April 2008 Archives

LOOKED at from the perspective of the National Union of Teachers (NUT), the national strike – the first in 21 years – will no doubt be considered a success.

The walk-out by thousands of teachers closed or partially closed up to 8,000 schools in England and Wales, forcing working parents to stay at home or find childcare. In Liverpool, every secondary school except one was closed.

Meanwhile, thousands of school children will have no doubt enjoyed an unexpected extra day off from the classroom.

But, as far as everyone else is concerned, what exactly has this strike achieved?

What great news today to learn that Rod Holmes has been appointed as the new chairman of The Mersey Partnership.
All too often we find ourselves in the newspaper business having to question the wisdom of eyebrow-raising appointments to senior roles in public life, so it makes a refreshing change, as the advert used to say, to be able to applaud a really excellent choice.