School Wars
Posted by: melissabenn on: September 23, 2011
What I have learned from the debate around my book so far……
It’s hot out there…………
Posted by: melissabenn on: September 23, 2011
Very good Francis Beckett piece on debate at the RSA yesterday.
Latest news and reviews
Posted by: melissabenn on: September 19, 2011
The Verso website is doing a great job of tracking the impact of School Wars, and also summarising the main reviews so far.
Below, the latest schedule for talks and debates
20-Sep School Wars New Statesman/Liberal Democrat Conference
21-Sep School Wars University of Leicester debate: Comprehensive School Education – Policy Mistake, Lost Ideal or Model for the Future?
22-Sep School Wars Royal Society of the Arts lunchtime seminar
25-Sep School Wars INTERROGATE festival: Income Inequality under the Spotlight
27-Sep School Wars Bristol – Watershed – evening event
28-Sep School Wars Blackwells Labour party conference – Talk and signing
04-Oct School Wars Bookmarks – Debate on the book
06-Oct School Wars Blackwells Oxford – reading and talk
11-Oct School Wars LRB shop – reading and debate
13-Oct School Wars With Michael Rosen and Newham books
14-Oct School Wars Ilkley – Evening event
16-Oct School Wars Times Cheltenham Literature Festival – debate with Toby Young and Anthony Seldon
17-Oct School Wars Maison Bertaux
10-Nov School Wars Pages of Hackney
25-Nov School Wars Richmond Literature Festival
27-Nov School Wars Cambridge Wordfest – debate with Stefan Collini tbs
29-Nov School Wars Bishopsgate – panel discussion
School wars heat up
Posted by: melissabenn on: September 7, 2011
Things get a little heated on Woman’s Hour this morning. Me v Anne McElvoy. Decide for yourself.
And Michael Gove personally attacks founders of Local Schools Network in the Evening Standard.
Two reviews of School Wars
Posted by: melissabenn on: September 4, 2011
Anthony Seldon in today’s Observer
Andy Beckett in The Guardian yesterday
The Big Debate
Posted by: melissabenn on: September 4, 2011
How do we make our schools fit to face the 21st century?
Five experts explore the future of British education in this round-table discussion, as the government initiative for free schools is launched
The panel: Guy Claxton, Sue Street, Melissa Benn, Rachel Wolf and Peter Hyman. Photograph: Antonio Olmos For The Observer/ Antonio Olmos
The Observer panel, chaired by Yvonne Roberts: Guy Claxton, professor of learning sciences; Sue Street, inner city school teacher; Melissa Benn, journalist and campaigner; Rachel Wolf, education adviser; Peter Hyman, teacher and former political strategist. Read the rest of this entry »
Mirror, mirror…….
Posted by: melissabenn on: September 2, 2011
Yup, I go tabloid at last. Love David Cameron’s Mr Chips hat..
Keeping faith in comprehensives
Posted by: melissabenn on: August 30, 2011
Below, a profile/interview in today’s Education Guardian by Peter Wilby.
Taking advantage of the net, and net democracy, I have put in a few corrections and some commentary at the bottom of the piece. Perhaps the Guardian or other newspapers might try this, in print and on line, sometime?
Keeping faith in comprehensives
Melissa Benn still believes the public can see the benefits of the classic comprehensive school system
Education has the potential to create a “common culture” according to Melissa Benn.
Britain doesn’t have many American-style political dynasties, but the Benns are an exception. Three generations have produced a cabinet minister apiece: Tony Benn, once the stuff of bourgeois nightmares but now an octogenarian “national treasure”, is the best-known and his son Hilary, a New Labour minister from 2001, is the most recent. And from the next generation, Emily Benn, Tony’s granddaughter, stood unsuccessfully, aged 20, as a Labour candidate in last year’s general election. Read the rest of this entry »
Free Schools, Exams And The Battle For Britain’s Education
Posted by: melissabenn on: August 29, 2011
Interview in the Huffington Post
Follow me on Twitter
Posted by: melissabenn on: August 28, 2011
@Melissa_Benn
I am a reluctant convert – but my publishers ordered me onto the twittersphere in preparation for publication. But already, I am finding it a really useful source of information and an interesting forum for a certain kind of debate. Good for literacy skills too!
Welcome to my website. I am a writer, novelist and campaigner. Follow the link below to my latest book. Join the conversation on Twitter. Or comment on this blog......
