Some speakers prefer the biggest round of applause at the end of their speech. But in Jack Jackson’s case, he was prepared to make an exception at the recent science education national conference.
The reason for the day’s biggest cheer, just after Jackson had opened his address on the future of science education, was news of a birth, er, on the way to Perth.
The assistant chief HMI was clearly delighted to announce that he had just become a grandfather, and had heard the news from TES Scotland columnist (and headteacher wife) Sheilah on his mobile phone as he drove north.
It was all hands-free, of course, he assured his audience (the mobile phone call, we hasten to add, not the birth).