THIS WEEK - 30 JUNE-6 JULY 2012
SATURDAY
GOT A LIKING FOR LYCRA?
Bicycle clips on and maps out, the Tour de France pushed off. In Belgium. Somebody call a geography teacher. Britain’s Bradley Wiggins was doing well after a bottom-chafing first stage, and was one of the favourites to win.
SUNDAY
SELDON HAVE I BEEN SO FRUSTRATED
Dr Anthony Seldon accused independent schools of losing their “moral compass”. Trying to get other schools to sponsor academies had been his “most frustrating challenge”, said Wellington College’s master.
MONDAY
TAKE US TO YOUR TEACHER
Little green men may not be the stuff of fantasy after all. World UFO Day, held on the anniversary of the infamous Roswell incident, offered an opportunity to discuss the possibility of life beyond our planet.
TUESDAY
A SCILLY BUSINESS FOR ROYALS
Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall flew to the Scilly Isles to open the new #163;14 million Five Islands School. The school was built on land formerly owned by the Duchy of Cornwall. Pricey organic biscuit, anyone?
WEDNESDAY
UNIVERSITY OUTREACH INCREASES
Universities are shelling out more than ever to encourage poorer people and minority groups to attend. The Office for Fair Access said spending on “outreach” activities rose last year from #163;39.6 million to #163;45.7 million.
THURSDAY
FASTER, HIGHER, MORE SCIENTIFIC
It’s the closing day of the Olympics. No, not those Olympics, but the Science Olympiad at the University of East Anglia. About 800 pupils from Norfolk and Suffolk took part in scientific challenges this week.
FRIDAY
GONGS AND GOWNS
The champagne is on ice and the chalk dust is being brushed from the ballgowns. Yes, it’s the TES Schools Awards. Education’s finest prepare for a glittering ceremony rewarding the schools of the year.
NEXT WEEK - 7-13 JULY 2012
SATURDAY
LOOK OUT, IT’S A STAMPEDE!
It’s the original extreme sport. No, not bungee jumping, but trying to outrun a load of bulls stampeding through narrow cobbled streets. What fun! Today is the first day of the annual tradition in Pamplona, Spain.
SUNDAY
MAKING A RACQUET IN SW19
The retractable roof is oiled and the rackets have been siliconed for extra spin, but will the men’s Wimbledon final see the Scots celebrating an Andy Murray win? At the time of going to print it was a possibility ...
MONDAY
DEGREES OF CHANGE?
University applications body Ucas is due to release figures on how many people have applied to undergraduate degree courses this year. Will numbers be down in the face of #163;9,000 fees at the majority of universities?
TUESDAY
PLUSES AND MINUSES DEBATED
Show your working: it’s the annual conference of the Advisory Committee on Mathematics Education. The new curriculum will be one of the hot topics. Will the ideas multiply, or will delegates be divided?
WEDNESDAY
ONE GIANT LEAP FOR TV
Physics teachers, don’t despair: it’s 50 years to the day that the first transatlantic TV transmission was sent through the Telstar I satellite. Those aliens have been interfering with the signal ever since.
THURSDAY
A LESS BUMPY RIDE
Saturday jobs are falling out of fashion and the number of Neets is spiralling, so the Institute for Public Policy Research is hosting a debate that will ask what can be done to ease the transition from school to work.
FRIDAY
A DOCTOR FOR THE TROTTERS
Footballer Fabrice Muamba will receive a doctorate from the University of Bolton. The Bolton Wanderers player, who had a cardiac arrest earlier this year, has A levels in maths, French and English and a love of opera.
