SPARK: PLAYING,MAKING, LEARNING

Organised by and held at West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds, to examine after-school provision. Associated with the Playhouse’s own initiative SPARK (Sports and Arts towards Knowledge) and sponsored by Provident Financial. Key speaker: David Blunkett, Education and Employment Secretary, on how the Government’s vision for post-school activity fits in with citizenship and lifelong learning ideas. Other speakers include Jude Kelly, Playhouse artistic director. Details: 0113 213 7800.

MAY 17

GNVQs INTO WORK: EDUCATION FOR EMPLOYABILITY

Organised by the Further Education Development Agency and National Training Organisation’s national council at Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, London SW1. Key speaker: Baroness Blackstone, minister of state for education. Fee: pound;164.50. Details: Claire Anderton, 0114 261 9926.

MAY 20; JUNE 23

INSPECTING FOR EXCELLENCE

Organised by Early-Years Trainers’ Anti-Racist Network at St Thomas Centre, Manchester, and the London Voluntary Sector Resource Centre, Holloway Road, N7, respectively. Issues around inspections of early years settings and racial equality will be explored. Fee: pound;85, pound;65 members (includes booklet of same title). Details: 0151 639 6136.

Events UNTIL JUNE 12

THESEUS AND THE MINOTAUR

Guest director David Glass’s “thrilling” production about Theseus’s confrontation with thedreadful monster - half-man, half-bull - which lurks deep in the mysterious labyrinth of Knossos in Crete is being performed by the Polka Theatre for Children using a comic combination of verse storytelling,mime, percussion and magical tricks. Suitable for eight to 13-year-olds. Venue: 240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London SW9. School performances available; teachers’ preview, May 6, 7pm. Details: 0181 543 4888.

UNTIL JUNE 27

BIRTH OF THE COOL

David Bailey’s dynamic career from 1957-1969 is charted in this exhibition of more than 200 photographs at the Barbican Centre, London EC2. It includes fashion and portrait shots of models Jean Shrimpton and Sue Murray, musicians such asLennon and McCartney, and actors Michael Caine and Catherine Deneuve. Associated events include David Bailey in conversation with filmmaker David Puttnam, May 24, 6.45pm at Barbican Hall (tickets pound;10, pound;7 reductions). Details: 0171 638 8891.

MAY 5

CHORAL SOCIETY CONCERT

Wolverhampton Grammar School’s annual concert will be held at St John’s in the Square, Wolverhampton, 7.30pm. It features Rumina Onac, aged 17, as the soloist in Rachmaninov’s Second Piano Concerto, and Brahms’ A German Requiem with soloists Michael George and Julie Kennard. Tickets: pound;5, pound;3 concessions, children under 11 free. Details: 01902 421326.

MAY 6,13 AND 20

FREE CROMWELL LECTURES

The National Army Museum in Chelsea, London SW3, is marking the 400th anniversary of Oliver Cromwell’s birth with lunchtime talks (1.15pm start). Respective titles are: “Roundhead and Cavalier: myths of the Civil War”; “Oliver Cromwell, warts and all”; and “Oliver’s Army: Cromwell, Fairfax and the New Model Army”. Details: 0171 730 0717.

MAY 20-21

USING NLP WITH PEOPLEWITH AUTISM

Bill Goodyear, director of BBi Training, will present this course on neurolinguistic programming at the Centre for Urban Learning, London. Fee: pound;206. Details: 0181 698 1988 (quote reference BBi101).