Dear Mr Cameron, Nicky Morgan, the Education Secretary, has written me to ask for my support. Her letter begins, “Every parent wants their child to have the best start in life.” She goes on to set out her expectations of teachers and schools then asks me to support, “our plans to build a Britain that …
Letter to Mr Cameron – expectations of schools but not of parents Read More »
Surprised? Successful schools would mean one less area of our lives for politicians to use for their own purposes – look, boys and girls, we are doing something for you. Surprised – having learnt just a few months ago that Margaret Thatcher introduced the GCSE, which she considered inferior to O-levels, knowing that to do …
Reported in the national press last week – primary schools are facing a shortage of new teachers. But don’t these trainees have first to gain a “C” grade at GCSE? So, what is going on? Did I say GCSE? GCSE paper instructions – You have two hours to write your essay. Remember to take care …
Senior doctors seek a ban on cheap alcohol. (Times, Jan 12th) Alcohol-related matters account for 20% of A and E patients, rising to 80% at weekends. Why don’t A and E staff insist that drunkards wait away from other patients and be called for treatment once they were sober or when the doctors were free. …
No photos of the Prophet. No pictures of him from the life. So how does anyone know? If they are trying to wind you up and you react – they have won. Ignore them and they fail.
It is one thing to report something with words. It is another thing to show a picture of contentious matter, especially when to do so is to connive in manipulation of the media. Why did the BBC show us the video last night (Sunday January 11th 2015) of an interview with one of the Paris …
BBC Television news – a terrorist’s messanger-boy Read More »
I had arranged a theatre visit for my sixth-formers, Shakespeare, up in town. At the end of school there was a parent to see me. Mr Khan strode across the car park with his son and his daughter in tow, stretched out his hand and greeted me with a smile and a polite, “How are …
Perhaps it’s no bad thing that the private company that is responsible for Hinchingbrooke Hospital is abandoning the NHS trust for which it is responsible, but who will care in the place of Circle Holdings? Medics, the people who actually treat patients, who cannot run away. They have to stay put until it is safe …
Private healthcare contractractor abandons trust Read More »
At a friend’s birthday party, in a hurry, first door on the right, back to the celebrations but no, I should have taken the second door. So it was I met the lady. She had unlocked the door and was drying her hands when I burst in. There followed fluster and apologies and then where …
Next year all young people will have to remain in education, full or part time, until the age of 18. Clearly they are not regarded as adult for they will be expected to accept direction from others. They will not be allowed to enter into employment on the basis of an independent agreement with an …
Cameron lowering voting age and raising school leaving age Read More »
