London Festival of Education

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by Bryony Harrison (subscribe)

Freelance writer and poet from London; if you would like to read my poetry, please check out my book, 'Poems on the Page', available from goo.gl/Ta4oAX.

Event: 17/11/2012

Debates for Teachers, Parents, and Students

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The London Festival of Education is a first time event taking place on the 17th of November at the Institute of Education. The festival starts at 9.30am and runs until 5.30pm, during which time there will be over 70 speakers with academic, political, and writing backgrounds, encouraging debate and discussion with their audience.

Anthony Horowitz

You can expect talks from the likes of Lord Adonis, the former Secretary of State, children's novelist, Anthony Horowitz, and the Institute of Ideas director, Claire Fox. Debates will include a discussion on the future of exams, and questions on what makes a great teacher.

With hands on workshops, such as training and advice on how to manage behaviour in the classroom, The London Festival of Education will be extremely beneficial to teachers. The event, however, is open to everybody, and will prove enlightening to parents, students, and academics.

Big questions will be raised about the education system, so expect to share your ideas, and be prepared to have your thoughts and opinions challenged. The day will be packed full of engaging activities scheduled across several different stages.

The day will start off at 10am with a discussion on 'what does an educated person look like?' Is knowledge everything? Are we too preoccupied with qualifications? Should we focus on providing more practical skills? Then at 11am, Sir Tim Brighouse, Munira Mirza, and Vic Goddard will build on this discussion, asking, 'what does it mean to be educated?'

Claire Fox

A more ethical debate will follow at 12.10pm, as Claire Fox and others ask the question: 'should we use the curriculum to impart values?'

As well as the many other discussions taking place throughout the day, there will be the opportunity to join in some interactive master classes. These include improving communication skills, helping to close the gap between working and middle class pupils, handling difficult children, and considering a 'slow education'.

There will also be time to sit back and relax while you watch performances from the National Theatre, listen to poets Mark Grist, Bridget Minamore, and Anthony McCann, and be entertained by hip-hop artists and the Roundhouse Hula Hoop troop.

Adult tickets are £50, but university students can attend for £15, and school pupils for £5.

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