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Daily News Summary
13 August 2018

A-level results day: Next steps for pupils
A-level reforms: 'Pass marks could fall significantly'
'University clearing increasingly used by richer applicants to find the best courses'
Scottish Labour says exam appeals system is "tilted" in favor of independent schools
New inspection framework to tackle “exam factory” schools
Headteacher questions the need for GCSE exams
OfS chief executive gives warning over mental health crisis

A-level results day: Next steps for pupils

 

iNews offers guidance to students about what to do on A-level results day, featuring advice from ISC chairman Barnaby Lenon. The ISC chairman is also quoted in a separate article about degree apprenticeships. By Richard Vaughan.

 
iNews

A-level reforms: 'Pass marks could fall significantly'

 

Pass marks could fall this year as Ofqual looks to transition from the old A-levels to the reformed exams. By Nicola Woolcock, The Times. The Guardian quotes Sally Collier, head of Ofqual, as saying students taking the reformed A-levels will not be "disadvantaged relative to students in previous years".

 
The Times

'University clearing increasingly used by richer applicants to find the best courses'

 

Sir Peter Lampl, the Sutton Trust founder, has claimed that well-off parents use university clearing to shop around for the best courses - an approach that lower income families are less well-equipped to carry out. By David Batty, The Guardian.

 
The Guardian

Scottish Labour says exam appeals system is "tilted" in favor of independent schools

 

The exam appeals system has been criticised by Scottish Labour, after figures revealed a greater rate of appeals from independent schools compared to state schools. By Simon Johnson, The Telegraph.

 
The Telegraph

New inspection framework to tackle “exam factory” schools

 

The Sunday Times has reported that Ofsted will bring in a new inspection framework next year, which will penalise “exam factory” schools. By Sian Griffiths, The Sunday Times.

 
The Sunday Times

Headteacher questions the need for GCSE exams

 

A headteacher at a college in Wales writes for Tes, arguing that exams are flawed and alternative approaches should be used in order to help pupils develop 21st-century skills. By Peter T Howe.

 
Tes

OfS chief executive gives warning over mental health crisis

 

Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of the Office for Students (OfS), has said universities must do more to tackle the student mental health crisis. By Richard Vaughan, iNews.

 
iNews

 

The Independent Schools Council (ISC) monitors the national and educational press in order to keep independent schools up-to-date with relevant education news. The DNS is a service primarily for schools in membership of ISC associations, although other interested parties can choose to sign-up. We endeavour to include relevant news and commentary and, wherever possible, notable public letters. Where capacity allows, we may include links to ISC blogs, press statements and information about school or association events. News stories are selected based on their relevance to the independent sector as a whole. Editorial control of the DNS remains solely with the ISC.

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