Small Schools Are Ahead in Graduation

This item may not have a place in this blog, but since it supports what I have maintained since the opening of Kidbrook Comprehensive School, that small(ish) is beautiful in schools, I indulge myself. It's from The New York Times. This is the beginning. Use the link for the rest.

Small Schools Are Ahead in Graduation

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New Education Secretary

The new Education Secretary seems to have a background in economics. The big question is whether he has the self-control to refrain from meddling in the education system. Let him imitate the House of Lords “in good King George's golden days” – let him that knoweth his G and S understand.
Profile: Ed Balls
Hélène MulhollandThursday [...]

Correspondence on Latin in worship

You might like to look at the Times correspondence on the return of the Latin Mass.
Having blogged quite a lot on this subjects I'm not sure there's much new to report, but …

Whiteboard projector safety fears

Common sense, really, like not staring at the sun, but I pass on this warning from the BBC:

Interactive whiteboards have been heralded as
devices that will enhance education and be a major plank in the
government's drive for new technology in schools.

But the BBC has learnt that while millions of pounds
have been spent on them, very [...]

Looking for a Latin Tutor for September 07

Email from Kimberley Crowley. If you can help her, please email direct at the address below.

I am not sure if you are able to help but I work at South Cheshire College and we are looking for a Latin Tutor who would be able to teach in the Crewe area starting in September.
The classes would [...]

Latin mottoes for Gordon Brown

To hear Peter Jones suggesting Latin mottoes for Gordon Brown on Radio 4 go to
Listen again
and choose today's (28th June) Today Programme 7.30 to 8 a.m. When it starts to play, go to exactly 10 minutes into the section.
Interestingly, Peter Jones (a vice president of ArLT) recommended the ArLT motto as his top choice for [...]

Gordon Brown's school motto

The Guardian confirms what I suspected, that Gordon Brown's school motto is in Latin, and he gave an English version in his first speech as PM:
Gordon Brown began his premiership by saying he would govern the
country according to the motto of his old school – “I will try my
utmost.”Kirkcaldy High School's motto is actually “Usque [...]

9-year-old doing sponsored Hadrian's Wall walk for charity

The website is here for a sponsored walk of Hadrian's Wall.
We can give through the Just Giving organisation here.
They have so far raised £520 towards their target of £3000.

'Exam qualifications worth less than they were' – Civitas report

The Guardian has a summary of a Civitas report, with link to the full report (pdf).
“Essentially a post-Blair A-level is worth a whole grade less than a pre-Blair A-level.”

Although many Classics teachers may feel that the standards required have indeed been dropping, it is important to make some allowance for the consistently hostile tone of [...]

Tougher GCSEs to be encouraged – but not Latin or Greek

If the government's intention is to encourage pupils to take academic GCSE subjects by including Science and Modern Languages in the league tables – as the shadow education minister commented:
“It will make it more difficult for schools to
artificially boost their league table positions by switching to softer
GCSE options at the expense of academic subjects that [...]