John Caudwell, a wealthy entrepreneur who recently sold his Phones4U business, plans to invest some of the £1.46bn windfall into the education system in his hometown of Stoke-on-Trent. Having suffered bullying at school himself, Caudwell has committed to donating "a few million" to the Potteries for the creation of a specialised city academy with a business focus. His motivation for doing so being his desire to motivate and inspire students with his story of success coming from hard work and determination, despite his own humble beginnings. A former employee of the Michelin tyre factory, it is quite the journey for someone who once spent ten years working at a local business.
Emma Wright, a teacher at Streatham and Clapham High School, a private institution with fees of approximately £7,000 per year, recently exposed herself on national television for the show "How to Look Good Naked". By appearing nude in promotional material projected onto Waterloo station, the teacher has caused controversy among the school’s governing body and parents alike. Although she did inform the head of her participation in the show, Wright’s actions may still face scrutiny come September when the new school term begins. The Girls’ Day School Trust, who owns the preparatory school, contends that the show addressed issues of women’s self-confidence and promoting self-value, despite being shown before the watershed. While the show attracts 3.4 million viewers each week, Wright’s decision to participate has not gone over well among the school’s stakeholders.
Parents of students heading to university need to understand that they do not have free reign to interfere in their child’s education. As more and more institutions report an influx of "helicopter parents" interfering in their child’s university experience – either by attending orientation sessions, becoming involved in registration, or bothering professors – educational institutions seek ways to address how best to handle requests from overwhelmed parents. Some universities like Sussex are creating dedicated orientation sessions for parents, while others like the University of Huddersfield are establishing family liaison units to cope with pushy parents. Ultimately, while universities understand a parent’s desire to stay involved in their child’s education, it is important for students to learn how to handle their academic journeys independently, without constant interference from their parents.
