Bravo to the chief inspector for speaking out, but schools need more than discipline*


Sir Michael Wilshaw, the Chief Inspector of Schools, has yet again put his finger on the pulse of the nation, daring to say things that most know are true but few are brave enough to say.

This week he will publish an Ofsted report claiming that low-level disruption in British schools is damaging the quality of learning and the atmosphere of school life.


Teachers are too often intimidated and are unable to teach properly.  Students who want to learn are thwarted from doing so, and an atmosphere of disorder permeates the classrooms and corridors in schools, across the country.  Wilshaw will criticise head teachers for not applying strict enough punishments to inculcate proper discipline.

Nothing in life can be achieved without discipline, obedience to authority and hard work.    Few institutions are more disciplined than the Royal Ballet or the Royal Shakespeare Company.  Companies with lax regulations do not flourish.

Discipline has to be learnt at home and carried out at school.  And if there is none in the classroom, then learning won't take place. 

Unless students are utterly clear where the boundaries lie, the more timid members of the class will not contribute for fear of ridicule or harassment.  The inescapable irony is that liberal and liberating learning only occurs when there is structure and order.

However, in one respect, the chief inspector does fall short.  IN laying so much stress on discipline and compliance, he is ignoring the more important ingredient of a well-ordered school, which is self-control and intrinsic good behaviour.  


The problem with a school in which there is good behaviour merely for fear of punishment is that the students learn little about life and the difference between right and wrong.  They do not learn about the human qualities that make up a good society, and they leave school with little awareness of personal responsibilities.

Good schools need to couple firm discipline with a very strong emphasis on values and the development of good character.  All students need to be taught the difference between good and bad, the importance of punctuality, respect for peers and adults, and the importance of kindness and consideration.

(Surely much of this can, and should, be taught at home?)


* Excerpt from article by Anthony Seldon (Master of Wellington College) from the Telegraph: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/11112278/Teach-children-a-lesson-in-good-character.html

What to do if debt collectors come after you - and you know they have the wrong person!

1. If you receive a letter demanding money you do not believe you owe, write immediately to the firm involved using the words 'I dispute this debt'. This will put the action on hold.
2. Do not telephone, but always deal in writing, keeping a copy of all correspondence.
3. Find out whether the firm is a member of the Credit Services Association (CSA), which has a code of conduct and a complaints procedure. Unfortunately, not all firms are members.
4. If the problem escalates, write again to the debt collector asking it to provide evidence that you are responsible for the debt and warning that the onus is on the firm to prove this to be the case.  Meanwhile, make a complaint to the CSA.
5. Make a complaint to the financial ombudsman, which now has responsibility for debt collection firms.

From the Telegraph:  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/borrowing/11124284/I-had-perfect-finances-until-I-was-stuck-with-anothers-debt.html

Very dry skin ...

From: http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2011/nov/11/sali-hughes-dry-skin-moisturisers

Very dry skin is a bit like wheat intolerance or seasonal affective disorder; seemingly half the population claims to have it, yet most haven't the faintest idea what it means to be a genuine sufferer. As someone whose skin chaps, flakes and actually hurts without plenty of very rich cream applied the moment I exit the shower, I can say with bitter experience that most moisturisers marketed at the dry-skinned don't work (my skin is also dehydrated, ie lacking in water, a condition that often sits alongside dryness, a shortage of oil).

While summer generally offers some relief, winter can be hell and demands an extra-emollient, takes-no-prisoners, mega-moisturiser to avoid stinging, chapping and dullness. Pharmacy brands like E45, Vaseline and Diprobase are great on the body, but usually very poor as a make-up base – which, for me, is almost as intolerable as the dryness itself. But all of the facial day creams below did two things:

1. kept my very dry skin moist and comfortable in both blustery Brighton wind and my centrally heated house.
2. sat ungreasily beneath my foundation without interfering in its business. Apply liberally over serum and leave for a minute before making up.

Waitrose Baby Bottom Butter £2.89, ocado.com
I love this on my legs, but feared it would cause my face to break out. It didn't. Wonderful as a night cream, too.

Decléor Hydra Floral Anti-pollution Cream £31, decleor.co.uk
Don't be deceived by the light texture: creamy richness with no buttery grease.

This Works No Wrinkles Extreme Moisturiser £45, thisworks.com 
This brand "gets" dry skin. The retinol is ideal if you're 35-plus.

Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Ultimate Day Cream Moisturiser£7.99, boots.com
One of the few affordable creams that didn't cause break-outs.

Laura Mercier Mega Moisturizer SPF15 £41.50, urbanretreat.co.uk
My long-term winter companion. Rich, comforting moisture that lasts all day.

Murad Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture £59, murad.co.uk
Superb. Natural oils and hi-tech anti-ageing ingredients left my skin glowing.

See also: http://www.salihughesbeauty.com/reviews/sali-loves-im-using-right-now/

From Classic fm

Anatomy of operas: file:///D:/Downloads/operas.htm

We've just returned from a brilliant midweek break in Rothesay, which is on the Isle of Bute, way over on the west of Scotland.  When Prince Charles is in Scotland he is no longer the Prince of Wales, or even the Duke of Cornwall, he's the Duke of Rothesay, of which I'm sure the islanders are very proud (http://www.royal.gov.uk/ThecurrentRoyalFamily/ThePrinceofWales/Stylesandtitles.aspx) 

When we lived in a cottage in Cornwall which had formerly belonged to the Duchy of Cornwall, one of the clauses in our deeds was that Prince Charles could come and inspect our drains whenever he liked - he never did.  But to return to the island of Bute ...

On the whole the weather was pretty good, being mainly dry and even bright and sunny at times.  

We travelled over to Bute via the ferry from Wemyss Bay (pronounced Weems) which, judging by its size, must have been incredibly busy in its heyday with all the people escaping from Glasgow for the day. (http://wemyssbay.net/about/history.html)

Part of the magnificant Wemyss Bay Railway Station
in the foreground is a display of flowers (not a Christmas tree).

Wemyss Bay Railway Station is quite a building and very interesting historically, thus there's even a Friends of Wemyss Station: info@friendsofwemyssbaystation.co.uk.  Their site is at present dormant but as they say 'watch this space'.

Bute and beyond, looking from Wemyss Bay

By the time we crossed over to Bute itself it was dark, so no photos, but there are some later of our return journey.

Our first day's trip was to explore the south part of Bute, stopping first at beautiful Etterick Bay, see photo.  In contrast, underneath is a black and white photo of the bay in its heyday, before cheap international travel made it more economic to holiday abroad.

Etterick bay

We then ventured on around the southern side of the island, stopping at a convenient hostelry in Kingarth for a quick half, also buying a bottle of the local mead (a sort of honey wine).

looking landwards

Looking west:
middle of the day - looking into the sun

Day two was quite a day: we visited Mount Stuart (http://www.mountstuart.com/house/).  It's difficult to describe in words what a fantastic (literally) place this is.  Partly because it's so amazing and partly because we were rushed round the place in less than an hour.  

It was really interesting having a guided tour, especially as our excellent guide, Margaret, has worked for the family for many years so really knows her stuff.  

We hardly had chance to look at the rooms we were in as by the time Margaret had finished telling the tale, we were whisked on to the next room.  More free-flow days for visitors please!

Unfortunately it's impossible to see how wonderful this house is as photos don't seem to do it justice, even in the guide books on sale in their shop.  

This 127-room house is still lived in by the family and it was possible to imagine that the house could still feel like home, despite the majestic architecture and some enormous 'rooms'.

A fab venue for a wedding, I understand one of
Paul MacCartney's daughters was wed in this chapel.

Unfortunately, we were told that our ticket didn't cover the gardens, only the house.  So after our hour's guided tour we hung about a bit, waiting for the time to return on the coach.  

Then I overheard someone saying that the gardens were included in our entrance fee!  So we walked around, trying to see as much of the gardens as possible.  

Here are a few photos of the bits we did have time to visit, plus one of the kitchen garden:

the rock garden

The old house, attached to the new - most unusual!

That afternoon we had a look at Rothesay itself, visiting the museum (http://www.butemuseum.org.uk/) which was well worth the nominal £3 (conc £2) entrance fee.  

It felt like the local community were very involved, especially the local schools and that the islanders were, justly, very proud of their heritage.

In the town, as well as the castle (see pic - what a beautifully kept moat), there were lots of shops, selling everything anyone could want on a daily basis.  

There were gift shops, charity shops, second hand furniture shops, and even a shop called 'Glamour' selling sensible pyjamas, which I found rather funny!  Everyone was very friendly, especially the shop where I bought a lovely leather purse: Good Things (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Good-things/156488321081245).

Further on I saw some Avon Skin so Soft moisturiser for sale and, as my skin was feeling rather dry in the Scottish breeze, decided to buy some. 
The shop sells bikes and golf apparatus but, on an island like Rothesay, many shops sell all sorts of items.  When I went up to the counter the shopkeeper said 'oh, I thought the midges would have finished by now!'.  
Apparently outdoor types use Skin so Soft to keep the midges away, and not to keep their skin lovely and soft!

Oh, and I nearly forgot: the building which would not look out of place in a Poirot mystery (http://secretscotland.wordpress.com/2013/05/25/appeal-for-memories-of-rothesay-pavilion/):

On our last day many people went on a coach trip to Dunoon (http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Tourism-g190750-Dunoon_Argyll_and_Bute_Scotland-Vacations.html), stopping on the way at Ben More (http://www.scotlandsgardens.org/gardens/garden/cb7cd9c1-d611-4500-bcaf-99980130d322), although only for a coffee break.  


Here are a photo of our ferry journey back to the mainland and goodbye to the Isle of Bute, for the time being: 

A link to a fascinating site about the history of the river Clyde: http://www.glasgowhistory.com/sailing-down-the-clyde-%E2%80%9Cdoon-the-watter%E2%80%9D.html

and some other interesting sites:

https://secretscotland.wordpress.com/tag/rothesay/

http://tour-scotland-photographs.blogspot.co.uk/2010/04/old-photographs-rothesay-scotland.html

http://dougie-coull-photography.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/wee-day-trip-to-rothesay.html