ISC Daily News Summary

Independent, Times, Daily Mail

Coverage of the Westminster Education Forum's seminar on state and independent school partnerships, which took place in London yesterday. ISC Chief Executive, David Lyscom - who gave a short presentation at the seminar - is quoted in the Daily Mail, while Master of Wellington College, Dr Anthony Seldon - who also spoke at the event - is quoted in the Independent.

Teachers take flight from state schools (Independent)
Teachers decide to go private (Times)
More state teachers are quitting jobs for better working life in independent schools (Daily Mail)

TES

A number of articles on the increasing number of qualifications to rival the traditional A-level, including a large feature in the TES magazine. Quoted in this feature are Headmaster of Tettenhall College, Peter Bodkin, Examinations Officer at Oundle School, Andrew Ireson and Secretary of HMC, Geoff Lucas. Geoff Lucas is also quoted in an article on the new AQA Bacc, which has been adopted by over 100 schools. Headmaster of the Royal Grammar School, Newcastle, Dr Bernard Trafford, discusses diplomas in a TES comment piece.

What makes the grade? (TES magazine)
New AQA Bacc passes heads' test (TES)
Diplomas threaten our independence (TES)

TES

The TES reports that a number of independent schools are looking to countries such as India to recruit pupils. Headmaster of Rossall School, Dr Stephen Winkley, Principal of The Cheltenham Ladies' College, Vicky Tuck, Master of Dulwich College, Graham Able, and Bernard Trafford are quoted. Reference is also made to pupil data from ISC.

Independents eye-up India (TES)
Get savvy to stay solvent (TES)

TES

Today's TES magazine features Rachel Godman from Holmwood House, Jack Williams from Hillcrest Grammar School and Colin Foster from King Henry VIII School.

Squeak and spell (TES magazine)
Hammer home the message (TES magazine)
String along (TES magazine)

All national broadsheets

A five-year study into academies by the consultants PricewaterhouseCoopers has found that they are showing bigger improvements in exam results than the rest of the country's state schools - but they exclude far more pupils and have reduced the proportion of youngsters they take in from poor homes.

Government launches inquiry into academy funds allegations (Guardian)
Despite sponsors and high pay for teachers, there is no 'academy effect' (Guardian)
Academies attract middle-class pupils as standards rise (Times)
City academies improving at faster rate than state schools (Independent)
Fear over lack of academy schools sponsors (Financial Times)
Middle-class parents send their children to academies (Daily Telegraph)

Daily Telegraph, Guardian, Daily Mail

Speaking at the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT) conference in Birmingham, Schools Minister Jim Knight has said that children are being let down by low-income parents who do not take the time to help with their homework. The Minister also said that it was the responsibility of parents to stop youngsters from obsessively 'cultivating their empire of Facebook friends'. The Daily Mail points out that Mr Knight has nearly 900 such 'friends' on the social networking website.

Children being let down by parents who don't take time to help with homework (Daily Telegraph)
Schools minister shifts focus to parents (Guardian)
Minister with 883 Facebook 'friends' lectures parents on computer-obsessed children (Daily Mail)

Daily Telegraph, TES

General Secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), Dr Mary Bousted, has warned that celebrity culture is corroding British society and damaging everyone involved with it.

Celebrity culture is 'corroding' society, teachers' leader warns (Daily Telegraph)
Hello! Not everyone wants to be a celeb (TES)

Times, Guardian

Alastair Campbell, the government's former chief of spin, turned his hand to teaching this week as one of several high profile personalities highlighting the work of the Teach First charity.

Alastair Campbell spells out art of spin, but could do better (Times)
High profile figures in classroom for Teach First (Guardian)

BBC News Online, Times, Daily Telegraph, Scotsman, Herald

Plans to introduce new baccalaureate qualifications for senior pupils at Scottish schools next year prompted a bitter row at Holyrood yesterday. Fiona Hyslop, the Education Secretary, said the new awards in science and languages would stretch brighter children and help them with the transition to university or work. However, opposition parties have raised concerns that the new qualifications overcrowd the curriculum.

Scottish Baccalaureates disputed (BBC News Online)
Science and language exams attacked by MSPs (Times)
Fiona Hyslop accused of 'muddled thinking' over Scottish exam reforms (Daily Telegraph)
Baccalaureate brought into Scots schools (Scotsman)
Baccalaureate scheme to expand (Herald)

Daily Telegraph, BBC News Online

A government-commissioned report into the Every Child a Reader Reading Recovery Programme suggests that children given just 30 minutes of one-on-one literacy sessions a day can increase their reading age by nearly two years in less than five months.

Half-hour session 'boosts reading age by two years' (Daily Telegraph)
'Good results' for reading scheme (BBC News Online)

The front page of today's TES reports that teachers are facing an increased threat of being reported to disciplinary tribunals for misdemeanours committed outside school such as drink-driving and drug-taking. Here is a selection of articles from this week's TES:

GTC extends out-of-hours clampdown (TES)
Should crimes outside school end teachers' careers? (TES)
Hidden marking task mars Sats being ditched (TES)
Tories target exams in their reform plans (TES)
'Air miles' scheme sees pupils rock (TES)
New fast-track head scheme looks to career-changers (TES)
Quality nurseries pay long-term dividends (TES)
Educational psychologists in the dark about pupils in care (TES)
Open house on subject teachers (TES)
Science recruits exceed target (TES)

Guardian, Daily Telegraph, Times, Independent, Daily Mail

Celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal has revamped the menu at roadside restaurant chain Little Chef, with exotic new dishes including 'perfumed' fish and chips. The new menu is being trialled at the chain's branch at Popham, near Winchester in Hampshire, and is being given a period of two to three weeks to prove its popularity.

Heston Blumenthal revamps roadside diner's menu (Guardian)
Next left For Heston's Services (Guardian)
Heston Blumenthal brings 'perfumed' fish and chips to Little Chef (Daily Telegraph)
The little chemist (Daily Telegraph)
Green tea trifle with bacon and eggs? Ah, it must be the new Little (Michelin) Chef (Times)
Blumenthal sprinkles a little good taste on roadside cuisine (Independent)
Heston Blumenthal overhauls Little Chef's menu... but don't worry, there's no snail porridge (Daily Mail)