This week - 1-7 OCTOBER 2011
SATURDAY
ACADEMY GRACES FIRST PLACE
The Evelyn Grace Academy in Brixton, south London, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, won the #163;20,000 RIBA Stirling Prize. The school beat the favourite, the London 2012 Olympic velodrome, which came second.
SUNDAY
‘WORK TO RULE’ WARNING
Schools are likely to be disrupted by teachers working to rule in protest at government policies, the NASUWT general secretary told The Sunday Times. Chris Keates said teachers could refuse to cover for colleagues.
MONDAY
WOODHEAD’S VOCATION CALL
Former Ofsted chief inspector Chris Woodhead - not exactly the biggest admirer of state education - said kids should be able to pack in traditional schooling altogether at the age of 14 to focus on vocational skills.
TUESDAY
TORY TOUGH TALK
Michael Gove pleased the party faithful at the Conservative conference with talk of rigour and discipline. He also made a star of A-level student Quddus Akinwale, who spoke about how his school had been transformed.
WEDNESDAY
THE STRIKE BEFORE THE STRIKE
Schools across Wales closed as members of UCAC, the Welsh-language union, went on strike over changes to pensions. The action is a taste of what is to come with the TUC day of action planned for 30 November.
THURSDAY
CALIFORNIA NOT DREAMING
The world’s leading university rankings were published by Times Higher Education, revealing that the California Institute of Technology has knocked Harvard off the top spot. Oxford holds the top UK spot at fourth.
FRIDAY
HEADS HEAD BACK
Leading independent school heads pack their bags today as the annual conference of the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference ends. Chairman Ken Durham took exam boards to task for sloppy marking.
NEXT WEEK 8-14 OCTOBER 2011
SATURDAY
YOM KIPPUR MARKED
The holiest day of the Jewish calendar, Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement, is marked today. Jews typically observe the day with a 25-hour fast and prayer.
SUNDAY
CEMENTING REPUTATIONS
The 2011 “skills Olympics”, otherwise known as WorldSkills, draws to a close in London. Champion bricklayers, plumbers and joiners will all be walking away with their medals hung proudly round their necks.
MONDAY
THEY SPEAK AS HE FINDS
BBC business editor Robert Peston launches his charity to get inspirational figures to talk to pupils. Speakers for Schools has already signed up famous faces from politics, finance and showbiz.
TUESDAY
THROWING THE BOOK AT IT
The Battle of Ideas festival hosts the event “Dangerous books for boys? The literacy debate”. It will explore the reasons why many young boys shun reading and ask what can be done to solve the problem.
WEDNESDAY
PRIDE, NOT PREJUDICE
Coming Out Day is designed to raise awareness and support for gay rights. The event began in America but is now celebrated internationally, with participants urged to wear “pride” symbols.
THURSDAY
THEY THINK ENGLISH IS ALL OVER
English Language Day will be marked to celebrate the survival and development of English. This year’s theme is the language of sport and how it is used in everyday speech.
FRIDAY
SEN IDEAS ON SHOW
The TES Special Educational Needs Show, the world’s largest gathering of SEN professionals, opens today. The event at the Business Design Centre in north London features an extensive range of seminars.
