THIS WEEK
16-22 JUNE 2012
SATURDAY
Boarding is cool, yah
Upper-class heart-throb Ben Fogle attempted - and probably failed - to shatter “old-fashioned boarding school myths” addressing the Boarding Schools’ Association’s first Introduction to Boarding event in Nottingham.
SUNDAY
it’s all greek to us
The fiscal future of Europe was put in the hands of Greek voters in crunch elections, who voted for the pro-austerity party. But will the strategy save us from the brink? Consult the economics department for answers.
MONDAY
A breath of fresh air
Lawnmowers at the ready for the start of National School Grounds Week, designed to promote outdoor learning. About 8,000 schools and nurseries were expected to get involved in activities around a watery theme.
TUESDAY
Come and have a look
Urgent memo to Gove: teachers, parents and pupils at Downhills Primary in Haringey marched on the Department for Education, demanding the education secretary visit the school he plans to turn into an academy.
WEDNESDAY
More on boarding
The Assisted Boarding Network held its inaugural conference in London, urging councils to send at-risk children to boarding school. Despite countless initiatives, local authorities nearly always say no.
THURSDAY
Hats the way to improve ascot
Indecent skirt lengths and hatless heads were not tolerated at Ladies’ Day at Royal Ascot after a new dress code was launched. One wonders how this might go down in the sixth form.
FRIDAY
Body image pack launched
Home office minister Lynne Featherstone launches a pack for parents about body image issues. Rather like the campaign to get poor kids boarding, this one feels like trying to hold back the tides.
NEXT WEEK
23-29 JUNE 2012
SATURDAY
A hot edu-ticket
Glastonbury for teachers. Actor Dominic West and poet Roger McGough will speak at the huge Wellington College Festival of Education in Berkshire this weekend. Almost anyone who is anyone will be there.
SUNDAY
Dare we dream?
Just about the whole country will shout at the TV, drink too much and claim to understand the technicalities of Italian defending and Wazza’s hair implant as England take on the Azzurri in the quarter finals of the Euros.
MONDAY
There’s hope for us yet
Egg and spoon or strawberries and cream? National School Sport Week and Wimbledon kick off today. It seems apt that the campaign to inspire future sporting heroes begins after another likely day of dashed football dreams.
TUESDAY
ok, who threw that tomato?
Michelle Rhee, the feared former chief of Washington DC schools, will address The Spectator’s schools conference in London. Don’t expect NUT or NASUWT leaders to be cheerleading the hero of Waiting for Superman.
WEDNESDAY
Oars of fun
Jolly boating weather: the Henley Regatta will see Pimm’s drinkers out in force with their picnic baskets for this annual rowing extravaganza on the Thames. Secondary schools aplenty will perform.
THURSDAY
One way to see the olympics
Mind the gap: a new cable car across the Thames between Greenwich and the Royal Docks will be opened today. Oyster cards accepted. Fantastic material for physics, maths and geography teachers.
FRIDAY
Dig out the hammer trousers
Ever fancied wearing pyjamas to work? Wallace and Gromit’s Wrong Trousers Day aims to raise thousands for children’s hospitals and hospices by urging people to wear baggy or ill-fitting legwear.
