How easy should it be to sack a teacher? And when is it ok to wear pyjamas out of the house?
Pyjama wars
On my way to the Guardian's offices in Kings Cross a few months ago I saw two school-aged girls in pyjamas getting off the 205 bus. It was about 5pm on a wintery evening, one child was aged around 10, the other was maybe 12 or possibly 13. The older girl was holding the younger by the hand and steering her through the adult crowds. My first thought was that something bad must have happened and that these two children had needed to jump out of bed and rush off to reach a parent. But I couldn't think what this might have been, and besides, they looked completely calm. And no one else on the street seemed at all concerned, so I did nothing beyond worrying about them as they made their way through an area that, let's face it, is still quite seedy despite everything I keep hearing about its rapid regeneration. I racked my brain but came up with nothing to help me reconcile children wearing pink wincyette with love hearts wandering the neon-lit Kings Cross streets.
Having said all that, in the following months, sitings of teenage girls in pyjamas - and only one occasion a teenage boy in striped pyjamas and a dressing gown hanging alongside homeys in trainers and leather jackets - on the London streets became increasingly common. Until my comparatively ancient (30 something) brain finally recognised that this was in fact a fashion choice. The decider for this was coming across small mixed gangs of teenagers in which the girls had their hair nicely done and were wearing outdoor coats over their wincyette. This was the point where I stopped worrying and decided to leave them to it. Maybe its a way of saying "this is my manor, I'm just feet away from bed." Maybe its a way for teenage girls to defend themselves against the attentions of adult men: "I'm clearly a teenager. Go away". Or maybe it helps them skirt the pressure to buy the latest brands: "I don't need labels, I'm in my PJs".
That's where I am with teenagers in PJs but how should schools react? And what about the parents? Should they be above this fashion trend? A school in Teesside has taken action to dissuade parents from collecting their children from school in PJs in order to set a better example to their children.
Education news from the Guardian
• Headteachers will be able to sack teachers who fail to live up to expectations after only a few months in post, under new rules from September.
• Schools minister, Sarah Teather says the supply of speech therapy and basic equipment for children with special needs has become a 'postcode lottery'
• The independent schools council (ISC), the body that represents the 1,260 fee-paying schools that are charities, is struggling to heel a rift between the organisation and some of its members - who pay fees of up to £30,000 a year and believe they are not getting value for money.
On another front the ISC has engaged expensive lawyers from Farrer & Co, legal advisers to the Crown, to argue at High Court the case that private schools should not have to tolerate the Charity Commission telling them how many bursaries for poor children they have to provide in order for them to keep their charitable status.
Winners announced in the 2011 Young Human Rights Reporter awards
Amnesty International and the Guardian Learn News desk worked together to find Britains brightest young reporters. Children aged seven to 14 were asked to write up to 250 words on a human rights story. Read about this year's winning entries here.
From the Guardian's higher education network
Research funding should reward excellence
Limited funds mean that hard decisions have to be made, says UCL's Professor David Price
In today's Education Guardian
Would you pay £2,000 for a week's internship? Rachel Williams uncovers the rise and rise of the bought internship.
So you thought that overseas students numbers would drop now that visas have been drastically restricted and higher tuition fees for UK students have been introduced? Think again. Universities step up overseas recruiting
• Beverley Wade is poised to sever her final ties with Britain. She has sold her horse and her house in Kent. And got rid of the dog, too. It has been a heartbreaking process. Wade, an English teacher, saw no other way to clear her debts. She is one of 70,000 teachers that have left the UK for sunnier climes
• The newly elected NUS head of FE is no 'career politician'. Toni Pearce, NUS's feisty new head of FE is determined to see further education get the attention it deserves
• Colleges must learn from the financial mistakes of the past
Many colleges are under pressure to subcontract work, but they must remember the financial scandals of the 1990s, says Nick Linford
• Children seem to have slipped down the government's list of priorities, ousted by academies and free schools. That is a mistake, argues Estelle Morris
Guardian Education Centre seminars for teachers
This half-day conference for primary school teachers will help you inspire students to read with pleasure and maintain the reading habit. Andy Stanton, author of the Mr Gum series, will be joined by Julia Eccleshare, Guardian children's books editor, and reading development experts.
Time: 1 July, 9.15-12.45.
Cost: £48, including refreshments and resources.
Insight into Journalism: investigative and features journalism
This seminar, part of our popular Insight into Journalism series, gives secondary school teachers and college tutors the chance to spend a day at the Guardian. You'll meet specialist journalists from the investigations team, find out from writers what makes a good features article and learn about commissioning, editing and interview techniques.
Time: 8 July, 9.15-4.30.
Cost: £72, including lunch and resources.
Education seminars from Guardian Professional
Getting the best education for children in care
The Guardian's one-day seminar in association with Tact (the UK's largest fostering and adoption charity) will provide an overview of the UK education system and strategies for dealing with the challenges faced by looked-after children and their carers.
26 May, London.
Making the most of media opportunities to enhance your school's profile
Whether it's sharing good news or handling a crisis, headteachers and school management teams need to be able to handle the media in all of its forms. This one-day seminar in association with the NAHT is essential for new and aspiring heads as well as established school leaders who wish to update their knowledge. It includes a session on social media.
13 June, Birmingham and 20 September, London.
Distinctiveness and branding in higher education
Higher education institutions will struggle in the marketplace unless they stand out from competitors and make sense to stakeholders. The Guardian's half-day seminar in partnership with the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education will explore what it takes to develop and maintain a distinctive brand that attracts students, staff and funders. Participants will hear from experts, examine case studies and have the opportunity to network with peers.
28 June, London.
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Judy Friedberg is currently on holiday, so for the next three weeks I will be writing cribsheet and I am always happy to hear from readers with story ideas. You can email me via my Guardian email. And follow me on twitter at FDWhitehead