Branwen Jeffreys Published 11 December 2015 Share close Share page Copy link About sharing The chief inspector of schools has never been afraid of controversy, and with this latest intervention against unregistered schools he is firmly stepping into the debate about how and where people can choose to educate their children. It is perfectly legal to choose to educate your children at home, and if you do make that choice there is no obligation to follow a particular curriculum. It is also perfectly legal to run a part-time tuition centre to offer additional teaching and support to children who are home-educated. And if your part-time education centre teaches children for fewer than 20 hours a week there are remarkably few obligations. You don't have to register with the authorities or be open to inspection, unlike a private fee-paying school. This has created a grey … [Read more...] about Ofsted steps into debate over parents’ right to choose education
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Denise Van Outen goes Instagram official with new man in cute couple selfie
Denise Van Outen has gone Instagram official with her new beau, eight months after her heartbreaking split from her cheating ex fiance Eddie Boxshall . The Celebrity Gogglebox star, 48, went public with property developer Jimmy Barba at the 12th annual Grand Prix Ball on Wednesday (June 29) after the pair were reportedly set up by their mutual pal, All Saints singer Shaznay Lewis . Taking to social media the next morning, the mum-of-one was flooded with supportive comments from celebrity pals and fans as she introduced her new boyfriend to her 667,000 Instagram followers. In the collection of shots, Denise can be seen beaming alongside hunky Jimmy as they enjoyed the swanky bash amongst other pals and guests. Denise Van Outen is seemingly no longer a single lady ( Image: Instagram/ @vanouten_denise) The star has made things Instagram official with new beau Jimmy Barba ( Image: Instagram/ @vanouten_denise) The former West End star wowed in a … [Read more...] about Denise Van Outen goes Instagram official with new man in cute couple selfie
Who is Michelle Donelan and what is the new education secretary facing?
By Hazel Shearing Published 2 hours ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Former higher and further education minister Michelle Donelan has been made the new education secretary. It follows Nadhim Zahawi's departure from the post as he becomes chancellor. Ms Donelan, 38, has spent the past two years occupied with universities and colleges. Now she has the whole of England's education system to contend with - and she is facing a pretty packed schedule. Catch-up after Covid Perhaps the biggest issue Ms Donelan will have to contend with is the impact of two years of disruption on schoolchildren. By 2030, ministers want 90% of children leaving primary school to reach the expected standards in reading, writing and maths. There's a long way to go, and unions aren't convinced it's doable with current levels of funding. This week, Sats results … [Read more...] about Who is Michelle Donelan and what is the new education secretary facing?
Plans to regulate madrassas published by government
By Branwen Jeffreys Published 26 November 2015 Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Madrassas in England will face regulation and inspection under government plans published on Thursday. Last month, Prime Minister David Cameron said some children were "having their heads filled with poison and their hearts filled with hate" in these Muslim supplementary schools. Muslim organisations accept regulation is needed to protect children's welfare but maintain concerns about radicalisation are misplaced. The UK contains about 2,000 madrassas. Religious instruction Under the plans, any out-of-school setting providing intensive education would be required to register and be open to inspection. This is likely to cover almost all madrassas, as the proposals suggest six to eight hours a week as the threshold for regulation. Many Muslim children attend madrassas to … [Read more...] about Plans to regulate madrassas published by government
Lawyer’s murder hints at secrets of Australia mafia
Published 24 March 2016 Share close Share page Copy link About sharing The killing of criminal lawyer Joseph "Pino" Acquaro in Melbourne sheds light on the hidden machinations of the 'Ndrangheta, says Australian crime writer Adam Shand. Liborio Benvenuto, who died in 1988, was the last of the old-time Australian godfathers. He understood his power but also its limits. His protege Joseph "Pino" Acquaro, who was murdered in a Melbourne street last week, was not so wise. Benvenuto became the leader of The Honoured Society, a Melbourne-based Calabrian mafia group, after a bloody internal battle in the early 1960s dubbed the Market Wars. He presided over a quarter century of relative peace until he died of natural causes in 1988. It was Benvenuto who encouraged Acquaro, the son of a prominent accountant in the Calabrian community, to become a lawyer. Violence was bad for business, so a … [Read more...] about Lawyer’s murder hints at secrets of Australia mafia