After 20 years the National Curriculum is still evolving. News of the mounting stress levels affecting teachers through continuing changes to the curriculum, teaching systems and procedures emerge daily. As the performance of a school is scrutinised to such an extent statistics tend to be massaged to present a far rosier position than reality. […]

By Patrick Murphy, news desk chief of the Columbus Telegram USA
You never really stop going to school until your kids graduate. I never realized that until I had children. I used to think school ended when I graduated.
In some ways, being a student was the easy part. Going to school can be less nerve-racking […]

Do your homework before you go out; watch the telly; go to the cinema! The cry of many a parent anxious that their children do well at school, and yet the well intentioned advice is said at arms length. When the child was younger the parents took a hands-on role to support, guide and reinforce […]

As a registered customer I’d really like to enter birthday dates for my nephews and nieces and have reminders sent a month in advance with product ideas. What do others think? Richard Castle, Melbourne

Claims that around £20bn of electronic toys bought last Christmas are now fast approaching their demise perhaps comes as a shock. Nothing to do with flat batteries; interest in the toys is waning and unless the functionality can be upgraded the spent carcass is already destined for the cupboard, loft or recycling.
A better objective involves […]

Homework can be a bit boring! Using text and exercise books is not necessarily the most inspiring process and tends to exclude effective parental support. Yet the lack of their involvement in the work at home process is a huge missed opportunity !
A recent survey of teachers showed an overwhelming desire to involve parents in […]

Professor Gervase Phinn is a retired school inspector who has become a best-selling author. His forthright views on the current trials and tribulations of the teaching profession appeared in the Yorkshire Post 13 January 2007
TEACHERS returned to school this term to learn that the Government has commissioned a report calling for a major overhaul of […]