THIS WEEK
28 APRIL - 4 MAY 2012
SATURDAY
Is that tax deductible?
Lincolnshire academy federation head Richard Gilliland used his work credit card to pay for sex games and renovations to a flat in what the government described as “serious failings”, it emerged.
SUNDAY
Dumbing down condemned
The Sunday Telegraph sparked a week of “dumbing down” stories after the chief executive of Ofqual, Glenys Stacey, told the paper that the value of exams had been undermined by “persistent grade inflation”.
MONDAY
Solar flair
Want cheap electricity? Like community involvement? Then apply to join Solar Schools, an initiative rolled out nationally at the start of the week, which aims to develop crowd-funding for school solar panels.
TUESDAY
A taste of teaching
Sixth-formers should be given work experience teaching younger pupils to see if they’re cut out for a career in the classroom, MPs said. A taste of trying to control Year 7s should get them running back for more, right?
WEDNESDAY
Get Girls on the go
Female-friendly fitness classes are the order of the day to get more girls doing sport, a report said. Apparently, it’s time to forget “1950s jolly hockey sticks” and offer Zumba and Rollerblading instead.
THURSDAY
Vote-worthy
Ballot papers were at the ready for local elections across the country to determine local authority and mayoral jobs. In London, it was a case of deja vu with a rerun of Boris vs Ken, but very little edu-debate.
FRIDAY
‘Tis the season to be unionised
A long weekend in the run-up to summer can only mean one thing: a teaching conference. Starting today, it’s the turn of the NAHT heads’ union, which will meet in Harrogate to put the education world to rights.
NEXT WEEK
5-11 MAY 2012
SATURDAY
Celebrate A proud institution
Dust down the bunting - it’s Europe Day. Time to get the politics department to mark Europe’s greatness (what eurozone crisis?) ahead of the imminent elevation of President Hollande of France.
SUNDAY
On your marks, get set, go
Running spikes and vests abound as the starting pistol is fired for the 2012 School Games. The four-day jamboree is the last test event to be held at the Olympic Park before London 2012 begins in July.
MONDAY
Relaxation Rained off
A nation rests. The May Day bank holiday should be the perfect opportunity to dust off the barbecue, but with the “drought” the way it is, it may be an idea to make other plans.
TUESDAY
A wizarding honour
Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling will be granted the Freedom of the City of London for services to children’s literature. The writer has sold an estimated 450 million copies of her books around the world.
WEDNESDAY
Own a famous face
If you’ve ever wanted Tracey Emin’s face on your wall, here’s your chance. Hers is one of many celebrity self-portraits donated for an auction to raise money for the Prince’s Foundation for Children and the Arts.
THURSDAY
Splash the cash
Events linked to schools rarely get the paparazzi excited, but the annual Ark gala dinner in London is a spectacle that attracts celebrities and hedge-fund types to raise cash for the charity and academy sponsor.
FRIDAY
Murder in the house
The 200th anniversary of the assassination of prime minister Spencer Perceval. The only UK PM to be killed in this way was shot by John Bellingham, a merchant bitter at having been unjustly imprisoned in Russia.
