ISC Daily News Summary

'Teacher induction in the independent sector is at least as valid and extensive as induction in the maintained sector. Indeed the independent sector provides teacher induction for up to 1,200 NQTs every year, many of whom go on to work in both sectors. Conversely, more than 500 teachers per year move from the independent sector to the maintained sector. Independent schools have always worked hard with maintained sector schools to bridge the divide between the two sectors and to offer opportunities for teachers and pupils across the UK education community. It is surely right and proper that teachers seeking to enter the independent sector should not be subjected to harassment and prejudice for making a perfectly legitimate career choice.' Judith Fenn, Director of Induction & Recruitment Programmes, ISC.

Independent choice (Independent Education letters)

Additional letters in response to Dr Anthony Seldon's comment piece in the Times earlier this week.

The education gap is not defined by class (Times letters)
Make no mistake, the class war is far from over (Times)
No toff he (Independent letters)

A pupil from Streatham & Clapham High School has had metre-long hair chopped off for charity by celebrity hairdresser Trevor Sorbie.

Schoolgirl aged 17 has her first-ever haircut for cancer charity (Daily Telegraph)

The government yesterday admitted that only 20,000 students have been confirmed to start diplomas this year. The government had originally hoped for 40,000. Schools Minister Jim Knight says some schools and colleges have been forced to 'pull out' because facilities were inadequate and teachers had not been trained.

Diploma launch halved to 'safeguard quality' (Guardian)
Schools snub A-level rival as take-up falls (Daily Telegraph)
Diplomas fail to meet target (Independent not online)
Blow to take-up of new diplomas (Financial Times not online)
Diploma take-up failure (Daily Express)
Kids drop diplomas (Sun)

A leaked letter from the government's Early Education Advisory Group warns that elements of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum may be damaging for some young children. The group believe that major changes are needed, or EYFS should be dropped entirely.

Pre-school literacy targets 'are too ambitious and should be dropped' (Times)
Childminders quitting over tests for five-year-olds (Independent)
Nursery curriculum 'will confuse children' (Daily Telegraph)

Bruce Charlton, an academic at Newcastle University, has sparked controversy with his view that children from middle-class families are naturally brighter than those from poor homes, and are therefore more likely to get into the top universities. Mr Charlton was writing in this week's Times Higher Education.

Well-off children born brighter, says academic (Daily Telegraph)
Student union rejects academic's IQ claims (Guardian)
Row over class IQ (Times)
Working class 'don't have IQ for Oxbridge' (Daily Mail)
Academic: Working classes shouldn't go to top colleges (Daily Express not online)

A report by the Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) warns that Britain risks losing its status as a premier destination for overseas students because of the high cost of studying in the UK.

Universities 'pricing out' foreign students (Times)
Study cost threat to universities (Independent not online)

Thousands of teenagers are facing uncertainty over their exams after their OCR GCSE music papers were found to have the answers on the back. The paper - taken across England - apparently featured a list of composers, which related to answers written on the other side. The exam board says pupils would not have to resit the exam and the relevant question would account for no more than 5% of the marks on that paper.

Exam papers had answers on back (BBC News Online)

The Academy of Medical Sciences says schools and universities may soon need to test students sitting exams for brain improving drugs, such as those used to treat Alzheimer's.

Exam cheating alert over brain drugs (Guardian)
Pupils may face urine test fro brain-boosting drugs (Times not online)
Exam-boosting drug tests 'loom' (BBC News Online)

Head teachers will today receive new government guidelines, encouraging them to screen pupils' computer accounts and gather proof, including photographic evidence, where they suspect teenagers and even primary children of joining gangs.

Schools told to take action on growing menace of gangs (Guardian)
Teachers 'must tackle gangs' (Daily Telegraph)

A report by Ofsted suggests that few schools are making the environment central to the curriculum and school life. A feature in G2 looks at a school's 'edible playground', which has won a prize at the Chelsea Flower Show.

Schools and sustainability: A climate for change (Ofsted)
Most schools 'not turning green' (BBC News Online)
The edible playground (G2)

Teachers' union the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) has urged ministers to cut class sizes across the board, as it fears there could be 'problems' when pupils move from smaller classes into larger ones.

Teachers call for all class sizes to be cut (Scotsman)
Rebuilding the community is primary concern (Scotsman)

A proposal in Massachusetts to impose a tax on the state's wealthiest universities has stirred a national debate about whether US colleges should be stripped of their non-profit status.

US college tax plan stirs debate (Financial Times)

Today's Independent Education supplement also includes articles on Dutch education, an inspirational state school head and safe cities for students.

A British teacher, Paula Stibbe, is leading a court challenge to have a chimpanzee declared a 'person' so the animal can enjoy 'human rights'. Mrs Stibbe wants the declaration so she can take care of the 26-year-old chimp if the bankrupt animal sanctuary in Voesendorf, south of Vienna, where he currently lives, is forced to close.

Does Matthew the chimp have human rights? (Daily Mail)
Activists want chimpanzee declared a person (Daily Telegraph)