Jesus Christ - was he a footballer?

THE FRIDAY THING: I WONDER what our strike-obsessed teachers make of the rather startling news that religious education is so poor in schools today that huge numbers of children do not know who Jesus was or what he did.

They probably think he’s a footballer, or a pop or rap star.

To make matters worse for the strikers, the latest figures show the majority of children are so poor at English and maths they don’t know as much about them as their grandparents did – and are falling behind youngsters in many other countries in numeracy and literacy.

Ofsted inspectors say many children leave school with little or no knowledge of what Jesus did and what he stood for - and not much idea of the Christian faith.

The former Bishop of Rochester says a whole generation of children has only a superficial knowledge of Christianity, while Ofsted director Michael Cladingbowl said he and his colleagues found children couldn’t say why Jesus was important.

Ofsted puts the blame for this on teachers who lacked the confidence and knowledge to stretch children so that too many pupils leave school with a limited understanding of Christianity.

The reduction in the number of people attending Church of England services doesn’t help of course.

I don’t suppose most of them still have a Sunday school - and who would attend if they did?



ONE thing is clear regarding the imminent departure of Oldham’s Chief Executive Charlie Parker for the same role with Westminster City Council: he will be missed.
Will he take his team along as he heads for the big time? From day one in Oldham Charlie surrounded himself with a splendid team who all played a key role in making the Parker stay highly successful.

There was never much doubt in my mind that Charlie would view Oldham as a stepping stone and it has turned into a pretty huge step to Westminster, where he will no doubt carve out a formidable reputation.

Council leader Jim McMahon will miss Charlie and his team and will no doubt be hoping for a new chief exec who sings from the same redevelopment hymn sheet.

The gossip suggests Barbara Spicer - whose shock resignation as chief exec of Salford City Council took everyone by surprise - could be in line to replace him. If the gossip turns out to be true, watch out for the fireworks.