THIS WEEK
22-28 SEPTEMBER 2012SATURDAY
Oh, no, he didn’t!
He’s behind you: Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw added to his pantomime villain persona by suggesting that teachers who are “out of the gate at 3pm” shouldn’t qualify for a pay rise. Boo, hiss, said the unions.
SUNDAY
Know your bass from your oboe
Cellist Julian Lloyd Webber, brother of Andrew, warned that the introduction of the EBac could spell curtains for music education. Talented kids may not even touch an instrument if music is neglected, he said.
MONDAY
Help on safeguarding
Confused about child protection law? Help came today from Maggie Atkinson, the Children’s Commissioner, who released a guide for primary schools on keeping pupils safe, and when to intervene in their care.
TUESDAY
University opens to a shelling
You can’t open an expensive university without breaking eggs: anti-tuition fee protesters threw them as A.C. Grayling’s New College of the Humanities - cost: #163;18,000 a year - opened in London.
WEDNESDAY
For the love of languages
Guten Tag, mon ami, it’s European Day of Languages. Schools are urged to celebrate the diversity of languages across the continent, from the terrifying case system of Finnish to the crunching consonants of Polish.
THURSDAY
The price is right?
It’s difficult to measure, but someone’s got to do it. Right-wing thinktank Reform is hosting a conference on value for money in education. Schools minister Jonathan Hill will attend the free-market shindig.
FRIDAY
A blaze of glory
The TES minority sports database reveals the British Musical Fireworks Championships starts today. Professional pyrotechnic teams will go all out in Southport, Merseyside. Let’s hope the event goes with a bang.
NEXT WEEK
29 SEPTEMBER - 5 OCTOBER 2012
SATURDAY
English heritage
Campaign group Looking for the Heart of English meets to discuss the draft primary curriculum. Sir Michael Boyd, formerly of the Royal Shakespeare Company, has contributed a paper on cultural visits.
SUNDAY
Painting manchester red
Shadow education secretary Stephen Twigg is the man to watch as the Labour Party conference begins in Manchester. But as the Prosecco flows and the economy hogs the limelight, will schools get any airtime?
MONDAY
Young readers’ chance to shine
Prose means prizes for the 10- and 11-year-olds taking part in a new national schools reading competition, which is launched today at the Bath Festival of Children’s Literature.
TUESDAY
Independent heads gather
Heads of some of the country’s top-flight private schools will meet in Belfast for the annual gathering of the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference. Expect talk of how independents can aid social mobility.
WEDNESDAY
Action! (short of a strike)
It’s a day of industrial action for members of teaching unions the NUT and the NASUWT. But just what will “action short of strike action” amount to? Winding up Sir Michael Wilshaw by leaving at 3.20pm?
THURSDAY
Ode to final lesson year 9
OK, stanza mechanics, get your iambic pentameters out: it’s National Poetry Day and verse will be tumbling from even the most prosaic teachers’ lips. The theme this year is “stars”..
FRIDAY
The spy who loved school
If you forget the sexism and violence, Global James Bond Day is well worth marking with a themed lesson. The celebration of 007 is to be held on the 50th anniversary of the release of Dr No, the first ever Bond film.
