News
A round-up of news from LAL England.
Agatha Christie Week
- Throughout the week… Unique treasure hunt – clues hidden around Torbay
- Christie Mystery Shopping Clues in Paignton Shops
- ‘Witness for the Prosecution’
Wednesday 15th September, Princess Theatre, Torquay (from £13.50)
- ‘Spider’s Web’ from Sunday 12th September, Little Theatre (from £10)
- Agatha Christie Fête
Sunday 12th September, Princess Gardens, Torquay 10.00 - 16.30 (Official opening by Mathew Pritchard Agatha Christie’s grandson.)
- ‘Agatha Christie Secret Diaries'
Monday 13th September, New Paignton Library 16.00 - 18.00 Mathew Pritchard and John Cussan – includes refreshments (£4)
- ‘Agatha Christie, Literary daughter of South Devon’
Thursday 16th September, New Paignton Library 19.15 (£1.50)
- ‘Appointment with Death’
Friday 17th September, Torquay Museum (£4)
- ‘Tea on the Terrace’
Sunday 19th September, Living Coasts, Torquay (£6.95)
For more infromation on the Agatha Christie Festival visit
British Council
At the beginning of September LAL Torbay will be having its four-yearly inspection by the British Council, an important and essential part of getting permission to take VISA students and being recognised as having the high standards set by this organisation.
But what exactly is the British Council? Founded in 1934 and given a royal charter by King George VI in 1940 it’s a quango (QUasi-Autonomous Non-Governmental Organisation). Its job is “to build mutually beneficial cultural and educational relationships between the United Kingdom and other countries, and increase appreciation of the United Kingdom’s creative ideas and achievements”.
To give you an idea of the scale of this organisation, there are 70 British Council Teaching Centres in 53 countries and the British Council administers 1.5 million UK examinations to over 1 million candidates every year. It jointly runs the global IELTS English language test with Cambridge University ESOL examinations and IDP Education Australia.
As a reflection of the UK’s multicultural society, the British Council is working with the Department for Children, Schools and Families to help 3 million children gain an International School Award. At present there are 2,700 schools working to get this award and in doing so improve their understanding and appreciation of other cultures. There are also 153 schools in the Middle East involved in co-operative and collaborative projects with UK schools.
Working with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence the British Council in Africa is attempting to improve the English language skills of military personnel. The Peacekeeping English Project is helping to train approximately 50,000 military and police service personnel in 28 countries.
For four days two inspectors will review all practices in the school, from the overall management to the individual department. They will have informal chats with students and staff and observe all of the teachers as they teach their classes. At LAL Torbay we are proud of our high standard of professional service and expertise and we all hope that once again we will meet the criteria set by the British Council and be given the accreditation.
