Plans for schools to stay open 51 weeks a year 'will help poorer pupils'

Mr Gove said free schools and academies could stay open until 8pm six days of the week for all but one week of the year.

But the idea was dismissed by teachers who said children were ‘entitled to a family life’.

National Union of Teachers general secretary Christine Blower said: ‘A lot of schools already offer extended school provision with breakfast and after-school clubs. For schools to be open 51 weeks of the year is not what is needed.

‘It is essential students have time to relax and recharge their batteries after a long and often intensive week at school. This idea, although not new, is ridiculous.’

Shadow education secretary Andy Burnham said the plans could leave children ‘burned out’ by 13 or 14.

I don’t think it is a good idea to get children to go to school for 6 days a week and until 8pm. They will hardly have any spare time that way, which is unrealistic. Children need spare time to do what they want. They don’t only learn things at school. Even watching TV, listening to music or playing outside teaches them something. One week per year off from school is just not enough. The children will be completely exhausted after a few months, let alone all those years. They will not be able to handle it.

http://www.metro.co.uk/news/866958-plans-for-schools-to-stay-open-51-weeks-a-year-will-help-poorer-pupils

By Unknown

Grooming children for sex still a 'hidden issue'

Police, social services and charities were accused today of seriously underestimating the number of children being groomed for sex. Authorities are failing to properly investigate the problem which the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (Ceop) describes as a "hidden issue," an assessment for ministers reportedly warned. Ceop chief Peter Davies launched the investigation into localised grooming after former home secretary Jack Straw accused some Pakistani men in Britain of seeing white girls as "easy meat" for sexual abuse. Children's charity Barnardo's, Muslim youth group the Ramadhan Foundation and retired detective chief superintendent Max McLean, who led a previous investigation into sexual exploitation involving young girls in Leeds, all said Mr Straw was wrong to highlight one community.

It’s horrible that so many children get sexually abused, but it doesn’t get recognized. They actually neglect the fact that this is happening. Authorities think that a lot of children just ran away or went missing. They hardly think of the fact that these children might get kidnapped for sex. I would be so mad if it was my child who went missing and it turned out he/she got sexually abused. The authorities should at least consider this possibility. It should be one of the first they think of and investigate!

http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/news/content/view/full/106072

By Adrian Roberts

Alice's Bucket List: Internet sensation teen Alice Pyne speaks for first time

A terminally ill teenager has spoken publically for the first time after her online "bucket list" of wishes became an internet sensation.

Alice Pyne, 15, created the blog called Alice's Bucket List in which she described how she has been fighting cancer for the last four years.

Alice started the blog earlier this month, telling how hospital scans showed Hodgkin's lymphoma - a cancer of the white blood cells - was spreading through her body and that her mother had encouraged her to create a wish list.

Her appeal led to a flood of offers as her webpage became an internet hit with Twitter followers, as it became one of the most talked about subjects worldwide.

Alice told ITV1's Granada Reports: "I wrote it just to go out to my friends and obviously they have sent it on. It was never meant to be this big and it's huge now and it's amazing, the kind people who are offering things, it's really kind, it's amazing."

Her blog can be found at  www.alicepyne.blogspot.com

I think it is wonderful that Alice’s blog got so much attention worldwide. She is fighting this horrible disease and any help she can get is another comfort. Celebrities from all over the world tweeted about this girl on Twitter and they all feel for her. She is the world’s sweetheart. Everyone feels for her and she is displayed as a strong and independent girl. There should be a chance like this for any child who goes through fighting a horrible disease. This is not realistic, but the fact that Alice got so much help, gives other children hope of getting the same help.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/06/20/alice-s-bucket-list-internet-sensation-teen-alice-pyne-speaks-for-the-first-time-115875-23214689/

By Unknown

Lady Gaga admits “obsession” for Versace

This riot of colour and bling is what you get when you hand Lady Gaga the keys to Versace’s safe of vintage glad rags. The shock popper says she is “obsessed” with Versace designs. It’s just a nice change to see the Judas singer covered up for once. Gaga, 25, tells ITV1’s Paul O’Grady Show, which goes out on Friday: “I’m having an obsession with Versace. Donatella has opened the archives for the first time since Gianni’s death.” The queen of kook, who wears a fringed dress that perfectly matches her wig, also tells Paul: “I didn’t strip. Well, kind of... It was tease, never any topless – I can spin the two tassels.” That’s way too much information.

I love the fact that Lady Gaga is so into fashion. She creates a lot of fashion statements, which I like about her. She has something to say and she says it through her clothes.

Versace is a very expensive and a very exclusive brand. Lady Gaga got the keys to the vault with the most wonderful designs and she’s using them well. By wearing these designs, she looks fashionable and tasteful. She usually steps onto the streets in barely covering clothing. Versace is the complete opposite. It’s a nice change in Gaga’s wardrobe. People will see you can create a fashion statement without showing an awful lot of skin.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/news/2011/06/13/lady-gaga-admits-obsession-for-versace-115875-23197763/

By Laura Martin

Woman rescued after river plunge

A woman was rescued after plunging into a river following an argument early today.

And three people who dived into the River Fowey at Whitehouse Quay, Cornwall, in a bid to rescue her also had to be recovered from the water by lifeboats. Brixham coastguard said it was alerted via a 999 call at 2.41am. The woman was taken to Treliske hospital, in Truro, by ambulance. The three others were not taken to hospital. Mark Satchell, watch manager for Brixham Coastguard, said: "It would appear that the woman had entered the water after some disagreement between individuals.

"Don't drink and drown.

"Not only does alcohol impair judgment but it will also affect your ability to deal with an emergency situation."

I think it is amazing that the other three people dived into the water to rescue the woman. It was really brave of them. I don’t know whether or not it was fierce water, or whether or not it was warm or cold, but I’m sure they took a risk. There are lots of people who would never dive into the water, even if they saw someone drowning. I feel like they should get some sort of acknowledgement for what they’ve done. It doesn’t have to be something big, or expensive, but just something so they know they are appreciated.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/woman-rescued-after-river-plunge-2299517.html

By Emma Hallett

Tube bosses appeal over strike

London Underground appealed for a series of Tube strikes to be called off today, saying it will reinstate a sacked driver if told to by an employment tribunal. Members of the Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union are due to walk out for six hours from 9pm on Sunday, followed by further stoppages during the second week of the Wimbledon tennis championships. TfL said that if Sunday's strike goes ahead, it expects to run a near-normal service on Sunday evening and Monday morning, with "very little" impact on passengers.

I think it is fair that the London Underground people are demanding better work circumstances. But strikes are a little much. Hundreds of thousands of people travel by tube every day. It would be too much trouble for so many people if the tube would go on a strike. There will be a strike during the Wimbledon tennis championships, but I think this is going to cause a lot of trouble. Loads of people don’t know how to get to Wimbledon, because most people will be tourists. If the tube won’t work, lots of people won’t even find the way to Wimbledon. It is just going to be too much trouble.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/tube-bosses-appeal-over-strike-2298307.html

By Unknown 

School braids ban 'not justified'

A school’s decision to ban a pupil who refused to change his cornrow hairstyle was discriminatory and unlawful, the High Court ruled today. In a decision which could have far reaching implications for how schools set out their uniform policy, a judge found that St Gregory’s Catholic Science College in north London broke anti-discrimination legislation when it turned away a pupil on his first day because he was wearing cornrow braids in his hair. The school itself was described at an earlier hearing as 'a highly successful, hugely oversubscribed' voluntary aided Catholic school with a large Afro-Caribbean population that perform well academically.

In a statement released last night St Gregory’s board of governors said they would consider an appeal.

I think it is ridiculous that this boy gets refused just because he wears his hair a certain way. The girls are allowed to wear their hair this way, but not the boys. That just doesn’t make any sense.  The hairstyle isn’t provocative or anything, so there is no reason to refuse the boy the entrance to the classrooms. This is pure discrimination. Schools are supposed to give the best example, but by this, they only give the worst example for the students. Students will copy this behaviour, which will cause more problems in schools. 


http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/school-braids-ban-not-justified-2298925.html
By Jerome Taylor