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Daily News Summary
23 January 2020

Report anticipates 'successful year' for British international schools in China
ISC myth-busting blog: "Independent school students don’t understand the challenges some people face in life”
Findings suggest grammar schools do not increase pupils' chances of getting into top universities
Letters: 'The Government must ensure disadvantaged families have equal access to schools of all faiths'
'Effective learning is not always easy'
Former head warns against 'an obsession with league tables and the curriculum'
Appeal charges do not disadvantage state school pupils, says SQA

Report anticipates 'successful year' for British international schools in China

 

A report from Beijing-based consultancy Venture Education has predicted the next few years to be positive for UK independent schools and investors, with 16 new campuses expected to open in China in 2020. By Callan Quinn, Pie News. The article quotes Sean Davey, head of international business development at Reigate Grammar School, Shelley Zhao, director of Harrow Beijing, and mentions several other schools in membership of the ISC's constituent associations.

 
Pie News

ISC myth-busting blog: "Independent school students don’t understand the challenges some people face in life”

 

Reverend Nigel Little, the chaplain of Felsted School, counters the view that “independent school students don’t understand the challenges some people face in life”.

 
ISC

Findings suggest grammar schools do not increase pupils' chances of getting into top universities

 

According to research published by the Higher Education Policy Institute, grammar school pupils' chances of getting into a top university are comparable to those of comprehensive school pupils. By Rosemary Bennett, The Times.

 
The Times

Letters: 'The Government must ensure disadvantaged families have equal access to schools of all faiths'

 

Neil Roskilly, chief executive officer of the Independent Schools Association, writes in The Times arguing faith schools are "thriving" in the independent sector, adding "the education secretary must ensure that disadvantaged families are guaranteed equal access to schools of all faiths". The letter can be found a quarter of the way down the page.

 
The Times

'Effective learning is not always easy'

 

Jon Tyler, deputy head (academic) at Dauntsey's School, reflects on research findings which suggest the key to effective learning is "desirable difficulty". Tes.

 
Tes

Former head warns against 'an obsession with league tables and the curriculum'

 

Martin Stephen, a former independent school high master, writes in The Telegraph discussing school league tables, arguing "it matters what pupils are taught - but it matters just as much, if not more, how well it is taught".

 
The Telegraph

Appeal charges do not disadvantage state school pupils, says SQA

 

Fiona Robertson, the chief executive of the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), told MSPs she had no reason to believe charges for failed exam appeals are "acting as a disincentive" for state school pupils. By Jamie McIvor, BBC News.

 
BBC

 

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