ISC Daily News Summary

Times
Feature in the Times (Body&Soul section this weekend) on happiness. Dr Anthony Seldon, Master of Wellington College, is quoted.
It's a good school, but will he fit in? (Times not online)

Financial Times
Every private school that has signed up to become a state-funded academy was suffering declining pupil numbers or funding problems at the time it announced its decision, research by the Financial Times reveals. The analysis suggests institutions that had struggled in the cut-throat competition of private school education have saved themselves from the rigours of the market by becoming servants of the state. Many more private schools may now seek to become academies because the economic downturn is likely to hit the number of parents who are able to pay fees. The FT's research throws into doubt repeated assertions by ministers that they are not throwing a lifeline to "failing" private schools by letting them become academies - semi-independent state schools. It points to private schools turning themselves into academies because they have to, rather than because they initially want to - in spite of their gushing enthusiasm when publicly announcing academy plans.
Private schools join state sector to survive (Financial Times)
Numbers decline but academic standards remain high (Financial Times)

Daily Telegraph
A feature looking at the range of options available to parents to help fund school fees.
Scholarships relieve the burden of school fees (Daily Telegraph not online)

Guardian
The Guardian reported this weekend that parents are facing an intense battle for school places this year because of 'steep rises in applications from families who have been put off private schools in the economic downturn.' The newspaper reported that campaigners say an influx of middle-class children into the state sector in areas of the country where the economic downturn is most acute could mean local children lose out on places at high achieving schools.
Rush for places in best state schools as fee-payers feel pinch (Guardian)

Daily Mail
Soaring numbers of trainee teachers are using unlimited resits to get through a basic numeracy test, figures (from the Liberal Democrats, who obtained the figures in a Commons written answer) show. Up to 56 per cent now need multiple attempts before they pass, the statistics suggest. The test is designed to drive up standards in the profession and must be passed before students can qualify as teachers.
Half of trainee teachers fail basic maths test (Daily Mail)

Sunday Express
The Sunday Express this weekend included a feature looking at education policy under Gordon Brown.
Labour's shame at billions wasted on children who would learn more playing (Sunday Express)

Sunday Times
A national shortage of maths and physics teachers is being solved by raiding the staff of banks and finance companies hit by the credit crunch. Officials from the Training and Development Agency (TDA), the government organisation that recruits teachers, have staged two seminars in the past few weeks at luxury hotels in the City and at Canary Wharf, attracting dozens of financial sector workers onto teacher training courses. The agency is persuading bankers and accountants with maths and physics degrees to consider teaching as a desirable career option, rather than as a last resort.
Raid on City helps plug teacher gap (Sunday Times)
Goodbye City, hello classroom(Sunday Times)

Independent
Gordon Brown is planning to inject billions of pounds of emergency funds into new schools and hospitals to stimulate the economy as Britain heads into recession, it has emerged.
Brown to splash billions on schools and hospitals (Independent)

Guardian, Independent
An alternative teaching method for seven and eight-year-olds.
I think, therefore I am: Philosophy in Year Three (Independent)
Sats finally axed, but more changes needed (Guardian)

Daily Mail, Daily Telegraph
The National Literacy Trust - a charity promoting reading among children - has warned that many publishers were now failing to produce new poetry books because of a lack of demand from schools. Poetry is compulsory in English lessons at all ages, but Ofsted warned last year that it featured less for pupils aged 11 and 14 as they prepare for Sats tests.
Poetry being 'frozen out of schools' claims Children's Laureate (Daily Mail)
Schools shunning poetry, says Children's Laureate Michael Rosen (Daily Telegraph)

Times
A large increase in the number of parents who give false addresses to get their children into high-performing schools has prompted a crackdown on cheats by councils and schools. A survey by The Times of local authorities has found that they are becoming better at discovering catchment-area cheats. Parents who rent a property within a school catchment area for a few weeks or months either side of the school application date are now being increasingly foiled by councils.
Parents who cheat their way into best schools face tougher action from councils (Times)

Sunday Times
Labour is to make yet more changes to school exams, and it's ending Standard Assessment Tests at age 14, deeming them ‘unnecessary'. The Sunday Times this weekend investigated the possible impact.
Exams that failed (Sunday Times Online)

Daily Telegraph, Times
A report to be published this week is expected to recommend that pupils in primary and secondary schools should receive classes on the human body, sexual health and relationships. Basic lessons are expected to be given to under-11s following claims from experts that "gradual education" stops children rushing into sex when they get older. The review - led by Jim Knight, the Schools Minister - is set to recommend a radical shake-up of lessons amid concerns that existing provision is "patchy" across England.
Sex education lessons 'to be compulsory in primary schools' (Daily Telegraph)
Scouts are given sex advice to be prepared for life today (Times) Online

Herald
One-third of local authorities have cut primary teachers in their schools despite a Scottish Government commitment to maintain numbers across the board to reduce class sizes. Eleven of Scotland's 32 councils, including Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee, have fewer full-time equivalent primary staff this year than they did in 2007-08. The decline is significant because although teaching numbers fluctuate from year to year in line with pupil numbers, the Scottish Government expects all authorities to maintain staff to meet its manifesto commitments to reduce class sizes to 18 in the first three years of primary - even where there is a decline in school population.
Pledge On Class Sizes Hit By Fall In Teacher Numbers (Herald)

Times
John Denham argues in the Times that widening participation and fair access to higher education are vital to unlock talent that may otherwise be wasted.
Universities need to have access to our most gifted students (Times)

Financial Times
A look at the measures being taken by universities abroad in light of the current economic situation.
Rising cost of capital forces universities to tighten belts (Financial Times)

Daily Telegraph
Opinion piece by Vicki Woods in Saturday's Telegraph.
America is a sorry example for our schools (Daily Telegraph)

Chris Woodhead replies to readers' queries.
Answer the question with Chris Woodhead (Sunday Times)

BBC News Online
A former roadie for rock group Catatonia, who switched to a career in teaching, has won a top award. Natalie Richards was named Specialist Schools and Academies Trust Outstanding New Teacher of the Year at the Teaching Awards at the London Palladium last night.
Teaching award for ex-rock roadie (BBC News Online)