Category Archives: Education

Why Unicorns Aren’t the Answer

Posted on December 15, 2020 by Athene Donald

I’ve railed against pinkification, and the ‘gift of pink’ in the past – especially at this time of year when presents, notably toys and clothes, are to the fore for Christmas purchase. I hadn’t realised that books, too, come with … Continue reading →

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Investing in Education and the Levelling Up Agenda

Posted on August 31, 2020 by Athene Donald

Early years provision has suffered during austerity, and is continuing to see cutbacks, as Polly Toynbee pointed out last week. Yet children who fall behind at the outset of their education will find it very difficult to catch up later. … Continue reading →

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Reflections on a Mad Week in Higher Education

Posted on August 20, 2020 by Athene Donald

Readers from the UK can hardly fail to have noticed the confusion across the HE sector caused by last week’s A level ‘results’.  I recall how many people had been voicing fears during the past months that the disadvantaged would … Continue reading →

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Uncertain Times

Posted on July 21, 2020 by Athene Donald

We live currently in a world of great and sometimes terrifying strangeness, where the rules and customs by which we have lived for so long have been turned upside down. Some people may be focussing on whether they need to … Continue reading →

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Echoes Down the Years of Education in a Pandemic

Posted on June 18, 2020 by Athene Donald

Recently, the Prime Minister announced an ‘apprentice guarantee’ saying ‘I think it’s going to be vital that we guarantee apprenticeships’.  Sounds good. How should that be translated into practice? Certainly, at the moment apprentices are having a tough time of … Continue reading →

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