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A-level grades - what to do next

Jenni Murray hears what to do if your child's A-level results do not go to plan. Plus how a cafe is combating social isolation, and self-defence on the curriculum for girls.

What to do if your children don't get the exam grades they need. George Turnbull, Ofqual's former 'Exams Doctor', and the career advisor Carolyn Taylor join Jenni to discuss practical advice if things don't go to plan come results day.

Should women have to arm themselves with self-defence skills, or should the focus be on the perpetrators of the violence?

We open up our Archive to hear an interview mountaineer Alison Hargreaves gave to the programme a year before she died and talk to one of the youngest British climbers to summit Mount Everest, about her legacy.

We visit a caf茅 in Hackney, East London, where older women, mostly grandmothers, do the cooking, take the orders and welcome the customers which is helping to combat social isolation.

And we remember Hollywood icon Lauren Bacall - who died yesterday.

Presented by Jenni Murray
Producer Beverley Purcell.

Available now

41 minutes

Chapters

  • Exam Results Disappointment - Practical Advice

    George Turnbull, Ofqual鈥檚 former Exams Doctor, & career advisor Carolyn Taylor

    Duration: 07:36

  • Self-Defence For Girls

    Self-defence instructor Debi Steven, & blogger Milena Popova - a black belt in kickboxing

    Duration: 07:50

  • Lauren Bacall

    To celebrate the life & work of Lauren Bacall, who has died 鈥 a 2005 archive interview

    Duration: 04:25

  • Nana Caf茅 At The Convenience

    We visit the caf茅 run by older women in a converted public toilet in East London

    Duration: 08:54

  • Alison Hargreaves

    An archive interview with late climber Alison Hargreaves, & Mollie Hughes on her legacy

    Duration: 08:37

Practical Advice If Your Child Doesn鈥檛 Get The Exam Results They Need

A-Level results are out on Thursday, but what do you tell your children if they don鈥檛 get the grades they need? Sometimes it鈥檚 the parents who need more reassuring than their child. George Turnbull, Ofqual鈥檚 former Exams Doctor, and the career advisor Carolyn Taylor join Jenni to discuss practical advice if things don鈥檛 go to plan on results day.

Self-Defence

Last week the Assistant Principal of Rye College in East Sussex said self-defence training should be part of the curriculum for girls. But should women have to arm themselves with self-defence skills, or should the focus be on preventing and punishing the perpetration of violence? Some critics have said that advocating self-defence classes for women causes people to ask why victims didn鈥檛 fight their attackers off, and is a form of victim blaming. To discuss, Jenni is joined by self-defence instructor Debi Steven, and by blogger Milena Popova, who has a black belt in kickboxing.

Lauren Bacall

Lauren Bacall has died at the age of 89.听 Across the years on Woman鈥檚 Hour there have been many women who have impressed, but Jenni was bowled over by one of Hollywood鈥檚 greatest stars. She began her career at 18 and was still making films and headlines when they met in 2005. When they talked, it was about stardom then and now, and her life with and without Bogie - her first husband, Humphrey Bogart - and about how she met her future husband as a 19 year old, when she starred opposite him in To Have and Have Not.

Nana Caf茅 At The Convenience

Nana Caf茅 At The Convenience is a caf茅 in Hackney, East London, where older women, mostly grandmothers, do the cooking, take the orders, and welcome the customers 鈥 and yes, it is actually in a converted public toilet. It鈥檚 the brainchild of Katie Harris, who that a caf茅 staffed by older women might have the potential to combat social isolation in a novel and practical way. Katie and Yasmin, her Nanager - yes, they do love a pun - have a staff of several Nanas, working the days that suit them, alongside two full-time staff members. Judi Herman - aka Nana Judi to her own granddaughter - joined the Nanas preparing lunch in the kitchen with the help of chef Edward.

Alison Hargreaves

鈥淎 great climb, marred by tragedy鈥 - a description of the six north face ridges of the Swiss alpine mountains. Alison Hargreaves explains in an archive interview why she chose to attempt these six, highly dangerous climbs alone, and discusses the pressure of climbing whilst having a young family.

Alison Hargreaves attempted to climb K2 on 13 August 1995, but sadly died when a blizzard engulfed the summit. On the 19th anniversary of her death, we talk to Mollie Hughes, one of the youngest British climbers to summit Mount Everest, about Alison鈥檚 mountaineering legacy.

The Woman's Hour Archive Collection

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Jenni Murray
Interviewed Guest Mollie Hughes
Interviewed Guest Debi Steven
Interviewed Guest Milena Popova
Interviewed Guest Carolyn Taylor
Interviewed Guest George Turnbull
Producer Beverley Purcell

Broadcast

  • Wed 13 Aug 2014 10:00

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