ISC Daily News Summary

Times, Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail

A number of national newspapers have today reported that two independent schools are at risk of closure. Wispers School in Haslemere, Surrey, will reportedly not reopen after the summer holidays, and Wentworth College in Bournemouth has called in receivers who are attempting to find a new buyer. Vicky Tuck, Principal of The Cheltenham Ladies' College and President of the Girls' Schools Association (GSA), is quoted in all articles.

Schools fall victim to credit crunch (Times)
Independent schools hit as parents feel the pinch (Daily Telegraph)
After 130 years of independent girls' schooling, credit crunch forces historic Wentworth College into administration (Daily Mail)

Independent Education

Sports broadcaster John Inverdale discusses his time at Clifton College, Bristol, in today's Independent Education supplement.

An education in the life of John Inverdale (Independent Education)

Independent, Times, Guardian, Daily Mail, Daily Express, Sun, Scotsman

General Secretary of teaching union Voice, Philip Parkin, has blamed the breakdown in family life for schools having to cope with a generation of children with 'few moral values'.

Teachers' leader attacks 'greedy' parents (Independent)
Parents today lack ability to bring up children, teachers warn (Times)
Teachers encouraged to compensate for parenting 'downward spiral' (Guardian)
Death of traditional family 'leaves pupils out of control' (Daily Telegraph)
The pushover parents (Daily Mail)
Parents blamed for 'downward spiral' of discipline in schools (Daily Express not online)
Moral teaching lost at home (Sun)
Are our children trapped in a moral maze? (Scotsman)

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

A speaker at Voice's annual conference has argued in favour of military cadet forces in UK schools. Former south Wales secondary school teacher Peter Morris argued for the initiative, stating that it would improve pupil behaviour. The motion in favour of cadet forces in state schools was consequently passed by Voice, the first teachers' union to do so. The Daily Telegraph article states that 'there are currently 60 cadet units linked to comprehensive schools in England and Wales, compared with 200 in grammar and independent schools.'

Teacher union backs cadet forces (BBC News Online)
Army cadets should be established in all schools (Daily Telegraph)
Teachers vote for cadet forces in schools (Guardian)
Teachers call for return of state school cadet forces to combat disruptive behaviour (Daily Mail)
Teachers back cadet forces (Daily Express not online)

Times

The Times reports that foreign students who miss ten classes in a row will be reported to the government under plans to curb illegal immigration. Colleges and universities will have to alert authorities if they miss ten university tutorials or two weeks of a course at an English language school or college.

Foreign pupils who miss class to be reported (Times)

Independent Extra

The Dartington International Summer School is previewed in today's Independent Extra.

Dartington International Summer School (Independent Extra)

Uniform freedom in our schools (Guardian letters)
A cadet adventure (Times letters)

Today's Independent Education supplement also includes articles on diplomas, female head teachers and school reports.

Freelance journalist Josephine Moulds is looking for teachers who have quit a successful career to go into teaching for an article in one of the national newspapers. Let her know if you can help, or know someone who can. She can be reached on 07915 057 074 and josephinemoulds@yahoo.co.uk.

Guardian, Daily Telegraph

A National Year of Reading survey reveals that the 'iPod generation' doesn't know the words to songs - because they have no album covers to learn them from.

Music lovers annoyed by missing lyrics (Guardian)
iPod generation 'doesn't know the words' (Daily Telegraph)