Patten's gaffe brings windfall

John Patten's ill-judged remarks about Professor Tim Brighouse continue to bear fruit for education with the announcement that applications are invited from schools or groups of schools for a limited number of cash grants to help equal-opportunities projects.

Professor Brighouse, chief education officer for Birmingham, took out a libel action against John Patten when the former Education Secretary described him as a nutter during a public speech.

Some pounds 30,000 of last year's settlement has already been used on larger- scale projects.

Now The Friends of Tim Brighouse are inviting applications for up to pounds 1,000 to help smaller projects get off the ground. All must be innovative, strike a blow for more equality of opportunity in education and be capable of widespread use.

Applications should be set out on not more than two sides of A4 and should indicate whether other money would be available to help the project.

Send applications to Fred Jarvis, The Friends of Tim Brighouse, 92 Hadley Road, New Barnet, Herts, EN5 5QR.