THIS WEEK - 3-9 DECEMBER 2011
SATURDAY
LABOUR TAKES GAMBLE ON POLICY
Labour lent backing to proposals for children as young as 12 to be taught about gambling. Shadow education secretary Stephen Twigg said the Government should ensure the practice is discussed in PSHE.
SUNDAY
HAPPILY EVER AFTER?
Schools will be made to sign up to strict rules introduced by education secretary Michael Gove, setting out what pupils must learn about marriage, according to the Sunday Telegraph.
MONDAY
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
A child’s chances of attending a “satisfactory” school may depend on where they live, says think-tank RSA. Certain parts of England have higher proportions of satisfactory schools, apparently.
TUESDAY
HARDER TO GET A HEAD
Ministers announced that the National Professional Qualification for Headship will become non-mandatory but more demanding, to make it a mark of quality. The education world gasped in astonishment.
WEDNESDAY
TOWERING PISA LEANT ON
A report prepared by London’s Institute of Education throws into doubt many of the conclusions drawn from the comparison tables published by the Programme for International Student Assessment.
THURSDAY
ENGINEERING THE FUTURE
A report by Engineering UK suggests that by the time today’s primary school pupils are of working age, the UK will need over two million extra engineers to meet demand. Cue pictures of Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
FRIDAY
‘EVERYTHING IS FINE’ SHOCKER
The annual report by exam regulator Ofqual on national assessment arrangements is released today. Concluding that everything was pretty much in order, it won’t exactly set the world on fire.
NEXT WEEK 10-16 DECEMBER 2011
SATURDAY
MOTHERS OF INVENTION
The second day of the TES Resources Show London at the Business Design Centre in Islington. The exhibition will allow visitors to experiment with some of the most exciting classroom innovations around.
SUNDAY
WARM UP THE WIRELESS
Tune into Radio 3 at 8.30pm to hear the 1963 school drama Skyvers by celebrated playwright Barry Reckord. It follows a group of lads spending their last few days at a London sink comprehensive.
MONDAY
NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT
Just 11 shopping days ‘til Christmas - time to rush down to the shops after school and get some of those last-minute gifts. Watch out: many online stores are unlikely to deliver in time.
TUESDAY
DRUGS UNDER DEBATE
The Westminster Social Policy Forum will host a seminar - featuring Green MP Caroline Lucas - interrogating issues about drug misuse and what more can be done educationally to reduce the problem.
WEDNESDAY
NORWEGIAN BEATS POLE
It was today in 1911 that Norwegian Roald Amundsen became the first man to reach the South Pole, beating Robert Scott, who did it on 17 January 1912. Scott and his comrades died on their return journey.
THURSDAY
PRIMARIES KNOW THEIR PLACE
Like an early Christmas present for the teaching community, the league tables for every primary school in England will be published. Now don’t all whoop at once.
FRIDAY
ARE YOU HAVING FUN YET?
Schools break up for the festive holidays today for many teachers around the country. Somewhere in among the enormous sighs of relief, one can discern a squeal or two of joy.
