The number of children securing a place at their first-choice secondary school is set to hit a record low this week and Frank Young argues that the creation of new, lower-cost independent schools could offer a solution. Instead of giving local authorities more power to control the provision of schools in their area, Mr Young says: "We should dare to be bold and remove the bureaucratic hurdles to opening new low-cost private schools, which would offer greater choice to local parents at a more affordable price." Frank Young is editorial director at the think tank Civitas. The Times.

Schools may be forced to close when teachers in membership of the National Education Union (NEU) take part in industrial action this week. Members in the north of England are striking today, followed by members in the east and Midlands tomorrow and London and the south of England on Thursday. By Sally Weale, The Guardian].

Ash Regan, the SNP leadership candidate, has said it is “entirely legitimate” for teachers to walk out as Scotland prepares for another two days of national strike action. Most schools will be closed again today and tomorrow after the country's largest teaching union turned down an 11.5 per cent pay rise over two years. By Mark McLaughlin, The Times.

The Department for Education (DfE) has vowed to support heads “taking action” to keep classrooms calm but has said it is “concerned” at the disruptive action of some pupils last week in response to toilet, uniform and behaviour policies. By Samantha Booth, Schools Week. 

Shadow education minister Stephen Morgan has warned that pupils are being taught in “woefully understaffed” schools and that the situation will worsen as the number of teacher training providers is narrowed by ministers. By David Lynch, The Independent.

Writing in The Times, Matt Glanville outlines some of the benefits offered by artificial intelligence (AI) platforms such as ChatGPT. Many of the issues raised by AI in classrooms are similar to those that the International Baccalaureate (IB) has already had to manage, he explains, adding that "we should not think of this extraordinary technology as a threat". Matt Glanville is head of assessment principles and practice at the IB.

The counselling service Childline has revealed that calls from children under the age of 11 seeking support for loneliness have risen by almost three quarters in the past five years. By Aine Fox, The Independent.

As the chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, reportedly prepares to unveil a package of reforms aimed at helping parents back into the workforce, The Telegraph looks at the impact of the 'monumental cost' of childcare on families and providers. By Rachel Mortimer.

In a report by the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA), the higher education ombudsman for England and Wales, universities have been reprimanded over the 'unfair treatment' of students accused of academic misconduct. The OIA said changes to assessments, driven in part by the pandemic when university examinations moved online, had led to uncertainty among students about what is and is not allowed. By Sally Weale, The Guardian.

Marking National School Governors' Awareness Day, taking place today, Steve Barker considers the pressures governing bodies are under to respond to the cost of living crisis. Steve Barker is a school governor and head of governance services at Strictly Education. Schools Week.

Hannah Stolton, CEO of the charity Governors for Schools, writes in Tes explaining why increasing the diversity of school governors in respect of age, race and background is so important.

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