Could This Be The First Signs Of A Change In The “School or Holiday” Debate ?

Council leaders are suggesting that the recently introduced ban on term-time holidays should be removed in order that head teachers can be allowed to take a “common-sense” approach. The ban dates from September last year, from which time local authorities have been obliged to fine parents who take children out of school for unauthorised absences.

It is the view of the Local Government Association however that the inflexible rules do not fully take into account the dynamics of modern family life. A Department for Education spokeswoman pointed out that heads still had flexibility, but the rules are still perceived as draconian.

The "School/Holiday Debate" continues

Until last September, heads could grant up to 10 days' leave a year for family holidays in "special circumstances".  But now head teachers can grant absence outside school holidays only in "exceptional circumstances". Local authorities are obliged to instigate fines and enforce legal proceedings on behalf of schools.

This means parents who take children out of school during term-time, often to avoid very high holiday costs, can receive automatic penalty notices of £60 per child. This rises to £120 if not paid within 21 days.  Parents who fail to pay could face prosecution and a maximum fine of £2,500 or a jail sentence of up to three months.

The LGA said that the councils are willing to give their support to the Department for Education's stance that every child should be in school every day,  but made the point that there were occasions when circumstances should be given individual consideration.  These might include religious festivals, weddings, funerals or even once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.

David Simmonds, chairman of the LGA's children and young people board, said: "Ensuring every child has a good school attendance is of paramount concern for everyone working with children.
"However, common sense must prevail in cases when mums and dads ask to take their child out of school during term-time if there is a legitimate reason.  An outright ban is too simplistic and doesn't recognise that family life and circumstances aren't always so black and white. “

Some parents take the view that the savings on cheaper holidays during the school terms are worth the cost of being fined.  One parent, Donna-Marie Hollingdale said that if she had taken her children out of school during term she could have saved at least £1,200 and paid the fine as well. "I'd happily pay the fine and take my child out of school when the holidays are a lot cheaper because I'd still be quids in and still save money."

Last year one primary, Bishop Bronescombe C of E school in St Austell, Cornwall, created an extra week's holiday at the end of the May half-term holiday so that low-paid parents could take advantage of lower prices.

But a spokeswoman for the Department for Education said that heads had the option of allowing time off if necessary.

Christine Blower, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said: "The problem lies with the holiday companies and airlines and if this issue is to be addressed sensibly then there should be pressure put on them, not schools.

"Many teachers are parents and we entirely sympathise with the dilemma caused by price hikes for breaks during the school holidays.  In particular, at this time of pressure on pay, our sympathies are with those on low pay who have little option but to take the cheapest holiday they can find. It remains the case that pupils can be granted time off in exceptional circumstances."

Tunnel Proposal Under Stonehenge Has Been Resurrected

Stonehenge - tunnel proposal being dusted down

Having been ditched by a previous government in 2007, it looks as though plans to build a road tunnel to relieve congestion on the notorious A303 in Wiltshire are now back in the spotlight. Chancellor George Osborne is expected to commit hundreds of millions of pounds to give the long delayed project the go-ahead. It would end years of debate over the infamous bottleneck on the A303, which runs right past the World Heritage Site in Wiltshire.

So having recently survived a high profile “private visit” by US President Barack Obama, Stonehenge is once again centre stage. The opening of the state of the art visitor centre last year has ensured that it has never been far from our thoughts in the last few years.

General consensus for the work is favourable, although it is likely to provoke furious opposition from campaigners, who fear a tunnel could lead to damage the hugely important 5,000-year-old site. The Labour government of 2007 became twitchy about the project when the cost of the proposed 1.3-mile tunnel reached £540 million.

Traffic jams on the A303, one of the main routes into the South West, have plagued motorists for decades – prompting a local MP to brand it the ‘devil’s highway’.

Improving the road to make a real alternative to using the M4 and M5 would be hugely popular with motorists heading to and from the South West – a key battleground for the Conservatives at next year’s General Election. It is likely that the project may be mentioned in Mr. Osborne’s autumn statement. Other high profile road improvement schemes may also be included.

A source said, ‘Because we’ve got a grip on the public finances, we can make investments in important infrastructure all over the country as part of our long-term economic plan,’ he said.

The expected go-ahead comes after reports yesterday that the National Trust was now ready to support the idea of a tunnel up to 1.8 miles long under Stonehenge. It also follows Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin’s decision earlier this year to order a feasibility study into improving the A303, including tunnelling under Stonehenge or moving a section of the road to the north.

But sources indicated that the tunnel option was the likeliest to proceed.

Stonehenge

Let’s Help Essex’s Beacon Hill Lose It’s Unwanted Award

The Tower of London stands at one end of the spectrum as the most visited attraction on VisitEngland’s list, with nearly 3 million paying customers last year.

Even Papplewick Hall only has 187 visitors !

However, lying at the other end, in a state of unwanted tranquility is Beacon Hill in Essex, with just six visitors.  It may have been an important part of Britain's defence against Nazi invasion, but as a historical icon the Beacon Hill Fort hasn't exactly captured hearts and minds of history tourists.

The six visitors works out as one every sixty one days, resulting in an inglorious last place in a list of 1,279 destinations in VisitEngland’s survey

Beacon Hill is a long way from the Tower of London, number one on VisitEngland's list for top paid destinations, despite having being restored by the The Harwich Society after being decommissioned in 1956.

There are some other perhaps more surprising contestants for the far from coveted last place, including Old Buckenham Mill, Breckland, Norfolk with 128 visitors,   Long Crendon Courthouse,  Aylesbury Vale, Buckinghamshire with 153 visitors, and Papplewick Hall and Gardens,  Gedling,Nottinghamshire with just 187 visitors.

So come on British tourists, if another six people visit Beacon Hill, its attendance figures will have increased by 100%  ..... and even the Tower of London won’t be able to achieve that!

Ballot Opens To View The Four Copies Of The Magna Carta Together

With just 1,215 spaces available, this is a ballot result that will be keenly awaited. It is being held to nominate the 1,215 members of the public who will attend the gathering together of the four remaining copies of the Magna Carta on 3 February next year at London's British Library. This is to mark the document's 800th anniversary, and it will be the first time that they will appear together.

King John signs on the dotted line in 1215

The document of basic rights is seen as the cornerstone of constitutional law, and the library's two copies will be joined by those normally housed at Lincoln and Salisbury cathedrals.

Magna Carta, meaning Great Charter, was agreed at Runnymede, Surrey, in 1215. The charter was issued by King John as a way of solving the political crisis he faced when powerful barons rebelled against him and captured London.

Unsurprisingly, allowing for the passage of time,  almost all of the clauses have been repealed in modern times. However, the document established a number of important principles that remain in place and have been copied around the world.

Julian Harrison, curator of early modern manuscripts at the British Library, said: "It established for the first time that nobody - not even the king - was above the law and it contains certain principles relating to individual liberties which still remain relevant today. Nobody can be imprisoned or detained indefinitely without being put on trial."

The document inspired the US Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The ballot, which is free, runs until the end of the month. Those selected will be able to view the four Magna Carta manuscripts side by side, following an introductory speech about the legacy of the document from historian and TV presenter Dan Jones.

Some of the world's leading experts on the document are in the process of undertaking a major research project and the British Library confirmed that the unification of the documents would allow them to be studied much more closely in its conservation centre.  It said particularly faded or obscured parts of the text will be examined for new clues about the identities of the still-unknown writers of the texts.

This event will kick-start a year of commemorations across the UK and the world to mark the 800th anniversary. The four original Magna Carta manuscripts will then go on display in their home institutions as part of major anniversary exhibitions.

About the 800 year celebrations

A Couple Of Days Well Spent In Hereford

Medieval Hereford has enough to occupy you for more than a couple of days, but with careful planning you can get the best out of your short break.

So much to do in Hereford

If you haven’t made any great plans, a visit to the Tourist Information Centre on King Street will set you right. Start with a walk down Gwynne Street, crossing the River Wye on the Wye Bridge. From there you can follow the riverside path, crossing the Victoria Bridge to do a walk around Castle Green.

At Cathedral Close you will find a statue of Edward Elgar, testament to the seven years that he lived in the city between 1904 and 1911.

No visit to Hereford is complete without a visit to the Cathedral, home to the Mappa Mundi, which is the largest surviving medieval map of the world, as well as the amazing Chained Library. Sometimes you will be able to climb the small staircase up the tower for a wonderful view of the city.

Not far from there is the museum together with the art gallery. The Old House in High Street is a seventeenth century merchant’s house, the only surviving house in Butcher’s Row. Spend some time browsing the shops in Church Street.

If that isn’t enough for you, then the countryside around the city is full of interesting places to visit, including Queenswood Country Park with its wonderful views, the Italianate church at Hoarworthy, and the chance to paddle a canoe to Ross-on-Wye.

                                                                 About Herefordshire

Hereford Cathedral

Edinburgh Will Be A Top Destination This Christmas

Scotland’s capital city will be putting heart and soul into celebrating Christmas this year, with the promise that their plans will be bigger and more affordable than ever. The opening “Light Night” is an example with some sixty schools and community groups gathering to perform at the inaugural event on George Street on 23 November.

Looking forward to Christmas

A new ice rink is planned for St Andrew Square around the Melville Monument and low-cost attractions will be available in East Princes Street Gardens. People with an EH postcode will received a 20% discount on all shows, rides and events.

Favourites from last year will be back, including the Christmas Tree Maze, Starflyer, Big Wheel and Paradiso Spiegeltent. The ice rink, overlooked by the Scott Monument, will again be back in East Princes Street, while Santa Land - including the train and grotto - has been expanded.  The Big Wheel, enjoyed by 120,000 people last year, will be festooned with 20,000 lights.

The Spiegeltent performances include the Scotch and Soda circus, comedian Al Murray and Stickman, a show based on the children's book by Julia Donaldson.

Edinburgh's Festivals and Events Champion Steve Cardownie said organisers Unique Events and Underbelly had worked hard to include a range of free and low-cost attractions.

He said: "Edinburgh is always a special city during winter and this year, the capital is certainly the place to be to celebrate Christmas. Our festive programmes are the envy of the world. The line up this winter with Underbelly will be bring back some of the city's classic attractions such as Santa Land - which will be bigger than ever before - and the spectacular Light Night on George Street which returns for its second year.

"Not only will the East Princes Street Gardens ice rink make a return after receiving well over 30,000 visitors last Christmas, but a new bespoke ice rink in St Andrew Square will be opened for the very first time."

The opening ceremony, Light Night, will be free from 14:00 to 17:00 on Sunday 23 November. 600 local performers will take part in this event with a theme of Christmas Songs and Carols

The Christmas Tree on the Mound, a gift to the City of Edinburgh Council from the Hordaland County Council in Norway, will be lit up as part of the Light Night switch-on.

Pupils from 24 Edinburgh primary schools have been invited to design a stained glass window and will show off their creations in Princes Street Gardens. The European Christmas Market will be back in Princes Street Gardens and the Mound, with 106 stalls offering a selection of foods, drinks and crafts.

Edinburgh's Christmas