suitable learning materials from citizenship courses designed for schools, tailored for lifelong learning audience into their basic maths and english courses. (Image = cover of How to be a global citizen) TL/DR? The Combined Authority has a meeting of its Education & Skills Committee on 04 Sept 2023. As I alreadyContinue reading “The Combined Authority should commission GCSE citizenship & democracy evening classes”

TL/DR? Overhaul our local government structures and create a Unitary Council – you can read his thoughts here. Also don’t forget the petition for a new Royal Commission to overhaul local government in England! I’ve known Chris for a number of years – he’s a former Conservative Councillor for Coleridge Ward back in Gordon Brown’sContinue reading ““Building a Greater Cambridge” by Chris Howell”

tl/dr? We must create the discussion and learning spaces for this autumn and next spring given the scale of the Government’s proposals (and the climate emergency / water crisis that is also already here) In Case You Missed It (ICYMI) I’ve tried to summarise some key issues regarding Michael Gove’s proposals to ‘supercharge Cambridge’. AlsoContinue reading “Cambridge, Southern Cambs, and Huntingdonshire: What could our collective responses be to ‘Supercharged Cambridge’?”

TL/DR? Read the Secretary of State’s statement here. Personally I’d have gone for Captain Planet and the Planeteers given Cambridge’s pollution problems. The announcement is confirmation of the rumour of last week which I wrote about here. The same issues apply. Inevitably Michael Gove’s announcement alongside that of the Prime Minister has polarised opinion. ScrollContinue reading “Michael Gove plans *another tier* of government and sends in a ‘super squad’ of experts to make Cambridge ‘Europe’s science capital’”

TL/DR? Extend the principles of the Cambridge BID to cover all private education establishments and impose a levy on all of them to fund new activities bringing children from all backgrounds together. The problem? It would need ministers to move the necessary regulations in Parliament to establish this – reflecting our over-centralised system of government.Continue reading “How Cambridge’s private education sector could finance more free activities for young people irrespective of family incomes”