Musical revision guide in line for £150,000 prize

Photo: Gareth Lowe

STUDENTS in a scene from the revision guide.

TWO sociology teachers could win £150,000 after their musical revision guide proved an Internet hit.

Claire Corrigan and Salim Rahim from Oldham Sixth-Form College have already scooped £4,000 for their quirky video on sociological theory featuring a Marxist rap and a functionalism hymn.

Students starred in the short film which also includes two feminism songs sung to Shania Twain’s “Man I Feel Like A Woman” and Dolly Parton’s “Nine to Five”.

It won £2,000 for the pair and £2,000 for the college after it was the most watched new clip in a month on the 02 Learn website.

Now it is one of eight finalists from more than 1,000 videos in the 02 Learn Awards, with judging split between an expert panel and a public vote.

Claire and Rahim stand to win £50,000 and £100,000 for the college if they win; £20,000 and £40,000 for the college for finishing second; or £10,000 and £20,000 for the college for taking third place. The results will be announced on October 14.

Claire said: “We’re extremely proud to have been short-listed with the students for the O2 Learn award and to have been involved in such a great project. The competition has got the students and even us teachers really excited. It will make a huge difference for the college if we win first prize, so fingers crossed.”

O2 Learn is an on-line classroom which encourages teachers to share posts of their best lessons and revision guides.

Creator Gav Thompson said: “O2 Learn celebrates the UK’s finest teachers and shares their great teaching with as many students as possible.

“The finalist videos are testament to the high quality, creative and innovative teaching that is happening in classrooms all over the country.

“We are delighted to have Claire and Salim on the short-list as their video was a great example of what can be achieved when some fresh thinking is applied to how a subject can be taught.”

To watch Sociology: A Music Revision Guide to Educational Theory and vote visit www.o2learn.co.uk