THIS WEEK
1-7 DECEMBER 2012
SATURDAY
Page turners
Ready, steady, read! The Read for my School competition was launched today, backed by Booktrust and the Pearson Foundation. Participating children are urged to enjoy as many as possible from 90 suggested titles.
SUNDAY
Go ahead, kid, make my day
Evening, all. According to figures from the Howard League for Penal Reform, more than 2,100 children under the age of 11 were picked up by the long arm of the law in 2011 - an average of six a day.
MONDAY
Target the poor in early years
Funding for nursery education should be targeted at poorer children, said Ofsted’s national director of education Sue Gregory. She also wants people working in early years to be graduates and to be better paid.
TUESDAY
That’s just fine and dandy
Hey, dude. Paul McCartney fulfilled a childhood dream when he met one of his heroes - Desperate Dan. The former Beatle encountered the pie-eating cowboy in the final print edition of The Dandy, out today.
WEDNESDAY
I’ve started so i’ll finish
Test time for education secretary Michael Gove as he was quizzed by a Commons Select Committee. Specialist subject? His plan to replace GCSEs in English, maths and science with English Baccalaureate Certificates.
THURSDAY
Focus on special needs
There are 2 million UK children identified as having special educational needs (SEN). Delegates at the National SEN conference in London debated whether plans for a simpler system will improve their education.
FRIDAY
Not to be sniffed at
Fingers (and legs) crossed for the schools entered in the British Toilet Association’s 25th Loo of the Year awards in Birmingham tonight. The awards are given on the basis of 11 criteria including, cough, air quality.
NEXT WEEK
8-14 DECEMBER 2012
SATURDAY
And then there were three
Union J may be out but the show goes on. The X Factor final goes out live tonight, with three contestants, Christopher Maloney, Jahmene Douglas and James Arthur, left to battle it out. Winner announced on Sunday.
SUNDAY
Jiggle all the way
Ho, ho, ho! Santa-mania hits Greenwich in South London, with 3,000 runners expected to turn out in full costume for a 5km run in aid of charity. No reindeer-powered sledges allowed.
MONDAY
Wesolych Swiat!
Want to wish your friends in Poland, Canada or the US a happy Christmas? Best hurry up, then. Today is the deadline for sending festive cards to Eastern Europe and North America. Or just send an email.
TUESDAY
Where in the world are we?
League tables, part one for this week: international reports showing how countries perform in maths, English and science in Years 5 and 9 are due out today. Expect short odds on Finland and Singapore doing well.
WEDNESDAY
Joker in the pack
Fancy a laugh? The British Comedy Awards is on television. Last year Sarah Millican was the Queen of Comedy; this year Jack Whitehall, who won plaudits for his Bad Education series, is one of the nominees.
THURSDAY
More tables to pore over
League tables, part two. This time it’s the primary performance tables, showing how 16,000 schools in England compare in reading, writing and maths. You can’t work in education and not love a league table.
FRIDAY
A day to remember
Think you have a good memory? Prove it at the 20th World Memory Championships at Lilian Baylis Technology School in southeast London. Nearly 90 of the world’s top memorists, from 26 countries, will take part.
