Girls’ Schools Association
Nearly 600,000 pupils attend independent schools, that’s around 7% of the total. Average annual fees are now approx. £10,000. But in the current financial climate some independent schools have closed, and there’s been a reported rush for Grammar School places.
Vicky Tuck is headmistress at Cheltenham Ladies’ College, and President of The Girls’ School Association, which represents girls’ independent schools and boarding schools. Ahead of their conference in November, talks to Libby Purves about issues surrounding independent schools and single sex education.
Sex Education
The findings of the government’s Sex and Relationships review led to much debate recently. For clarification of what’s actually proposed Libby speaks to Simon Blake, Chief Executive of Brook – the sexual health charity; and we hear from young people in Hastings.
Spanish Riding School
Vienna’s world famous Spanish Riding School is famed for its white Lipizzaner stallions and their elegant strutting and sprightly dancing. It is the oldest and last Riding School in the world - where classic dressage is still practised in its purest form. It has for the first time in its 430 year history accepted two young women as apprentices or eleves. Four students have been accepted on the rigorous training programme this year.
Andrew Littlejohn went along to the press conference in Vienna’s Hofburg Palace as the young students were introduced to the public and spoke to one of the young women, Anglo-American Sojourner Morrell.
English GCSE
Libby Purves speaks to Dr Bethan Marshall, of Kings College London, about the new English GCSE, currently under preparation for introduction in 2010. The new exam is set to put more emphasis on “functional skills” - spelling, grammar, punctuation and less on literature and imaginative work.
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