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Daily News Summary
9 May 2023

'Dream middle-class lifestyle is becoming out of reach', study finds
Children's commissioner report calls for safeguarding qualification to tackle porn threat
A closer look at school policies and the gender dysphoria debate in England
Walkouts planned over pensions at Scottish first minister's former school
More training time for teachers under Labour's proposed education policies
AI could take much of the 'heavy lifting' out of teaching, says education secretary
Pupils double their literacy scores after tutoring from university students
'Ministers must back more international school accreditation systems'

'Dream middle-class lifestyle is becoming out of reach', study finds

 

According to analysis commissioned by The Sunday Times by financial advisers Chancery Lane, for a couple to now enjoy a 'comfortable lifestyle' they would each need to earn £102,850. This compares to a couple earning just over £16,000 each in 1985, which, taking into account inflation, would be around £46,000 today. The article reports some parents with young children have downsized to keep their children in independent schools, and references school fee figures from the Independent Schools Council (ISC). By Ali Hussain.

 
The Sunday Times

Children's commissioner report calls for safeguarding qualification to tackle porn threat

 

Dame Rachel de Souza has called for a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) in relationships and sex education (RSE) for school safeguarding leads to help them teach sensitive subjects. The report from the children's commissioner, published today, also looks at the link between pornography and harmful sexual behaviour among pupils. By Matilda Martin, Tes.

The Times reports the School of Sexuality Education, a sex education provider that gives lessons in primary and secondary schools, acted as a consultant on a stage show that was to discuss sexual pleasure directed at family audiences and children as young as five. The show, which came with a warning that it contained nudity, was cancelled last year after more than 38,000 people signed a petition calling for it to be axed. By James Beal.

 

A closer look at school policies and the gender dysphoria debate in England

 

The Guardian explores some of the challenges involved in the debate over how gender dysphoria and transgender issues are handled in England’s education system, including whether teachers are required to inform parents when a child discloses that they are questioning their gender and asks to use a different name and pronouns. The paper reports that headteachers are calling for assistance in dealing with gender dysphoria but fear government guidance will be too rigid. By Sally Weale.

 
The Guardian

Walkouts planned over pensions at Scottish first minister's former school

 

Teachers at Glasgow's Hutchesons' Grammar, formerly attended by Scotland's first minister and the Scottish Labour leader, are to take part in four days of industrial action over changes to staff pensions. The school wants staff to move to a different private scheme rather than the existing Scottish Teachers' Pension Scheme. BBC News.

 
BBC

More training time for teachers under Labour's proposed education policies

 

Plans by the Labour Party to overhaul Britain’s education system are expected to see teachers given more time off for training. Secondary school tutors could be given sabbaticals every five years under the plans, with the party also looking at reducing the reliance on exams to grade students and revamping the curriculum to “provide a modernised syllabus”. By Nick Gutteridge and Charles Hymas, The Telegraph.

Predictions by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) suggest the government is on course to recruit fewer than half of the secondary trainees required for the next academic year, amid reports that some schools are trying to recruit former soldiers to fill gaps left by teacher shortages and falling applications. By Nicola Woolcock, The Times.

 

AI could take much of the 'heavy lifting' out of teaching, says education secretary

 

Speaking at the opening of the Education World Forum in London, education secretary Gillian Keegan said artificial intelligence (AI) could "transform a teacher's day-to-day work" by compiling lesson plans and marking pupils' work. By Matilda Head, The Independent.

 
The Independent

Pupils double their literacy scores after tutoring from university students

 

Analysis of a pilot scheme at Exeter University has found pupils doubled their literacy scores after a term of being tutored by university students. The initiative, which was one of the recommendations of the year-long Times Education Commission, could now be rolled out nationwide. By Nicola Woolcock, The Times.

 
The Times

'Ministers must back more international school accreditation systems'

 

Writing in Tes during the Council of British Independent Schools (COBIS) annual conference, CEO Colin Bell calls on the government to support its accreditation system to help the sector continue to expand.

 
Tes

 

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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