February 2013

  • Re-visiting the Neo-Late-Neolithic at Stonehenge

    English Heritage is currently building a new visitor centre at Stonehenge (with civilised toilets; thanks be to the druids).  It is due to open later this year.  Outside the main exhibition centre there will be an external gallery featuring some...

  • Sunday 'junk' discussion

    I spend a small part of Sunday morning reading an extended and informed Internet discussion about (so called) Junk DNA and the rival claims made by research groups about the idea of junk, and each other.  You can find, and...

  • SHED SHARE blues ...

    One of the characteristics of the HEA's SHED SHARE mailbase is that hardly anyone uses it for discussion.  Most often it's used for self-promotion or just to announce stuff, and discussion rarely gets beyond three contributions.  I understand from those...

  • That was geography, that was

    This is how the draft national curriculum specification for geography begins: A high-quality geography education should inspire in pupils a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people that will remain with them for the rest of their lives....

  • All change at DECC

    DECC has now moved its content to gov.uk/decc Current content from the old DECC website has been transferred and organised into the following policy priorities, with supporting pages: Helping households to cut their energy bills Includes: Green Deal, Warm Home Discount...

  • Transition in Learning in Transition

    The latest South West Learning for Sustainability Coalition seminar was held on February 14th in Totnes.  The topic was Learning in Transition.  Appropriately, we met in the Totnes Transition Network meeting room. Ben Brangwyn opened the seminar with some background...

  • Oak, Furrows, and Mink

    The Oak and Furrows wildlife rescue centre is a charity based in Gloucestershire.  Its aim is to "provide care for wild animals in need so that they can be returned to the wild fit and healthy for a second chance.”...

  • The Green Learning Blog

    I've been reading the green learning blog, a new output from the education, schools and families team at the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust.  For a Trustee, with a particular interest in environmental learning, this kind of communication is a great way...

  • No austerity at the QAA

    The Quality Assurance Agency [QAA] has a new resource out for consultation: Enterprise and entrepreneurship education: guidance for UK higher education providers. QAA says that this ... "has been developed by representatives drawn from, and acting on behalf of, the enterprise...

  • Gove's Paradox

    Michael Gove, England's Secretary of State for Education, has lovingly crafted his perfect (national) curriculum based on what every English boy and girl should know about the country's history, culture, achievements, values, etc, whilst re-designing the  English education system so that...