Festival of Education and Free Schools..

[Mummynowathome]

Anyone going to the Festival of Education at Wellington College on 23/24 June? Supposed to be the 'Glastonbury' of Education... programme looks interesting, speakers including David Starkey, Toby Young, Michael Wilshaw and Andrew Adonis. Am keen to find out more about free schools?www.festivalofeducation.org.uk

Everything like this that Wellington does is a gimmick.

Really? Very broad agenda and interesting topics... Seems a unique event.. Opportunity to hear latest thinking and take part in debate. Just think that too much discussion about our kids' education happens without involvement of us parents.. So an event like this has to be a good thing?!

I have no problem with the concept and, as you say, lots of interesting speakers and possibly the opportunity to silently assasinate Michael Gove from the crowd.

I do have a problem with Anthony Seldon using an event like that to self publicise.

Arf at 'us parents'

Oh by the way, welcome to MN

Thanks for the welcome tethersend! Yes, fair enough to arf at 'us parents'! - deserved!

sounds like a load of navel gazing not nothing actually being done
when did any of these opinion formers last take 30 year 9s on a subject they do not like for an hour?

So, Anthony Seldon, Toby Young, Michael Gove and David Starkey are all going to be in one location together at the same time....? Hmm. Throw in Anne Atkins, Melanie Philips, David Cameron and a crossbow, and I'll be there.

Crossbow PAH
Laxatives and psychedelics in the water - THEN we are talking.

Napalm. Let's do it properly.

If.

Well I don't want it all to turn out to have been some sort of bloody hallucination!

I love it when a reference works

I see it's in a very accessible location!

No speeches on home ed the ?

Went last year. Worth it just to get my points across to UCAS head Mary Curnock-Cook and the NUS leader during drinks in quad. Heard about changes to Personal Statement rules coming up and early repayment on tuition fees. Amusing watching headmasters having a go at Gove - place was dominated by teachers and press with talks mainly aimed at them rather than parents.

I'd go again if I could give Willetts or Clegg a piece of my mind but I don't suppose they're on the guest list.

You're in luck - looks like bothy Clegg and Willetts are going!

Anything with a 'special needs' focus at the Festival and I'll be there too?

Thank you for your interest in the Festival of Education. Come along this Saturday and Sunday (23/24 June) and join in the debate on education in person. www.festivalofeducation.org.uk