“Why Old English?” is a sixth form study day at Manchester University (Oxford Road) on October 16, presented by the Manchester Centre for Anglo-Saxon Studies, and The Teachers of Old English in Britain and Ireland. Topics will include Anglo-Saxon in the 21st century: The Lord of the Rings and its ancestry; The Sutton Hoo ship burial, and why read the text in the original language? For further details contact Dr G R Owen-Crocker.Fee: pound;12

Tel: 0161 275 2000 Email: groc@man.ac.uk

The English Association is holding a conference on “Media in Secondary English” on October 12. It will focus on film as an aid in teaching literature, and the use of CD-Roms and broadband. EA, University Road, Leicester University LE1 7RH.

Tel: 0116 252 3982

Email: engassoc@le.ac.uk

www.le.ac.ukengassoc

The National Association for the Teaching of English is holding a conference on English at key stage 3. Workshops will include: the grammar of non-fiction texts; guided reading and the novel; ICT, language and literature, and literacy through drama at Whirlow Grange Conference Centre, Sheffield, on October 4. Key speaker will be Michael Jones, who is English regional director of KS3 National Strategy. Other NATE courses include ICT (November 11), drama (November 28) and special needs (November 30).

Fee: pound;100; pound;80 members

Tel: 0114 255 5419

www.nate.org.uk

“Every child is special” is the theme of Reading University’s Reading and Language Information Centre annual conference. Sessions will consider the literacy needs of all learners, from both mainstream and special schools. Fee: pound;75. Other RALIC courses include “Texts for teaching literacy”, November 13-14, fee pound;150, and “Boys and reading”, October 23, fee pound;65. The centre also offers inset days to suit individual schools’

needs. There will also be a teachers’ day during Children’s Book Week, “What to do with a book”, fee pound;10; members free. RALIC, Reading University, Bulmershe Court, Earley, Reading RG6 1HY.

Tel: 0118 931 8820