THIS WEEK - 17-23 NOVEMBER 2012
SATURDAY
HOW IRRITATING
Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw told the London Festival of Education that heads should “stop moaning” and “grasp the nettle”. Would it be a breath of fresh air if chief inspectors also saw the bright side?
SUNDAY
A PICTURE OF INNOCENCE
The head of the elite HMC group of top independent schools, Chris Ray, said that private schools were subject to “wilful mischaracterisation” and “demonised” by political leaders. They’ll get over it.
MONDAY
MIDDLE OF THE ROAD
The Confederation of British Industry, which always has plenty to say on education, said the country was being failed by “a cult of the average”. Schools fail to stretch the best but leave underachievers trailing, they said.
TUESDAY
FOR THE LOVE OF BOOKS
Bookworms grab your reading glasses: the shortlists for the Costa Book Awards 2012 were announced. Prizes are on offer for best novel, first novel, biography, poetry and children’s book.
WEDNESDAY
BE THERE OR BE SQUARE
If Ed Miliband can do it, so can Year 6. A whopping 2,500 schoolchildren attempted to break the world record for the largest number of people solving the Rubik’s cube at the same time. Just don’t ask a teacher for help.
THURSDAY
THESE ARE OUR SALAD DAYS
Drinking all night, sleeping all day? The Enhancing the Student Experience 2012 event took place in London, in which university chiefs discussed how to live up to students’ rising expectations.
FRIDAY
TOWERING ACHIEVEMENT
There were sniggers when Mohamed Al Fayed erected a statue of Michael Jackson outside Fulham FC. But Manchester United will hope to avoid such ignominy when it unveils a statue of manager Alex Ferguson.
NEXT WEEK - 24-30 NOVEMBER 2012
SATURDAY
CABINET OF CURIOSITY
If you find a trip to Ikea overwhelming, why not pay a visit to the Kensington Dolls House Festival in London? All that teeny-weeny furniture is a wonderful distraction from flatpack assembly.
SUNDAY
EAT, DRINK, BUT DON’T BE MERRY
Today marks the end of Alcohol Awareness Week, but most teachers are already well aware of its qualities. It is also the final day of National Eating Out Week, if you need an excuse to indulge yourself.
MONDAY
ACCESS ALL AREAS
Professor Les Ebdon, head of university access watchdog Offa, and social mobility tsar Alan Milburn will speak at the Westminster Forum on fair access to Britain’s universities.
TUESDAY
MAKE MATHS COUNT
If maths was a turn-off at school, perhaps The Royal Society of Arts could convince you otherwise with its debate “How Maths Illuminates Our Lives”. Presumably not like this: a2cos(ax)+b2cos(bx)=c.
WEDNESDAY
A VERY BRITISH PROTEST
Professor Stephen Graham of Newcastle University is due to appear in court after allegedly scratching graffiti into 24 expensive cars in Jesmond, Newcastle. Slogans included “arbitrary”, “very silly” and “really wrong”.
THURSDAY
TOO MANY NUMBERS?
It’s quite a week for mathematics. Right-wing thinktank Politeia will debate “A New Primary Mathematics Curriculum”. Professor David Burghes will discuss the problems with the present system.
FRIDAY
ANYONE FOR QUIDDITCH?
Yes, it’s time for the annual Eton Wall Game, where goals are so rare one was last scored in 1909. Scholars and ordinary pupils play each other against a slightly curved brick wall. What ho!
