Blog posts in January 2011 
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Subject choice - are some subjects more equal than others?
Thursday 27 January 2011
Categories: Careers, School curriculum, Teenagers
The sudden introduction of the English Baccalaureate has brought into sharp focus the issue of which subjects pupils “ought” to study. In fact the E Bacc is not a new qualification but an umbrella ‘measure’introduced by the government to assess the performance of maintained schools and to make sure that all pupils study a broad and balanced curriculum at aged 16. This is a laudable aim, but the jury is still out on the details of the subjects included. Many teachers are concerned by...
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The importance of music and 'Glee' in schools!
Monday 24 January 2011
Categories: Arts education, Extra curricular, Role Models, School curriculum
The amazing popularity of the American hit series ‘Glee’ suggests one thing above all – that school music these days can be a far cry from the sometimes painful and often uninspiring lessons of days gone by. Despite the highly unlikely (and definitely lightweight!) plot, Glee showcases vibrant, get-up-and-dance musical numbers which are actually really good, and proof that choral work is much more than Bach and Vivaldi – not that one should underestimate the modern pulling power of...
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Exam worries...and how to 'write' them away
Monday 17 January 2011
It is disturbing, though unsurprising, that research among 2000 children aged from 8 to 17 showed that over half of them worry about their school work. Of course a little worry could be a good thing – it could ensure they take a serious approach to their study and focus at school rather than waste time. But another finding, that they feel pressure from home, is rather more concerning. Once again, this could be a good thing if this “pressure” is simply support and encouragement –...
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Kids under pressure!
Wednesday 12 January 2011
Categories: Growing up, Health, Media Influence
Are our children in crisis? Julie Etchingham on last week’s Tonight programme looks earnestly into camera and sombrely announces that in a recent Mumsnet survey commissioned by the programme, “One in four parents thinks that their children are less happy than they were at the same age….”
Am I alone in having the reaction that, if one in four parents believes this, then three out of four parents don’t? A very healthy 75% of the parents surveyed considered that their children were...
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The perils of 'extreme working'...
Monday 10 January 2011
Categories: Careers, Family Relationships, Role Models
For me, as a working mother whose job involves responsibility for the education of young women, the article in the Saturday magazine of The Times (We don’t know how she does it, Jan 1 – behind paywall) was a significant — make that an extreme — wake-up call. Are we seriously being invited to admire the lives of women such as Suzanne Heywood of McKinsey & Company who work 100 hours each week “across time zones” and whose entire lives are divided into 30-minute windows?
It is...
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Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!
Wednesday 5 January 2011
Categories: Extra curricular, Health, Parenting, Personal Safety
In a recent mumsnet survey about pressures on children today, 78% of respondents expressed their concern that children today don’t play outside enough. We all recognise the value of fresh air and exercise, so what do parents do if they see their children spending a vast amount of their leisure time virtually immobile in front of a television, computer screen or games console?
Think about the recent snow, and whether you encouraged your children to take advantage of the opportunity to...