ISC Daily News Summary

Independent, Times

'Independent schools have recruited teachers from industry for many years and continue to do so successfully. Latest figures from the Independent Schools Council annual census show an increase of 16.7% in the number of teachers in ISC schools joining the sector from industry in the last year.' Pru Jones, Head of Research, ISC

Schools in a contest no one must lose (Independent letters)
Exam anarchy (Times letters)

All national newspapers, BBC News Online

The Chief Inspector of Schools, Christine Gilbert, says school standards in England are 'stalled', with one in five 11-year-olds unable to read, write or add up properly. Ms Gilbert has announced a series of Ofsted inspection reforms to target 'coasting' schools and proposes to focus more on schools that are not improving, even if they are deemed satisfactory.

Consultation on the integration of the inspections of welfare and education (Ofsted)
School standards stalling, says Ofsted (Daily Telegraph)
School standards have stalled, says Ofsted (Times)
One in five 11-year-olds fails to make grade on the three Rs, warns Ofsted (Guardian)
A fifth of 11-year-olds have failed to learn basic English and maths (Independent)
Ofsted warns of stalled standards (Financial Times not online)
A fifth of primary children fail in the three Rs (Daily Mail)
1 in 5 primary school leavers fail the 3Rs (Daily Express)
Schools 'stalling' (Sun)
Check out my school (Daily Mirror)
Inspectors push 'stalled' schools (BBC News Online)

BBC News Online

Children's Secretary Ed Balls will today unveil plans for private companies and charities to take on pupils excluded from mainstream schools in a government White Paper.

Firms may educate excluded pupils (BBC News Online)

BBC News Online, Daily Mail

Concerns about the administration of this year's school tests in England have prompted the Liberal Democrats to call for payment to be withheld from the test contractor, Educational Testing Service (ETS).

MPs criticise testing 'shambles' (BBC News Online)
Not too posh to be pushy (Daily Mail not online)

Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail

A head teacher fined £12,500 over the death of a three-year-old who fell from playground steps while pretending to be Batman has been cleared on appeal after a judge said the child had been exposed only to the risks of 'everyday life'.

Head fined over death of 'Batman boy' is cleared (Daily Telegraph)
Head wins appeal over tragedy on the steps of his school (Daily Mail)

Daily Telegraph

Oxford University will begin a multi-billion-pound fund-raising drive next week in an attempt to admit more students from poor homes.

Oxford seeks to help poor students (Daily Telegraph)

Herald

Charities and legal campaigners have criticised a court ruling in Scotland, which could potentially limit the choice of school for parents of children with severe learning difficulties.

Charities attack autism schooling judgment (Herald)

Times, Daily Telegraph

The Church of England has published a series of prayers online to help students and teachers to cope with exam stress.

Church publishes prayers to ease exam stress (Church of England)
Let us pray - for better exam results and pupils who know what day it is (Times)
Lord, give us strength...and some good exam results (Daily Telegraph)
Exam season: A prayer in passing (Daily Telegraph)

Guardian

Today's Education Guardian includes articles on the international appeals of certain universities, Ofqual, study leave and a step-by-step guide to university applications.

The International Baccalaureate Schools and Colleges Association (IBSCA) is running a conference day - IB for lasting success - at the British Library on Thursday 5th June. The key theme of the day is preparing learners for the 21st Century. Guest speakers include Martin Bell, OBE and the IB Regional Director for Africa, Europe and the Middle East, Andrew Bollington. For further details please visit http://www.ibsca.org.uk/ or e-mail Camilla Holland at Camilla.Holland@southbank.org.

Applications for next year's schools Matchplay Tournament and Teachers' Cup will be closing on 15th June. The 2009 grand finals are due to be held at St Andrews Bay and further information is available at http://www.isga.org.uk/.

Daily Mail, Daily Star

A state school in Merseyside has been criticised for spending thousands of pounds to send pupils to Spain to get over their exams.

School slammed for spending £10,000 sending pupils on 'stress-busting' Spanish jaunts (Daily Mail)
Storm over school kids' stress hols (Daily Star not online)