I was much impressed by his ability in practical matters often based on his non-mathematical but sound understanding of

I was much impressed by his ability in practical matters, often based on his non-mathematical, but sound understanding of the theorems of physics. Wetherill Professor of Astronomy 1971-86 (Emeritus); FRS 1964; married 1947 Merle Tuberg (three daughters; marriage dissolved), 1972 Carvel Beyer (one daughter); died Ithaca, New York 22 June 2004.
Thomas Gold was a most unusual scientist. Brilliant in his ideas, unconstrained in the range of his interests, rock solid in his use of the fundamental laws of physics to make the most surprising deductions from them, making himself at home in fields of science he had had no connections with before, he was variously seen as a genius (even if a trifle rash) or as an irritating, useless interloper.Yet he was not aiming to become a scientist, let alone an astronomer when young. The Government is believed to be approaching its target of 2,000 specialist schools two years ahead of schedule. The biggest increase is in maths specialist schools, where the number will go up from 76 to 130 this September – a response to a recent government report on maths warning that the subject was in crisis.The announcement will coincide with Charles Clarke, the Education Secretary, putting his five-year plan to the Cabinet.

He indicated the party would also remove the right to admissions appeals, insisting that “it should be for headteachers and governors to have the final say over exclusions and admissions.”Labour is set to announce a massive increase in its specialist secondary schools programme. Thomas Gold, astronomer: born Vienna 22 May 1920; Fellow, Trinity College, Cambridge 1947-51; staff, Cavendish Laboratory 1946-47, 1949-52; staff, Medical Research Council Zoological Laboratory, Cambridge 1947-49; Senior Principal Scientific Officer, Royal Greenwich Observatory 1952-56; Professor of Astronomy, Harvard University 1957-58, Robert Wheeler Willson Professor of Applied Astronomy 1958-59; Director, Center for Radio-Physics and Space Research, Cornell University 1959-81, John L. Thomas Gold was a most unusual scientist. Ministers hope to expand the the number of City Academy programmes – under which schools in inner-city areas can be privately run by sponsors with state aid – from 60 to about 200 by the end of the decade.* Science teachers could be next in line for a salary rise in the wake of the Government’s decision to boost the pay of maths teachers so they can earn more than £50,000 a year.Heads and union leaders argued that singling out maths teachers for a pay rise would divert badly needed recruits to subjects such as physical sciences and modern languages.. The party also proposes giving all schools grant-maintained status, to give them freedom over spending and borrowing. An expansion fund will be set up for extra classrooms or new schools.Mr Collins said the reforms could make traditional catchment areas “wither away”.

The Tories hope to encourage a new range of private, church and voluntary schools to increase choice to parents.Conservatives would scrap limits on the number of surplus school places in each education authority, instead allowing headteachers to increase places by 10 per cent to encourage expansion by popular schools.Headteachers will also get the power to set their own admissions policies, opening up the prospect of new grammar schools across the country.Tim Collins, the shadow Education Secretary, claimed the Tories would spend more on schools than Labour, increasing a planned £47bn next year to £62bn in 2009. I want to give every parent the kind of choice in education that today only people with money can buy.” Shadow education secretary Tim Collins added: “Tens of thousands of parents cannot get their child into the school they want, while the Government forbids popular schools expanding No wonder there is such a cry for change.”. Michael Howard will pledge today to create tens of thousands of new school places under far-reaching proposals to give parents greater choice of education for their children. Too many parents in Britain today simply have to shut up and take what they are given by the state. It would also scrap targets imposed on schools.Mr Howard said: “We will give teachers the freedom to teach, slashing back the undergrowth of targets and brambles of bureaucracy.”The third element is the right to supply. Private companies, faith groups and parents would be able to set up new schools and take over failing ones.Funds would be allocated directly to schools according to pupil numbers.

They promise headmasters and governors would be able to control their budgets and set school policies on admission, attendance and discipline.A Tory government would abolish the appeals panel, giving heads and governors back the authority to deal with disruptive pupils. To those parents who want the best for their children but are denied it, to those teachers who want freedom to teach but are ignored – my message to them today is that we are on your side.”Our ambition is to give every child the start in life that today only money can buy Under Labour children will be left to fail. The party says almost all the money would go directly to the school.It says the number of good school places would increase because popular schools would expand and new ones would be set up wherever there was parental demand.Furthermore under-performing schools would be forced to raise their game and failing ones would be taken over by new management.The second key plank of the Conservatives’ proposals would see teachers given far greater freedom. The money that taxpayers would spend on that child’s education would then go to the school.The party promised its plans would mean 100,000 more parents would be able to send their children to their first choice school in the first term of a Tory government.The Tories would also spend an extra £15 billion a year on schools by 2009-10 and would provide enough money to build 260 new secondary schools.Launching the Conservatives’ “Right to Choose”, Tory leader Michael Howard said: “By giving parents real choice and teachers real freedom success should flourish and failure should wither away. “We need to make sure it does not become too closed and inward-looking and that it is part of the real world,” she says, pointing out that most of 6 Music’s presenters have never worked on mainstream shows.That does not mean that Douglas will be introducing more women presenters to either 6 Music or Radio 2 as a tactic for enticing more female listeners.