Well, the month of April has flown past and as usual we seemed to have crammed a huge amount into it.
Jacqueline finished her pottery course. Over the course of the 4 sessions, the children made and painted 6 different types of pots, using different techniques. They made a round pot, using the potter’s wheel, a flat sided box with a lid and a pot which looked like it was made of a single coil wound around a mould.
The girls got the results for their Speech and Drama exams. Jacqueline got 2 merits and Stephanie got a merit and a distinction. I was so proud of them both. Stephanie has now started on her Grade 6 work, which is where these exams start counting towards UCAS points.
We have been doing quite a lot of baking over Easter. Greg and Jacqueline made hot cross buns, chocolate cake and bread just before Easter and these were delicious.

baking cakes

Hot Cross Bun
Right after Easter, we had a St George’s day theme at the local Home Education group and baking was on the agenda again. One of the parents came up with a recipe for a traditional Victoria Sponge and I have to say it is one of the yummiest I have ever tasted. (Recipe and Method below)
For the Cake
· 200g sugar
· 200g softened butter
· 4 eggs , beaten
· 200g self-raising flour
· 1 tsp baking powder
· 2 tbsp milk
FOR THE FILLING
· 100g butter , softened Butter cream filing optional
· 140g icing sugar , sifted
· drop vanilla extract (optional)
· 340g jar strawberry jam
· icing sugar , to decorate -red colouring to mix with your icing sugar, to make a St Georges cross
· on top of your cake.
Untenils
· Mixing bowl, Scales, Food mixer, Grease proof paper to line tins, Sieve for flour/icing,
· Baking tins,
METHOD
Heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Butter two 20cm sandwich tins and line with non-stick baking paper
In a large bowl, beat all the cake ingredients together until you have a smooth, soft batter.
Divide the mixture between the tins, smooth the surface with a spatula or the back of a spoon, then bake for about 20 mins until golden and the cake springs back when pressed. Turn onto a cooling rack and leave to cool completely.

St George's day cakes
We had some activity sheets about the towns and counties in England, which were great for Geography. These came from Activity Village.
LAMDA Exams
Both girls passed their Speech and Drama exams with flying colours. Jacqueline got 2 merits and Stephanie got a Merit and a Distinction. We were so delighted and so proud of them.
Stephanie is now starting on Grade 6, which is the Bronze level and the results of these exams now start to count towards UCAS points for University.
IGCSEs
Stephanie has now completed the syllabus for her Maths IGCSEs. We are finishing off the Chemistry and then we will be starting on the Physics.
Stephanie’s friend is taking A-Levels in Maths and Physics in school. We were quite amazed when he looked through Stephanie’s IGCSE physics book and said that most of the content he had done for A-Level!
Publishing for Jacqueline.
The next project is to get some of Jacqueline’s books and stories published. I now know how to do this, so I am busy editing her stories that she has written.
Astronomy
Greg has discovered a great love of Astronomy and has just finished building an orrary, which is a working model of the planets. It is quite fascinating. He is taking Jacqueline to Jodrell Bank to see the huge telescope very shortly.
Apology
Well, you could have bowled me over with a feather!
I got a letter of apology from our local LA over the harassment we have received. It seems the contents of this blog have been sufficient to satisfy them that we are providing a suitable education for our children.
We have been removed from the Children Missing Education register and our next review is April 2010. Yippee! Yippee!!
Freedom of Information Request
There was no sign of the information I requested under the FOI (Freedom of Information Act) about their responses to the 60 questions in Badman’s review.
Several LAs and the DCSF now seem to be using an exemption clause in the FOI, which they can apparently use if releasing the information could “prejudice public policy.”
I can only deduce that they are so concerned that home educating families will find out the libelous lies and rubbish they have written about them, that there will be such a huge public outcry- and probably several substantial harassment claims- that this would cause the planned public policy to be changed or dropped.
Anyway, only time will tell.
I think we are about up to date now.
Have a great day.
Amanda Goldston
Tags: children, home education // 1 Comment »