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Daily News Summary
22 July 2019

Independent schools debate: 'Labour Against Private Schools'
Plan for universities to wait for A-level results before offering places
Headteachers prefer Hunt to Johnson, poll finds
'Schools should spread vital moral messages, otherwise who will?'
All you need to know about exam results days
Campaigners call for primary school children 'to learn about FGM'
Parents use “inappropriate and aggressive” behaviour to raise complaints, Ofsted finds
App aims to recruit thousands of professionals into childcare

Independent schools debate: 'Labour Against Private Schools'

 

A letter in The Sunday Times has been signed by more than 250 Labour councillors, supporting the Labour Against Private Schools (Laps) campaign to "build a system that nurtures the talents of all our children". The paper also ran a news story reporting on the letter, quoting Barnaby Lenon, chairman of the Independent Schools Council.

This morning's BBC Radio 4 Today Programme, featured a debate about this issue. Matthew Adshead, chair of the Independent Schools Association and headteacher at Old Vicarage School, was interviewed alongside Labour activist Holly Rigby. Listen from 2:35:34.

Edward Lucas wrote in The Times supporting independent schools but argued many are not doing enough to justify their charitable status. Dr Christopher Ray, former chair of the the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference and former high master at Manchester Grammar School, wrote in a letter to The Times "those arguing for abolition need to spell out precisely how any wholehearted change will be managed". Letter half-way down.

Meanwhile, Giles Coren argued the involvement of the former Labour leader, Ed Miliband, in the Laps campaign is “great news for private schools”. The Times.

 

Plan for universities to wait for A-level results before offering places

 

Under a planned overhaul of the universities admissions system, students will apply for a university place only after receiving their A-level results. By Nicola Woolcock, The Times.

Alistair Jarvis, chief executive of Universities UK, writes in The Times on the subject stating that 'students and the public must have confidence in university admissions'.

 

Headteachers prefer Hunt to Johnson, poll finds

 

A survey by The Key has found four in five headteachers think Jeremy Hunt would make a better prime minister than Boris Johnson. By Freddie Whittaker, Schools Week.

 
Schools Week

'Schools should spread vital moral messages, otherwise who will?'

 

Dr Bernard Trafford, a former independent school head, argues it is up to schools to spread "vital moral messages of honesty, fairness, and the welcoming (not mere tolerance) of difference". Tes.

 
Tes

All you need to know about exam results days

 

iNews includes two separate articles detailing the need-to-knows about A-level results day and GCSE results day next month.

 

Campaigners call for primary school children 'to learn about FGM'

 

Campaigners have said all primary schools in England should start teaching pupils about female genital mutilation (FGM) next year, when a new curriculum is introduced. BBC News.

 
BBC

Parents use “inappropriate and aggressive” behaviour to raise complaints, Ofsted finds

 

According to Ofsted, an increasing number of parents are using "aggressive" behaviour to ensure their complaints are heard immediately. By Eleanor Busby, The Independent.

Other findings from Ofsted reveal teachers are spending more time marking and planning than in the classroom. By Phoebe Southworth, The Telegraph.

 

App aims to recruit thousands of professionals into childcare

 

An app being planned by the founder of Teach First aims to support working parents by recruiting "high-flying professionals" into childcare - creating a community of childminders. By Greg Hurst, The Times.

 
The Times

 

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