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Daily News Summary
3 October 2022

Fair access: Independent schools and university admissions
English universities could be fined if 'not enough students get jobs'
GDST survey finds 'girls want to enjoy work but not lead'
Education secretary puts emphasis on academy trusts to improve schools
Cost of living crisis: budget cuts and primary teachers 'struggling to buy food'
Remote exams fuel 'increase in cheating'
Letter: Keeping talented teachers in our classrooms
A day in the life of a prep teacher

Fair access: Independent schools and university admissions

 

Writing for Independent School Management Plus, Helen Pike, master at Magdalen College School, talks about the work being done to ensure pupils from deprived backgrounds at independent schools can highlight this in university admissions.

 
Independent School Management Plus

English universities could be fined if 'not enough students get jobs'

 

New measures unveiled by the Office for Students will see universities in England facing fines if fewer than 60 per cent of their students get graduate-level jobs within 15 months. The higher education regulator has said these will be in subjects it deems "low quality". There could also be fines for high drop-out rates. By Holly Bancroft, The Independent. Also reported by The Guardian.

 
The Independent
The Guardian

GDST survey finds 'girls want to enjoy work but not lead'

 

A survey by the Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST) of girls and young women aged nine to 18 has revealed that most were 'uninspired by today’s political leaders and did not want to become leaders themselves unless they could manage people in a different way'. The survey covered state and independent schools. Kevin Stannard, director of learning at the GDST, is quoted. By Nicola Woolcock, The Times.

 
The Times

Education secretary puts emphasis on academy trusts to improve schools

 

In one of his first speeches as education secretary, Kit Malthouse has vowed to “reinvigorate” the schools “revolution” started by Michael Gove. Mr Malthouse has said he will urge underperforming schools to be turned into academy trusts. By Freddie Whittaker, Schools Week.

 
Schools Week

Cost of living crisis: Budget cuts and primary teachers 'struggling to buy food'

 

Schools Week reports that an estimated £300 million could be cut from school budgets next year after the government cancelled the proposed rise in national insurance (NI) contributions. By Samantha Booth.

A poll of primary school teachers has revealed nearly a third are 'struggling to buy food' due to the cost of living crisis, raising concern over the potential impact on children's education. By Zoe Tidman, The Independent.

 

Remote exams fuel 'increase in cheating'

 

Experts from law firm Kingsley Napley say remote exams are 'driving an increase in cheating accusations' as students are tempted to purchase answers or use WhatsApp groups to share details. The firm said it has seen a 60 per cent rise in students seeking assistance to defend themselves against claims of academic misconduct this year. By Louise Clarence-Smith, The Telegraph.

 
The Telegraph

Letter: Keeping talented teachers in our classrooms

 

Alastair Graham, principal of Hall Grove School, writes to The Telegraph on the issue of bureaucracy in both the state and independent education sectors. He says: "The current system encourages our best and most effective teachers to leave the classroom and become managers and administrators, even if they are not best suited to these roles."

Letter below half way.

 
The Telegraph

A day in the life of a prep teacher

 

The Times magazine includes a feature written by an anonymous private school prep teacher talking about their typical day.

 
The Times

 

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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