The Social Networking Conference was held at The Palace Venue, Lower Gungate, Tamworth, Staffs, B79 7AF, on Monday 5 November 2007. The aim of the conference was to provide a focus for discussions relating to social networking on the Internet. There were specific references to the educational benefits and potential dangers of social networking, privacy and supervision issues and the legal implications for students and their teachers.

I recently gave a talk at the Westminster e-Forum on behalf of Naace. Here is the text of that presentation, which had to last no longer than four minutes. The audience was composed of Members of Parliament, journalists, and high-ranking representatives of skills organisations, companies and educational bodies.

Our second 'hot-seat' guest is Gareth Davies, Chair of Naace Board of Management. He will be answering your questions from 6 February onwards.

Our first 'hot-seat' guest is Phia le Roux. She will be answering your questions from 9 January 2008. Phia has kindly agreed to share an hour per week 'live' at 4-5pm every Wednesday and will pick up and answer any other questions at 8.30am Mondays and Fridays. Please fire all your questions on what podacasting is about, why podcast, how to get started, what you need to get started, potential difficulties, problems encountered etc.

Mick Waters, Director of Curriculum for QCA, is the 'hotseat' guest in March.

Julie Cooper is the Chair of Governors at Gloucester Road Primary School in Cheltenham. Her role was primarily a mother and parent governor until the school went into Special Measures when she decided that rather than take her children out of school she would take action to help get the school out of trouble.