ISC Daily News Summary

Daily Telegraph, Independent

ISC and the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) are referred to in the Daily Telegraph, following the news that some private faith schools have being given the right to appoint their own inspectors.

Who inspects schools? (Daily Telegraph)
Muslim schools given right to conduct own inspections (Daily Telegraph)
How faith schools encourage atheism (Independent letters)

Independent Education

A number of letters on the charitable status and public benefit debate, including a letter from Headmaster of the Royal Hospital School, Howard Blackett.

Charitable status (Independent Education)

Guardian, Daily Telegraph, Times, Daily Mirror, BBC News Online

The Guardian reports that the government is drawing up plans to close a significant number of secondary schools because of a sharp fall in pupil numbers. Other newspapers report that plans to close more than 50 village primary schools have been suspended following protests.

New plans put 1:10 secondary schools at risk (Guardian)
Reprieve defies hard facts for small schools (Guardian)
Ministers 'in confusion' on rural schools (Daily Telegraph)
Parent power halts closure of small schools (Times)
School demo joy (Daily Mirror)
Rural school closures in dispute (BBC News Online)

Daily Telegraph, Financial Times, Times, Daily Mail, Guardian, BBC News Online

A number of articles today on the latest survey by the Association of Graduate Recruiters. The Daily Telegraph reports that, according to the survey, many companies failed to find suitable graduates to fill vacancies last year because they lacked basic skills. The Financial Times article focuses on the falling starting salaries for graduate City bankers and fund managers, while the Times informs readers that the proportion of women recruited by leading companies has fallen, despite an increasing majority of female graduates. The Daily Mail reports that many employers perceive recent graduates as unrealistic and fickle, or 'graduate divas'.

Graduates lacking skills to win jobs (Daily Telegraph)
Pay drops for City's graduate entrants (Financial Times)
Top employers hire fewer women graduates (Times)
The graduate divas (Daily Mail)
Graduates found wanting as job posts rise (Guardian)
Graduate vacancies up, says study (BBC News Online)

Guardian, Evening Standard, Scotsman, Times2

Graduate trainee teachers are to help 'gifted and talented' pupils get into sought-after universities under new plans announced by Schools Minister, Lord Adonis. Features in the Education & Learning section of the Scotsman focus on Oxbridge applications and today's Times2 includes a feature on gifted children.

Graduates to guide bright children to university (Guardian)
University 'mentors' for poorer pupils (Evening Standard not online)
Oxbridge race has level playing field for all its hopefuls (Scotsman)
Regional student conference and free advice can help Scots reach Oxbridge (Scotsman)
Genius in the making (Times2)

BBC News Online

A report by the Royal Society reveals that there has been a fall in the proportion of UK students taking science doctorates.

Relative decline of science PhDs (BBC News Online)

Scotsman, Herald

Figures from the Scottish government reveal that the number of school exclusions for violence is rising.

School exclusions for violence soar by 14% (Scotsman)
From extortion to assault: the tide of pupil exclusions (Herald)
Is exclusion the answer for schools? (Herald)

Daily Telegraph, Times, BBC News Online, Daily Mail, Guardian

A study by Portsmouth University suggests that large numbers of parents wrongly believe their child has a food allergy. The Daily Mail and Guardian also report today on food labelling and food additives.

Mothers mistake child ailments for allergies (Daily Telegraph)
Allergy alert (Times letters)
Baby allergy fears 'over the top' (BBC News Online)
Mothers who worry about allergies 'are often wrong' (Daily Mail)
Harmful food additives must be banned, say MPs (Daily Mail)
EU brings in compulsory food labelling to curb obesity (Guardian)

Daily Mirror

The Daily Mirror reports that the number of parents being given penalty notices for allowing their children to miss school has risen sharply.

Truancy fines on the rise (Daily Mirror)

Daily Mirror, Sun

Children's Secretary Ed Balls is today expected to unveil plans for a national sports day for schools and announce that parks and playgrounds are to remain open for longer hours.

A national sports day (Daily Mirror)
A good sport (Daily Mirror)
Kids' late play (Sun not online)

McTraining and real education (Guardian letters)
Benefits of learning on the job (Times letters)
Don't scoff at burger bar staff training (Independent letters)

Independent

Today's Independent Education supplement also includes an article on an inspirational head teacher, praise for the 1994 Group diploma survey and a feature on overseas students.

The National Assessment Agency and the awarding bodies are looking for English and religious studies examiners for 2008. Teachers and students will benefit from the insight examining provides into the revolution in 14-19 learning. Examining is also a good way to aid professional development and examiners receive pay, full training and support. For more information, visit http://www.examinethefuture.org.uk/. 

Daily Telegraph, Daily Express, Sun, Daily Mirror

There is not a single girl among a class of 20 four-year-olds who began at a primary school in Devon this month.

Primary's class of 2008 is an all-boy affair (Daily Telegraph)
Oh boy, it's a man's world in our class (Daily Express)
Schoolboy era (Sun)
Boy zone's class act (Daily Mirror)