NOVEMBER 29 INCLUDING THE CARIBBEAN Organised by Caribbean Focus Project at Professional Centre, Franciscan Road, London SW17. There will be talks on Caribbean literature, culture, gender and literacy; music; dance; and performance poetry and readings by such writers as Alex Pascall and Abdul Malik. Workshops include: Jamaican key stage 2-3 geography; carnival in the curriculum; history of Caribbeans in Britain; and African and Caribbean stories. Fee: Pounds 65, Pounds 55 Wandsworth teachers, Pounds 25 concessions. Details: 0181 767 7526.

DECEMBER 2 FACING THE FUTURE:INCREASING PROFILE AND ACHIEVEMENT FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS Organised by Marketing Direction at Birmingham and Midland Institute, Birmingham, to respond to the results of a national survey into the marketing activities of secondary schools. Speaker: Maggie Farrar, principal, University of the First Age. Fee: Pounds 100. Details: 0151 342 6482.

DECEMBER 6-8 TEACHERS’ LIVES: TRAINING AND CAREERS IN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE Organised by History of Education Society at Homerton College, Cambridge. Speakers from Europe, UK and USA will cover such topics as “Scotland: a half-educated nation?”; “Oral history: American teachers and a social history of schooling”; “The emergency training scheme 1945-52: a revisionist view”; and “Social characteristics of Belgian teachers in the 20th century”. Fee: Pounds 146, Pounds 138 members; non-residential and day rates available. Details: Dr Peter Cunningham, 01223 335997.

DECEMBER 7 LESBIAN AND GAY EQUALITY IN EDUCATION Organised by National Union of Teachers at Birmingham Council House. Speakers include: Sarah Cundy, Cambridge University, on growing up lesbian and gay; and Ian Rivers, Luton University, on the bullying of lesbian and gay teenagers in schools. Fee: Pounds 25-Pounds 60 (banded). Details: Ruth Blunt, 0171 380 4721.