Thursday 11th August 2016

[55DegreesNorth]

Crest Academy, an E-Act sponsored outfit, ruins kids chances of university by teaching the wrong standard.
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2 ... ment-error" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Standards, and all that.

Okay I'll stick my neck out. When I taught or mentored some GNVQ projects at college I knew nothing at all of what was required and was only handed a few notes of guidance. I couldn't even glean much from Edexcel's website (I think it was them). Still barring a very few that I could not pass, despite being told to pass them all, my assessment did parry with the external markers. Because so many had dropped out, before my arrival I may add, I was instructed to mark their work a week early and return it to the students with explicit instructions of what else was required... as if they hadn't had enough hand holding already. Even after that I got into arguments with the head of department about my refusal to pass them all.

PGSE was another bone of contention, no guidance or curriculum whatsoever. The blind leading the blind.

Postscript: It wasn't PGSE that's something else entirely. I can't remember what it was.

Tell me about it, bonny lad. I've seen some industrial scale cheating and bending of professional standards in BTEC teaching (=photocopying). It's no coincidence that pushing shed loads of students onto BTEC courses, regardless of their appropriateness or credibility, is an essential part of 'turning round' failing schools. That, and booting out difficult students.

[PorFavor]

The UK’s statistics office has begun recruiting its first data analytics apprentices, following a critical review into the quality
of economic data by the former Bank of England deputy governor Sir Charles Bean.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said it was recruiting six apprentices at its Newport headquarters in south Wales, where its
new data science campus is based. Bean has been highly critical of the skills levels at the ONS following its move from London to
Newport after 2007, when it lost many senior staff.

Andrew Tyrie, chair of the cross-party Treasury select committee, has also blasted the UK’s “rubbish” statistics and criticised the
ONS for falling behind its international peers.

- ONS to recruit data analytics apprentices after skills criticism

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/201 ... -criticism" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Yeah, six apprentices will sort out the ONS, no problem.
Tory governments foment disaster for sport - it's what the Tory party is about.
I've no doubt their jiggery of services continues.

I used to work for ONS in the days before it was mauled about and was still called OPCS (Office for Population Censuses and Surveys). In those days it was regarded as "the Rolls Royce of statistics". I was proud to work there. It's criminal what's happened to the outfit.




Edited - "it" for "is"

[PorFavor]

Plan for cement factories in London Olympic park causes uproar

Thousands object to proposals to site cement and concrete plants on parkland left as legacy from 2012 Games (Guardian)

Some legacy.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/201 ... ses-uproar

[citizenJA]

The UK’s statistics office has begun recruiting its first data analytics apprentices, following a critical review into the quality
of economic data by the former Bank of England deputy governor Sir Charles Bean.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said it was recruiting six apprentices at its Newport headquarters in south Wales, where its
new data science campus is based. Bean has been highly critical of the skills levels at the ONS following its move from London to
Newport after 2007, when it lost many senior staff.

Andrew Tyrie, chair of the cross-party Treasury select committee, has also blasted the UK’s “rubbish” statistics and criticised the
ONS for falling behind its international peers.

- ONS to recruit data analytics apprentices after skills criticism

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/201 ... -criticism" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Yeah, six apprentices will sort out the ONS, no problem.
Tory governments foment disaster for sport - it's what the Tory party is about.
I've no doubt their jiggery of services continues.

I used to work for ONS in the days before it was mauled about and was still called OPCS (Office for Population Censuses and Surveys). In those days it was regarded as "the Rolls Royce of statistics". I was proud to work there. It's criminal what's happened to the outfit.

Edited - "it" for "is"

I know. I'm California State University (CSU) educated. The reputation of your organisation was justly renowned.

[ephemerid]

For Ephie.

13814045_1124593070962307_4729061136394819414_n.png

Ohso, you are a very naughty girl.

Mind you, one of the not-very-good-at-rowing Greeks is just divine.
I don't care if he's not-very-good-at-rowing. He's BEAUTIFUL!!!!!

[ohsocynical]

Re the court case.
This comment on Facebook.

>>>Apparently excluding large parts of the membership from voting is to ‘avoid manipulation of the democratic processes. I suppose he’s alluding to the totally unsubstantiated smear that Tom Watson started about entryism.
Tom Watson was paid £200,000 by Max Mosley, who was involved in his father Oswald Mosley’s extreme right party. You couldn’t make it up.<<<

[ephemerid]

Jess Phillips is an eejit.

She claims she contacted both Corbyn and someone in his office (who she calls, with no sense of irony, "lovely") by text. Twice.
So she sends two text messages and seriously thinks this is the way to get a party leader to "do something"?

Someone mentioned earlier that they thought she was a "rentagob". I disagree. She is gobby for no charge.
Her Twitter avatar is a pic of herself shouting at someone.

Not a lot of dignity there.

[utopiandreams]

Oh go on I do have a tale about working at a college. I was offered the post on a Thursday I think and started at 9 o' clock on the Monday morning with little to no idea of what I was going to do. A lad somewhat larger than I wandered in about ten past and muttering something I didn't catch sauntered right up to me and spoke directly into my face. Without batting an eyelid I asked his name and told him to take a seat.

Later that morning I was asked by their year tutor if I had met said student and was told we wouldn't have him for much longer as he was up for either ABH or GBH shortly and was likely to be sent down. It was only then I realised I was supposed to be intimidated by him, it simply hadn't occurred to me. When it came to splitting them up for a group project plus his constant claims to be so much better than everyone else I let him have a group to himself. He didn't appreciate it but was gone within a fortnight.

[ephemerid]

Professor Alexis Jay has been appointed to chair the child abuse enquiry after Judge Lowell Goddard resigned.

Jay has no legal qualifications, but a lot of experience in the field and chaired the Rotherham enquiry.

This has already cost £18 Million so far - perhaps now, at long last, something might actually happen.

[TR'sGhost]

Jess Phillips is an eejit.

She claims she contacted both Corbyn and someone in his office (who she calls, wi,th no sense of irony, "lovely") by text. Twice.
So she sends two text messages and seriously thinks this is the way to get a party leader to "do something"?

Someone mentioned earlier that they thought she was a "rentagob". I disagree. She is gobby for no charge.
Her Twitter avatar is a pic of herself shouting at someone.

Not a lot of dignity there.

Who needs dignity when, with enough controversial twitting, you too can postion yourself to become the next Mensch, Danczuk or Mad Mel Phillips (who was left wing back when she was whatever she was at the NU Students and writing for the Guardian).

[55DegreesNorth]

Plan for cement factories in London Olympic park causes uproar

Thousands object to proposals to site cement and concrete plants on parkland left as legacy from 2012 Games (Guardian)

Some legacy.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/201 ... ses-uproar

To be honest, from Google Earth, it looks like a cement works would be an improvement. I was going to pop a screen shot in, but it's not playing. Time to read Refitmans tips.

[TR'sGhost]

Unison committee nominate Jeremy Corbyn by 58 to 42%

If I was a member of Unison I'd be unhappy about that. Other unions have been able to ballot their members, why not Unison

@danesclose re GMB numbers - I'd imagine the Graun guesstimated how many were eligible & we all know accuracy isn't one of their strong points

Fair point well made

I'm a Musician's Union member and I'm not exactly pleased with not being consulted either. Not that the MU ever consults members about anything. Not since we elected the "wrong General Secretary" who "had" to be forced out of office by a revolt of the EC and paid staff. After which the EC shut down all the local branches and made the small and pretty much self-perpetuating Regional Committees the lowest rung of the organisation.

Oh, and candidates for committee and other elections, who other than the already elected, members have probably mever even heard of are allowed two or three short paragraphs of election blurb, which must not be political in nature.

And nowadays the EC complains election turnouts are minute and members aren't active in the Union any more...

[yahyah]

Happy birthday to Show, and have a great evening together.
He is indeed lucky to have you Ephie, I hope you remind him of that ten times a day

[ohsocynical]

For Ephie.

13814045_1124593070962307_4729061136394819414_n.png

Ohso, you are a very naughty girl.

Mind you, one of the not-very-good-at-rowing Greeks is just divine.
I don't care if he's not-very-good-at-rowing. He's BEAUTIFUL!!!!!

Just think about way back when, when they competed in the nuddy. Although I can think of some sports where it's just as well they're [more or less] covered.

[HindleA]

http://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/dw ... tos-nurse/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


DWP silent over ‘fitness for work’ tests carried out by drunk Atos nurse

[ohsocynical]

Jon Trickett
‏@jon_trickett Jon Trickett Retweeted Maria Carroll

I am a member of NEC. Not been consulted about appeal. Time to spend money on opposing Tory govt not on lawyers

[ohsocynical]

For Ephie.

13814045_1124593070962307_4729061136394819414_n.png

Ohso, you are a very naughty girl.

Mind you, one of the not-very-good-at-rowing Greeks is just divine.
I don't care if he's not-very-good-at-rowing. He's BEAUTIFUL!!!!!

Just think about way back when, when they competed in the nuddy. Although I can think of some sports where it's just as well they're [more or less] covered.

This would do: http://www.thelondoneconomic.com/sport/ ... ted/11/08/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[ephemerid]

Ohso, you are a very naughty girl.

Mind you, one of the not-very-good-at-rowing Greeks is just divine.
I don't care if he's not-very-good-at-rowing. He's BEAUTIFUL!!!!!

Just think about way back when, when they competed in the nuddy. Although I can think of some sports where it's just as well they're [more or less] covered.

This would do: http://www.thelondoneconomic.com/sport/ ... ted/11/08/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Nude Olympic competitors? Nooo!!!!!!

Suppose they have darts? Can you IMAGINE a latter-day Jocky Wilson starkers on the oche?

Mind you, I suspect the (already very very very very high) numbers of chaps watching the womens' beach volleyball would rocket.

Condom clothes. Crikey. Whatever else has been said about Chanel, at least she didn't dress women in rubber.

[ephemerid]

Show says thank you for the birthday wishes.

He also says you may not have cake. It's all for him.

(He ate 3 onion bhajis. Oink)

However, I have some nice fruity Welsh cakes in the tin, and I'll be making a lemon drizzle cake at the weekend. You can have some of that instead. Who like chocolate cake anyway? So ner ner nee ner ner, Show.

[HindleA]

http://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/ch ... efits-cap/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Charity calls for WRAG exemption from benefits cap


Though may become exempt soon by other means.

[HindleA]

http://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/at ... ment-lies/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Atos nurse struck off over PIP assessment lies

[HindleA]

Link to coverage of debate in both threads.

[ephemerid]

http://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/at ... ment-lies/

Atos nurse struck off over PIP assessment lies

I am disgusted by members of the profession of which I was so proud working for the likes of Atos and Maximus.

It goes against everything I was taught, it's not good practice, and those who do it should be ashamed of themselves.

Judging by the NMC entries of the nurses who were involved in my assessments, they have basic qualifications and not much in the way of post-graduate clinical practice (which, as any nurse worth their salt would tell you, is where you really learn your craft)

[ephemerid]

Yay! The GB men are through to the rugby sevens final!

They get Fiji. Oooer.....

[refitman]

http://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/at ... ment-lies/

Atos nurse struck off over PIP assessment lies

I am disgusted by members of the profession of which I was so proud working for the likes of Atos and Maximus.

It goes against everything I was taught, it's not good practice, and those who do it should be ashamed of themselves.

Judging by the NMC entries of the nurses who were involved in my assessments, they have basic qualifications and not much in the way of post-graduate clinical practice (which, as any nurse worth their salt would tell you, is where you really learn your craft)

Speaking of Maximus, anyone heard anything from Sue Marsh since she went to work for them?

[utopiandreams]

http://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/at ... ment-lies/

Atos nurse struck off over PIP assessment lies

Failure to monitor and failure to disclose how many affected. No problem for IDS of course or his cohorts but what of those deprived of their lifelines? It's more than time that government took responsibility.

[HindleA]

Lovely place Fiji -Bula

I'm just getting my hair done.12 hours later approaching midnight,it was done.

[ohsocynical]

57ac93091700002d00d1e26c.jpeg (123.86 KiB) Viewed 13410 times

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/d ... wdatr442t9

[HindleA]

It didn't look any different.

[utopiandreams]

I believe we should ban all religion.

[HindleA]

She's on twitter.

[ephemerid]

http://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/at ... ment-lies/

Atos nurse struck off over PIP assessment lies

I am disgusted by members of the profession of which I was so proud working for the likes of Atos and Maximus.

It goes against everything I was taught, it's not good practice, and those who do it should be ashamed of themselves.

Judging by the NMC entries of the nurses who were involved in my assessments, they have basic qualifications and not much in the way of post-graduate clinical practice (which, as any nurse worth their salt would tell you, is where you really learn your craft)

Speaking of Maximus, anyone heard anything from Sue Marsh since she went to work for them?

She's been about on Twitter - mainly on the subject of the Labour leadership....

On another topic entirely -

Cancer Research UK says that the 62-day target for starting cancer treatment has been missed for two-and-a-half years.
The figures come from NHS England data from 2009 to 2016.
Note - NHS ENGLAND. Where one J.*unt is in charge.

[ephemerid]

Lovely place Fiji -Bula

I'm just getting my hair done.12 hours later approaching midnight,it was done.

"Done", A?

Done to a turn, done to a crisp, or just, like, done for?

[55DegreesNorth]

Dressage. *sigh*. I know there's some horsey folk here, but it's bollocks. There ought to be a separate performing art olympics for horse dancing, gymnastics, synchronised grinning. Chuck in opera and ballet and all the other stuff that can't be quantified and it would make a good alternative watch to the World Cup.

[utopiandreams]

I don't usually spell it out but there was a subtle message in my post about college after what I saw here the other day. It was true btw. As a member of the Magic Circle once told me, master distraction tactics and that's when the magic happens. Pity I couldn't master the second.

[utopiandreams]

Oi you, Fiftyfiver, my first wife used to take me to ballet, more contemporary dance thankfully but then she was a dancer and choreographer and even used me to try out her moves.

[StephenDolan]

Anyone watching the debate willing to give their opinion?

[utopiandreams]

Speaking of which my first girlfriend had me doing song and dance routines to perform before the class. I blame her for everything. I was only five or six at the time and extremely shy beforehand.

[HindleA]

It was a souvenir shop/cafe/hairdressers used by my better half for some respite from me.I pretended I was Jacques Cousteau looking at the beautiful coral for a couple of hours and on return nothing appeared to have moved in the meantime as much a hair slightly in a different directions, Fijian time"is somewhat different and when they said about half an hour it equated to our ten.She was furnished with drinks and food and well looked after to be fair.She.was the only costumer all day.Her hair was probably different in some way it was hard.to tell in the pitch black

[utopiandreams]

... Fijian time"is somewhat different and when they said about half an hour it equated to our ten...

I didn't know they were into computer programming, A.

[HindleA]

I find them both equally hard to watch to be honest.

[utopiandreams]

Anyone watching the debate willing to give their opinion?

No, Steve, but did see a short clip on Channel 4 News where Owen lambasted Jeremy's EU views, thrown back at him with when they shared a platform and giving him a sizeable list of its benefits.

Is it just me but has Cathy Newman upped her game recently? She had become a mini Laura Kuenssberg.

[HindleA]

Synchronised underwater nose picking , rhythmic bat gymnastics,I think you are on to a winner,there.

[tinyclanger2]

Have posted this recently but it seems appropriate on so many levels. Eddie Izzard and his guide to dressage:

" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
highly trained riders, highly trained horses trained to do ... stuff that is not wanted in life.

[HindleA]

There is links in both threads to all the debates,both live and put there later,if you so desire/punish yourself.

[utopiandreams]

I almost do the first every morning, A, but no to your bat gymnastics, I'm too afraid of falling. Would drinking a pint of beer whist standing on your head pass muster?

Speaking of which during an Everyman Wake before refurbishment in the 70s I was dragged on stage for a three man beer drinking race; two pints stood on the floor before us. Trouble was I couldn't stand beer back then so I had lager. No contest. Mind you, glad I'd done a thorough job on the nose-picking.

[HindleA]

Freestyle

[tinyclanger2]

unless you want to park your horse in a cupboard it's not ...

[utopiandreams]

Why, are you paying?

[tinyclanger2]

... dressage a la burgeleur