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Daily News Summary
22 November 2021

Young people should not be dismissed as woke, says GSA president
NEU members at a group of independent schools vote on potential strikes over pensions
IT glitches leave students "heartbroken" over admissions exams
Teachers have resigned over TikTok videos, union says
'Teaching sixth formers about the menopause will inform them and help them show empathy'
Headteacher’s support service urges shadow education secretary to take action over Ofsted visits
National leaders of education programme delayed until next year

Young people should not be dismissed as woke, says GSA president

 

Samantha Price, president of the Girls’ School Association (GSA) and headmistress of Benenden School, has said that young people should not be mocked for being "woke". In a speech at the GSA conference today she is expected to say: “It would be unforgivable for the older generation to close its mind to new ideas, to retreat to ‘the good old days’ and dismiss the energetic changes of this generation as something to be referred to in derogatory tones and sighs.” By Will Hazell, iNews.

 
iNews

NEU members at a group of independent schools vote on potential strikes over pensions

 

The Girls' Day School Trust (GDST) has emphasised its priority "to do the very best for teachers across all our schools", after rising Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS) costs led to the Trust proposing an alternative scheme, prompting the threat of strike action from the National Education Union (NEU). The Telegraph.

 
The Telegraph

IT glitches leave students "heartbroken" over admissions exams

 

According to Schools Week, some university applicants may be unfairly penalised as a result of unresolved repeat IT problems during the BioMedical Admissions (BMAT) tests. Bill Watkin, chief executive of the Sixth Form Colleges Association, said it was “disappointing” that Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing had failed to prevent technical disruption for a second year running. By Tom Belger.

 
Schools Week

Teachers have resigned over TikTok videos, union says

 

NASUWT's national official for Wales, Neil Butler, has said that some teachers are leaving the profession after being labelled paedophiles on TikTok. He said: "It's the last straw really - it was bad enough what they had to go through during the pandemic.. and now [they're] having to face this." By Nicola Bryan, BBC News.

 
BBC

'Teaching sixth formers about the menopause will inform them and help them show empathy'

 

Harrow School has announced that it will be running sessions on the menopause for sixth formers ran by Over the Bloody Moon, a company founded by health coach and nutritionist Lesley Salem. By Louise Chunn, The Telegraph.

 
The Telegraph

Headteacher’s support service urges shadow education secretary to take action over Ofsted visits

 

Headteacher’s support service Headrest UK has urged Kate Green, the shadow education secretary, to challenge the Department for Education's (DfE) decision to allow Ofsted to carry out graded inspections during the COVID pandemic, following a sharp increase in calls to its support line. By John Roberts, Tes.

 
Tes

National leaders of education programme delayed until next year

 

The DfE has confirmed that reforms to the national leaders of education programme have been delayed until next September. By Samantha Booth, Schools Week.

 
Schools Week

 

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