Cribsheet daily 17.11.10

Vince Cable dances with Alesha Dixon — Vince Cable dances his cares away. Photograph: Internet

Once again students have left the police looking a trifle flat-footed. More than 70 websites are now publishing advice to student protesters in defiance of a police warning that to do so is illegal.

As one reader, Jackanapes, points out:

"Well of course other sites sprang up. Really, how long is it going to take some people to understand that you cannot effectively restrict the exchange of information any more? How long is it going to take some people to understand the internet?"

The proliferation of advice came in response to the suspension of a blog called Fitwatch, which told those who'd marched how to avoid being arrested. Police had it removed, saying it was "being used to undertake criminal activities". By last night the offending blogpost, which recommended students "get rid" of clothes they wore at the demonstration and change their appearance, had been republished on an 78 websites, including Facebook.

It suggests getting rid of clothes, spray cans and "dodgy texts/photos on your phone".

"Perhaps now is a good time for a makeover. Get a haircut and colour, grow a beard, wear glasses. It isn't a guarantee, but may help throw them off the scent."

"The police often use the psychological pressure of knowing they have your picture to persuade you to 'come forward'. Unless you have a very pressing reason to do otherwise, let them come and find you, if they know who you are."

Student politicians are focusing on mobilising anger to get rid of key Liberal Democrats, who they feel betrayed students by reneging on their promise to fight tuition fee rises.

But Simon Jenkins argues that the Lib Dems had no option but to support the Tories on fees, and the party's rebellious backbenchers should grow up and accept that:

"Lib Dem candidates promised before the election to oppose university fees. The coalition has been unable to honour that promise, for budgetary reasons familiar to us all. Party backbenchers are trying to argue that the student fees pledge was peculiar, and therefore unlike any ordinary pledge. It involved that most sacred of subsidies, a middle-class family allowance promised as a crude, centrist election bribe, and was therefore signed in blood."

Education news from around the web

Big story of the day from the BBC: Vince Cable is to star in the Christmas Strictly Come Dancing. He says:

"I have had a couple of practice sessions with Erin, who is absolutely gorgeous and a great teacher. I am looking forward to it."

In the same story, the BBC mentions that yesterday he "also launched the government's skills strategy which includes making the funding available for an extra 75,000 apprenticeships on top of the 200,000 already promised by Labour as well as improving skills training."

UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, comments:

"We welcome the government's intention to raise the status of vocational education but is it realistic to expect private sector employers to take on three-quarters of a million adult apprentices during an economic downturn?"

Meanwhile Labour Uncut launches a campaign to get Peter Mandleson on to Strictly.

Michael Gove will double the number of "superheads", says the Independent.

Mike Baker points out that Gove has now confirmed that free schools will not need to have qualified teachers.

The Telegraph carries a report calling for "badly-behaved children" to be banned from school for 12 months.

Teachers are bullied too, the Teacher Support Network points out in Anti-Bullying Week.

MayorofLondon tweeted yesterday that Boris Johnson had launched the Fourth Plinth schools awards, open to primary and secondary schools in London, an opportunity for students to design an artwork inspired by the commissions, past and present, for the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square. All entries will feature in an online exhibition,.

Competition

Do you have a clever way of using technology to teach children at your school? Enter the Classroom Innovation awards by sending us a short video of what you can do. There is a primary and secondary category and each winner will get £7,500 of Asus computing kit.

Excitingly, you can now view some of the submissions (and work out if you can do better!)