ISC Daily News Summary

BBC News Online

Figures obtained by the Conservative Party reveal that two thirds of independent schools offer separate sciences, with independent school pupils almost four times more likely than their maintained sector counterparts to take all three sciences at GCSE. The figures also indicate that the overwhelming majority of state schools only offer combined science.

'Poor lacking' choice of sciences (BBC News Online)

Guardian

An online Guardian blog, written by the Executive Director of the Centre for Research & Innovation in Social Policy and Practice (Centris), Barry Knight, analyses the latest Civil Society Almanac from the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO). Mr Knight states that 'rather than focusing on the normal NCVO practice of looking at voluntary organisations, it treats civil society as an amalgam of many different types of organisation, including cooperatives, trade unions, housing associations, political parties, social enterprises, independent schools and faith organisations.'

Civil Society Almanac 2008 (NCVO)
Two cheers for non-profit Britain? (Guardian online only)

Times, Daily Telegraph, Independent, Guardian, Daily Mail, Sun, Daily Mirror, BBC News Online

A Commons Public Accounts Committee report, published today, reveals that university drop-out rates have failed to improve, despite £800million being spent on retention schemes since 2001. Critics claim that universities are being encouraged to take more working class students but are not given enough help to ensure they finish their degrees. BBC News Online reports that Cambridge University is to scrap its separate application form and £10 fee, in an attempt to remove barriers to any pupil considering applying for a place.

Public Accounts - Tenth Report (House of Commons)
£800m fails to curb student dropout rate (Times)
£1billion 'wasted' as one in five students drops out (Daily Telegraph)
Labour is not making the grade (Daily Telegraph)
£800m funding fails to slow university drop-out rates (Independent)
£800m drive to cut university dropout rate has failed, say MPs (Guardian)
20/20 vision on university fees (Guardian letters)
Dropout generation (Daily Mail)
Failing our students (Daily Mail not online)
1 in 4 quit university (Sun not online)
One in four students drop out of university (Daily Mirror)
£800m 'not cutting drop-out rate' (BBC News Online)
Cambridge scraps own entry forms (BBC News Online)

Guardian

A Guardian / ICM poll published today suggests that economic optimism has fallen away since the start of 2008, with a majority of voters now worried about their financial circumstances and the cost of living. The survey also implies that the 'widening gap between rich and poor' is a source of growing public resentment.

Anger at gap between rich and poor - ICM poll (Guardian)

BBC News Online

Education charity Edge, which campaigns to promote vocational education, is to carry out 'mystery shopping' tests on the quality of careers advice that young people in England are being given. The mystery shoppers, who will be independent researchers, will check the online and phone advice from organisations such as Connexions and Learn Direct.

'Mystery shop' test of job advice (BBC News Online)

BBC News Online

Students attending Aberdeen's new dental school will have their tuition fees paid by the Scottish Government under an initiative to address the shortage of dentists announced by Scotland's Public Health Minister, Shona Robison.

Dental students will escape fees (BBC News Online)

Times, BBC News Online

Amid widespread coverage of the continuing spate of teen suicides in the Bridgend area of South Wales, the Times reports that experts are to be sent into every school in the town, encouraging pupils to talk openly about their problems and confront the consequences of suicide.

Schools on alert after 17th Bridgend suicide (Times)
Parents attack suicides coverage (BBC News Online)

Times

In a letter to the Times, a group of children's charities and childcare industry leaders warn that childminders face being driven out of business by a sevenfold increase in Ofsted's registration fees.

Childminders face huge rise in Ofsted fee (Times)
‘Some people may decide to break the law' (Times)
Costs of childcare (Times letters)

Daily Express

The Daily Express reports that figures to be published tomorrow as part of the National Childhood Obesity Database (NCOD) are expected to show that up to a third of children are overweight.

Third of children are too fat (Daily Express)

Daily Telegraph

'In my days as a teacher, we were trusted to act in loco parentis...I hope the pendulum of common sense can swing back.'

Teachers should be trusted to look after their pupils (Daily Telegraph letters)

Would your school be interested in hundreds of free trees? Planting trees in school grounds can provide the basis for eco-clubs and can make learning about the environment fun and interactive, as well as improving school grounds, creating woodland habitats and supporting biodiversity. Tree Appeal can provide large numbers of native broad-leaf trees free to good homes, including schools, on a first come, first served basis. For more information visit the Tree Appeal website.

Western Mail

Karam Ezzideen, a film production student at the University of Glamorgan in Cardiff who has won more than £55,000 on the National Lottery, says he will use the money to fund two short films.

Student's making movies with £55,000 Lotto win (Western Mail)