MARCH 19 HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY HEADTEACHERS Inaugural conference at The Anvil, Basingstoke. Speaker: Professor Michael Barber, director, standards and effectiveness unit, Department for Education and Employment. Fee: Pounds 25. Details: Jane Barrett, 01703 292453.

MARCH 19 CHILDREN WHO CHALLENGE:CONSTRUCTIVE COLLABORATION BETWEEN COMMUNITY AND SCHOOL Organised by National Children’s Bureau at the Royal Horticultural Society Conference Centre, London SW1. Speaker: David Blunkett, Secretary of State for Education and Employment. It will spotlight the new behaviour support plans and how they complement children’s support plans and youth justice plans. Education professionals and school governors welcome. Fee: Pounds 105.75-Pounds 170.38. Details: 0171 843 604241.

MARCH 20-21 CURRENT ISSUES IN PRIMARY TEACHER EDUCATION Organised by National Primary Teacher Education Conference at St Hugh’s College, Oxford. Speakers include: Margaret Hodge MP on current policies and developments; Professor Colin Richards on implications for teachers and teacher educators of neo-elementary schooling; and Roy Richardson on the National Numeracy Project. Fee: Pounds 125. Details: Mike Archer, Manchester Metropolitan University, 0161 247 2377.

MARCH 20-22 MEDIA 98 Organised by and held at the Institute of Education, 20 Bedford Way, London WC1. Teachers, academics and students welcome. Topics include: media education from primary to higher education; media and cultural studies; and new and advanced communications technologies. Fee: Pounds 150, Pounds 100 concessions. Details: Cathy Bird, 0171 612 6017; e-mail: c.bird@ioe.ac.uk; Website: http:www.ioe.ac.uk media98 MARCH 20-22 SECONDARY GEOGRAPHY: UPDATING ACROSS THE 11-19 CURRICULUM Teachers’ conference organised by the Royal Geographical Society at Burwalls House, Bristol University, Bridge Road, Leigh Woods. It will comprise in-depth sessions, workshops and field trips to Bristol Docks’ harbourside development and to see upland basin hydrological techniques in Burrington Coombe, Mendip Hills. Fee: Pounds 50 residential. Details: Alison Glazebrook, 0171 591 3006; e-mail: a.glazebrook@rgs.org MARCH 21 NON-FICTION: THE CINDERELLA OF CHILDREN’S BOOKS?

Organised by the English Association at University College of Ripon and York St John, York. Speakers include: Gill Matthews, National Literacy Project consultant, on using non-fiction texts in the literacy hour; and Margaret Mallett, primary English co-ordinator, Goldsmiths’ College, on words, pictures and diagrams. Fee: Pounds 40. Details: Helen Lucas, 0116 252 3982.

MARCH 21 EXCELLENCE IN THE EARLY YEARS Presentation at Pen Green Centre, Corby, Northamptonshire, of the services offered by the seven pioneer Early Excellence Centres. Speakers include: Estelle Morris, education junior minister, and Dr Martin Bradley, HMI, Office for Standards in Education. Fee: Pounds 120. Details: Margy Whalley, 01536 400068.

MARCH 21 MATHS AND DYSLEXICS Organised by Optimist Educational Consultants at the Stakis Hotel, York. It will be led by Anne Henderson, teacher of maths to dyslexic boys aged seven to 19 at St David’s College, Llandudno, who has written extensively on the subject. Fee: Pounds 55. Details: Janet Gayler 01322 865116 (telfax).