Woman's Hour - 25/01/2010

With Jane Garvey. As part of Woman's Hour's pre-election series on Winning Women's Votes, we look at education and consider who should run schools. The traditional model of state schools run centrally by Whitehall and administered by Local Education Authorities is under threat. The City Academies, introduced by New Labour, act as independent schools and are run by private sponsors, but remain within the state sector. Both the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats support academies. But are they the answer? The Conservatives want to go a step further and make it easier for everyone to set up schools within the state sector as a way, they say, of introducing innovation, choice and diversity into the public sector. Journalist Toby Young is currently campaigning for a parent-run academy in his patch of west London. Jane Garvey talks to him about his plans and is joined by journalist and education campaigner Fiona Millar, Anthony Seldon, Master at Wellingon College (sponsor of a new academy in Wiltshire), and Julian Astle from CentreForum. Sophie Okonedo talks to Jane about her role as Winnie Mandela in a one-off biopic on BBC4. The fact-based drama follows Mrs Mandela from the 1950s to 1990, when her husband was released from prison after 27 years. It charts her progress from country girl to politicised fighter against apartheid. How Sophie, a Brit, feel about playing arguably South Africa's most controversial character? How easy was it to get the right balance in portraying Winnie Mandela's fight against apartheid, but also her convictions for kidnapping, fraud and theft? And how did she manage to act the part of a woman as she aged through three decades? Binding your stomach after birth is becoming increasingly popular as new products like The Cinch or the Belly Bandit promise a flat tummy. But the Royal College of Midwives has warned that they can cause health problems. Popular with A-list celebrities and mums who can afford the price tag, such abdominal binders can be worn a day after birth. But do they work? And should mums really be focusing on their tummies? Haven't they got enough to do?