Home news in brief
Staggeringly high numbers of teachers want to quit 'incredibly difficult' job
Teaching is fast becoming a job that is "just too big an ask" with many keen to leave to the profession, an expert has warned. The nation is facing a situation where children are taught by teachers who do not want to be there, but are trapped by their financial circumstances, according to Rebecca Allen, director of the Education Datalab think-tank.
At a General Election briefing on education, Ms Allen warned teaching is now "incredibly difficult", bogged down with paperwork and accountability tasks that are leaving the profession exhausted. More needs to be done, in particular to help new teachers, to stop them walking out the door, she said. Teaching in England is now "an incredibly difficult job" with school workers "putting in hours in excess of anything that people could imagine", she said.
Police name woman shot dead by cycling gunmen
A 20-year-old woman who was gunned down in the street in broad daylight by masked men on bikes has been named. Mohanna Abdhou, known as Montana, was out with friends when two attackers cycled up to them and opened fire in Brent, north-west London. Both men then fled, leaving her to die from a single bullet wound in Malvern Road.
The “cowardly” attack took place outside a block of flats near a children's playground at around 9pm on Friday. Police are appealing for any witnesses to come forward. Detective Chief Inspector Andy Partridge, from the Met Police, said: “Montana was enjoying an evening out with a number of female friends and while they were all standing near Dickens House two males on bicycles approached them. “We believe a number of shots were aimed at the group - sadly Montana was shot and died from her injuries at the scene.
Man dies in Ulster supermarket shooting
A man has died after being shot in the car park of a busy supermarket. The 55-year-old man was hit several times in the gun attack outside the Sainsbury's superstore on the outskirts of Bangor, Co Down. Detective Superintendent Kevin Geddes of the Police Service of Northern Ireland appealed for anyone with information to make contact.
“Detectives have now launched a murder investigation and I would ask anyone who may have witnessed this incident or anyone who has any information to contact detectives,” he said. It is understood the incident occurred at about 3pm in the packed car park of the supermarket just off the Balloo Link road. There were reports of a confrontation involving the man before four to six bullets were fired. Police believe there may have been more than 100 witnesses to the shooting.
Harry Styles rings Manchester attack schoolgirl in Hospital
Singer Harry Styles has called a schoolgirl who was seriously injured in the Manchester Arena terror attack. The One Direction star got in touch with Freya Lewis as she recovered from injuries she received in Monday's suicide bombing. She was with her school friend Nell Jones when the two 14-year-olds were caught up in the explosion following an Ariana Grande concert. Nell was killed and Freya, who suffered fractures, lacerations and burns from shrapnel, has had surgery. Freya's family, in an ongoing blog released on Saturday via the teenager's school, Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School and Sixth Form College in Cheshire, said that Styles had called her in hospital.
They said: “Firstly, Freya came around enough from sedation to look at her Dad, blow him a kiss and smile. Then Dad cried. 'What could surpass that? I know you are thinking. “Secondly, the phone rang, and it was Harry Styles. Freya woke up, Harry said he loved her, she said she loved him, then Dad said he loved him!! “The PICU unit at Manchester Childrens Hospital has just been given a lift like you can not imagine! Harry, we salute you sir, Holmes Chapel is very proud of you !!!! ”