John Bald/language and literacy

Your Child's Right to Learn a Language

All children have a legal right to study a language from 11 -16, but a parliamentary answer to Nick Gibb MP revealed 25 secondary schools that are not offering this. This is illegal, and probably not the full picture, as the government can only reply about schools it knows about.

If your child is not being allowed to learn a language, I am happy to help on a no-cost basis.  After you have written to the headteacher to point out the situation, if you have no positive response, email me and I will advise on the next steps. These should include involving the local media.

Kay Elliott

Kay Elliott paints flowers with clarity, finesse and, when it is called for, power. Enid and I met Kay through a birthday card I'd bought her from Waitrose. This led to Kay's website, http://www.kelliott.co.uk/ and six purchases, one of them a powerful picture of sunflowers, now on my study wall. I had to take all other pictures off the wall as they could not live with it. We've arranged a small exhibition at the Darryl Nantais gallery in Linton, Cambridgeshire. If you like flowers, and are interested in art, check out Kay's site. If a picture is sold, she will happily paint another on the same theme - our first purchase came this way - and Kay will only sell it to you if she's sure you're happy with it. Kay's work has brightened our home, and may well do the same for yours.