isc logo  

Daily News Summary
19 August 2019

Spike in number of GCSE appeals predicted following reforms to grading system
Letters: Oxbridge governors in independent schools
'Low-cost private schools like mine have the potential to succeed'
'Scottish independent schools should not be excluded from non-domestic rate relief'
Letters: 'It's time to put an end to predicted grades in university admissions'
'Countless opportunities are available to students through clearing'
Investigation launched following claims exam board 'failed to vet exam markers'
Letters: 'The push towards STEM subjects may be marginalising the arts'

Spike in number of GCSE appeals predicted following reforms to grading system

 

The number of requests for exam remarks is predicted to reach a record high, as the nine to one grading system is rolled out across all major subjects. By Camilla Turner, The Telegraph.

The Sunday Times reports on the "forgotten third" of students who fail both English and maths GCSE. A slight rise in the pass rate for these subjects is predicted this year, as exam boards are thought to have reviewed the grade boundaries.

 

Letters: Oxbridge governors in independent schools

 

Richard Harman, chief executive of the Association of Governing Bodies of Independent Schools, writes in The Telegraph addressing reports that Oxbridge governors offer an 'unfair advantage' to pupils at independent schools. He clarifies that governors are not responsible for offering advice to students regarding university admissions. The letter can be found towards the bottom of the page.

In a separate letter, Richard Russell, head of Colfe's School, also responds to the claims, highlighting the ways an Oxbridge governor at his school is working to widen access to Oxford University for local state school pupils. The letter can be found at the bottom of the page.

 
The Telegraph

'Low-cost private schools like mine have the potential to succeed'

 

James Tooley, professor of educational entrepreneurship and policy at the University of Buckingham, writes about the Independent Grammar School: Durham, a low-cost independent school he co-founded that has successfully completed its first year. The Telegraph.

 
The Telegraph

'Scottish independent schools should not be excluded from non-domestic rate relief'

 

Debbie McIlwraith Cameron, an associate with legal firm Turcan Connell, examines proposals to put an end to charitable relief for Scottish independent schools. She concludes that amending the charity test could better address the debate surrounding the charitable status of private schools, "rather than subjecting certain charities to a financial penalty". The Scotsman.

 
Scotsman

Letters: 'It's time to put an end to predicted grades in university admissions'

 

Writing in The Times, Magnus Bashaarat, head of Bedales School, expresses his support for proposals to introduce a post-qualification university admissions system. The letter can be found a quarter of the way down the page.

 
The Times

'Countless opportunities are available to students through clearing'

 

Andrew Halls, head of King's College School, writes in The Sunday Times reassuring students of the opportunities available through clearing if they did not receive the A-level grades they wanted.

 
The Sunday Times

Investigation launched following claims exam board 'failed to vet exam markers'

 

The Daily Mail reports exam board OCR did not verify the qualifications of applicants for A-level assessor roles, after a journalist was hired to mark an exam paper despite providing a fabricated CV. By Sian Boyle. Mike Buchanan, chief executive of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference, is quoted.

 
Daily Mail

Letters: 'The push towards STEM subjects may be marginalising the arts'

 

In a letter to The Times, Tak-Sang Li, head of English at an independent girls' school, suggests there is a link between the popularity of STEM subjects and the national decline in A-level English entries. The letter can be found half-way down the page.

The Telegraph reports on comments made by Lord Kenneth Baker, that new reforms to GCSEs are responsible for the "squeezing out" of technical, cultural and creative subjects.

 

 

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.

Sign-up to the email service is available on our website.

Members can contact the ISC if they know in advance of news, letters or opinions that are likely to feature in the media, or are aware of existing coverage which they would like to see featured in the DNS.

Headlines and first-line summaries are written by the ISC with the link directing to the source material. You should read and comply with the terms and conditions of the websites to which we link.