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Welcome


We are a pioneering Centre within the Institute of Education at Manchester Metropolitan University.


We work with children, young people and their families, and the professionals concerned with their education and care, in urban contexts, in Greater Manchester, the North West of England, the rest of the UK and internationally.


We are a cross-disciplinary team of specialists from education, research, youth and community development, teaching and training. We draw on our extensive experience in teacher and community education, partnership working with Local Authorities and Higher Education, and management of public sector programmes and projects.


We bring together research, policy and practice to have a direct impact on all those working with children and young people in urban settings.

We specialise in developing and delivering innovative and creative learning programmes that:

  • Raise the aspiration of children, young people and families.

  • Develop professionals and leaders to support the creativity and success of urban learners.

  • Unlock the assets of the urban environment.

  • Support change and innovation in schools and communities.

  • Network and disseminate practice regionally, nationally and internationally.

  • Link research to practice and provide evidence of what works.

We offer resources for urban learners and professionals, and provide bespoke consultancy and project management services.


CUE delivers the Creative Partnerships and Higher Futures 4 U (HF4U) programmes across Greater Manchester, Cheshire East and Warrington, UK.


For our latest news, events and current opportunities please see the News and Events section.

Who we are


We are a multi-disciplinary team with specialist skills and we broker partnerships, deliver research, conduct evaluations, develop cultural learning programmes, support workforce development, whole school change programmes, continuing professional development and community learning opportunities.

icon Nancy Barrett - Creative Director, Creative Partnerships
image of Nancy Barrett

Nancy has been Director of the Creative Partnerships programme since its launch in 2002; she previously worked as Arts and Cultural Services Manager for Trafford MBC, leading on the development of the council's Commonwealth Games Cultural programmes, Millennium Events and opening of the Imperial War Museum North and the Sale Waterside Arts Centre.

Nancy experienced the impact of learning through the arts and creativity when she worked for seven years as a community arts worker in inner-city Ordsall, and as a lecturer in Performing Arts , English & Media at Salford University.

She believes that creative learning can unlock young people's talents, skills and imaginations and that Greater Manchester is one of the most creative places in the world.

icon Caroline Davies - Research Associate, Centre for Urban Education
image of Caroline Davies

Caroline is currently the Research Associate for the Centre for Urban Education. She has most recently worked on the EPPI centre systematic review on research literature projects. These reviews have focused upon the performance, professional learning and retention of NQTs. Caroline previously worked at the Centre for Enterprise Education, MMU for three years. Here, she focused the research activity of the NW Enterprise project on the requirements of the continued professional development (CPD) of teachers to facilitate enterprise and creativity. Her research has been used to contribute towards journal articles, articles in Times Educational Supplement, a book, Enterprise Education in Action and the forthcoming publication, Enterprise Education in the Curriculum.

Additionally, Caroline has evaluated numerous publicly funded educational projects on behalf of organisations such as NWDA, Stoke LEA, Bury LEA and the Greater Manchester Learning and Skills Council.

icon Marilyn Eccles - Leader of the Centre for Urban Education
image of Marilyn Eccles

Marilyn is Leader of the Centre for Urban Education. She was previously the Deputy Chief Education Officer at Manchester City Council and, as the lead officer for school effectiveness, worked on strategies to support school improvement across the city. Prior to this, Marilyn was a teacher, deputy headteacher and headteacher in primary scools in Lancashire. She was involved in leadership training for the local authority and the development of community learning opportunities.

Marilyn believes that the children in Greater Manchester deserve the best education and is working with colleagues and children to make that happen.

icon David Farrow - Head of Creative Partnerships Programmes
image of David Farrow

David has been working for Creative Partnerships since 2005. Initially the CPD Co-ordinator, he became Programme Manager in April 2007, overseeing the Change and Enquiry Schools Programmes. This involves recruiting and training teachers, creative agents and partners; developing CPD and network opportunities; and monitoring the planning, delivery and evaluation of each programme. His knowledge and experience of working creatively across the curriculum to engage young people in learning has been developed from previous work teaching in secondary schools and delivering projects and INSET as a freelance artist educator. David has two primary age children and is a school governor.

icon Samantha Howarth - Administrator, Centre for Urban Education
image of Samantha Howarth

Samantha is the Centre Administrator for CUE and Personal Assistant to Marilyn Eccles. Previously she worked for the University of Manchester for eleven years in roles such as market research, international events and finance. During this time Samantha studied part-time for her degree in Business Studies with MMU and Professional Diploma in Marketing.

icon Claire O'Brien - Operations Manager
image of Claire O'Brien

Claire has been Operations Manager for Creative Partnerships Greater Manchester since 2004. Previous to her role at CPGM, she undertook a degree in Arts Management at De Montfort University in Leicester.

Her main interests lie in events management, communications and operational and organisational development.

icon Sylvia Philips - Education Consultant, Centre for Urban Education
image of Sylvia Philips

Sylvia Philips is an educational consultant working in the Centre for Urban Education. Her previous roles have been as the head of Continuing Professional Development in the Institute of Education at MMU and teaching posts in Manchester secondary schools. She is particularly interested in supporting the CPD for people who work in educational settings, with an emphasis on practitioner research. She has undertaken research and published in the area of special educational needs and inclusive education.

icon John Robinson - Education Consultant, Centre for Urban Education
image of John Robinson

John is the Director for Research Development in the Centre. His research interests focus on education for sustainable futures and education for social and environmental justice. He is particularly interested in an assets approach to educational provision. He is the author of several journal papers and chapters. He has recently published (2006) Environmental Justice and Global Citizenship, Amsterdam, Rodopi (co-edited with T Shallcross), (2006) Creating Sustainable Environments in Our Schools, Stoke-on-Trent, Trentham (co-edited with T Shallcross, P Pace and A Wals) and (2006) Educational Studies: critical issues and perspectives, London, Open University Press (co-edited with D Kassem and E Mufti)

Our approach



We promote an assets-based approach to the opportunities and challenges of living and learning in urban areas.


The suburbs, villages, towns and cities in and around Greater Manchester are rich in their historical, cultural and creative and community diversity.


We draw upon the value of this diversity, making partnerships and connections so that our programmes transform the individual, and release the capacity of our communities.




Our work is multi-disciplinary, working across the university’s faculties and with external partners, to combine academic, educational, and creative expertise; enabling shared and multi-professional learning, creating new approaches, and applying knowledge to address the current challenges in urban education.


Our work is based on real life practice, and the processes, impacts and outcomes are evidenced, so that others can share successful approaches and solutions.



We engage young people as co-constructors of learning, so that they are actively involved in leading and shaping our programmes; and able to develop life-long learning skills to support them in their future work and life.




What we do


We offer opportunities in partnership with a number of other organisations, including Local Authorities, Businesses and Government funded bodies and with our wide network of local and international partner schools, colleges and universities.

We also offer resources for urban learners and professionals and provide bespoke consultancy and project management services.

Creative and Cultural Learning
Further Information

Consultancy, Project Management and Advisory Services
Further Information

Young People as Participants and Partners
Further Information

Professional Learning
Further Information

Research, Evaluation and Consultation
Further Information

News and Events


News


Nancy Barrett, Creative Director
will be speaking at the
Creative Cities Conference,
Barcelona on 26 and 27 November 2009

Further Information

Forthcoming Events

Leadership Lecture, Bridgewater Hall,
20 April 2010

Further Information

Change Schools Programme Celebration Day, 8 July 2010
Further Information

Enquiry Schools Programme (Round 3) Celebration Day, 1 July 2010
Further Information

Current Opportunities

Freelance Project Developers/Coordinators
Creative and Cultural Learning

Further Information

Resources


Resources will be added here soon.

Contact CUE


All enquiries should be addressed to the main office:

Centre for Urban Education
Institute of Education
Manchester Metropolitan University
799 Wilmslow Road
Didsbury
Manchester M20 2RR


T: +44 (0) 161 247 2406
F: +44 (0) 161 247 6917
E: cue@mmu.ac.uk

How to find CUE


CUE has two satellite offices, one in the Department Store on Oak Street and the other in Minshull House.

Directions to the Department Store

Directions to Minshull House