HOW TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE MOST ABLE AND SATISFY OFSTED REQUIREMENTS

Residential conference organised by Stands for Education at a London venue. Speakers include: Charlotte Atkins MP, member of the House of Commons Select Committee, and Professor Joan Freeman, author of the Office for Standards in Education report on “Educating the very able”. Fee: pound;345 plus VAT. Details: Simon Blacksell, 0117 983 8800.

MARCH 5-7

CULTURE WARS: DUMBINGDOWN, WISING UP?

Organised by LM Magazine at Riverside Studios, Crisp Road, Hammersmith, London W6, to discuss standards in the arts, education and the media. Sessions include: Melanie Phillips, journalist and author of All Must Have Prizes, debating literacy with headteacher Ruth Miskin among others; and a panel on “The idea of the university” chaired by Laurie Taylor of BBC Radio 4 and including Professor Alan Smithers, Liverpool University. Session tickets cost pound;3-pound;7; a day pass is pound;20pound;25. Details: 0171 269 9220; ticket office: 0181 237 1111.

MARCH 6

MAKING OUR SCHOOLS FAIR

Organised by Campaign for State Education at Birmingham Council House, Centenary Square, Birmingham. Eric Wood, chief education officer, Warwickshire, on how the funding system is unfair to some local education authorities, and Paul Sykes, director, Centre for the Study of Comprehensive Schools, will discuss “unfairness through selection”. Fee: pound;35, pound;15 members and subscribers to Parents and Schools. Details: 0181 944 8206 (telfax).

MARCH 6

NLP IN EDUCATION: REDISCOVER THE JOYS OF LEARNING AND TEACHING

Organised by Neuro Linguistic Programming Education Network at Hertfordshire Education Services Conference Centre, Wheathampstead. Fee: pound;65. The Network is also running workshops on “NLP and learning disorders”, March 7, at Oaklands College, St Albans, Hertfordshire (pound;75); “Rediscover the joys of learning”, March 9-10, at All Saints Pastoral Centre, London Colney, Hertfordshire (pound;150); and, for families, “NLP and attention deficit disorder”, March 13, at The Education Centre, Queens Road, Walthamstow, London E17 (pound;20 individuals, pound;30 families). Details: 01727 869782.

MARCH 10

PSYCHOLOGY 2000

Organised by and held at De Montfort University, Milton Keynes, to examine psychology in the 21st century. It is aimed at A-level, further education and access students. Speakers include: Paul Humphries, chief examiner, Association Examining Board A-level psychology 1992-97; and Dr Guy Cumberbatch, head of psychology, University College, Worcester. Fee: pound;15. Details: Sue Colledge, 0116 2577354.

MARCH 13

LEADING SCHOOLS INTOTHE MILLENNIUM

Annual meeting and conference organised by the British Educational Management and Administration Society at Friends House, Euston Road, London NW1, 10.15am-12.30pm. Speakers: Dame Patricia Collarbone, director, London Leadership Centre, Institute of Education; and Dame Tamsyn Imison, head, Hampstead Comprehensive School. Fee: pound;10, pound;7.50 members. Details: Neil Herrington, chair, BEMAS South East, 0181 554 6176.

MARCH 21-25

SPEECH AND LANGUAGE IMPAIRMENTS: THEORY TO PRACTICE

International symposium organised by AFASIC (unlocking speech and language) at York University. Fee: pound;320-pound;410 residential; pound;110-pound;225 non-res; day rates available. Details: Carol Lingwood, 01273 381009.