ISC Daily News Summary

ISC Chief Executive, David Lyscom, has a letter published in today's Education Guardian supplement in response to Fiona Millar's column last week. Saturday's Daily Telegraph included a letter from the Headmaster of Bradfield College, Peter Roberts, on the subject of sport in independent schools.

Two-way street (Education Guardian letters)
Play up, play up and dance (Daily Telegraph letters)

High Master of St Paul's School, Dr Martin Stephen, discusses the government's education policy in a Daily Telegraph comment piece, following comments made by Professor Adrian Smith last week.

An education policy of smoke and mirrors (Daily Telegraph)

Extensive coverage in yesterday's edition of the Scotsman on how the recession is affecting independent schools in Scotland. According to the newspaper's own investigation, 'independent schools in Scotland are cutting staff and delaying building projects as they brace themselves for cash-strapped parents removing children in their droves'. Principal of George Watson's College, Gareth Edwards, Principal of Stewart's Melville College, David Gray, and Headmaster of St Leonards School, Dr Michael Carslaw, are quoted. A large article in today's Financial Times looks at how the recession is affecting various businesses and workers, including the owner of a private school which was forced to close last June.

Private schools start to feel the financial pinch (Scotsman)
Schools too may feel the pinch (Scotsman)
Businesses feel the pain of white-collar blues (Financial Times)

Deputy Headmaster of Stonyhurst College, Andrew Gordon-Brown, is featured in today's Times2 supplement, volunteering himself to become a 'mentor' for someone considering a career change.

Someone to watch over me (Times2)

The exam watchdog Ofqual has revealed that diploma courses in tanning, cake decoration and pottery are being given the equivalent value as traditional qualifications such as A-levels in school league tables.

Courses in tanning 'worth the same as A-level maths' in school league tables (Daily Telegraph)
Now tanning courses are 'equal' to maths A-level (Daily Mail)

Poet Laureate, Andrew Motion, believes that children should be taught the Bible throughout their education because it is an 'essential piece of cultural luggage', without which they will struggle to fully understand literature.

Students need to know Bible's 'great stories', poet laureate says (Guardian)
Book of revelation (Education Guardian)

Further coverage of the news that a record number of people have applied to university this year.

The degree of difference in graduates' pay (Times)
Record number of university applications as credit crunch sees late surge (Daily Mail)
More hope to study at university (BBC News Online)

In light of recent coverage surrounding a 13-year-old boy who has reportedly become a father, the Conservative Party has highlighted advice from the Department of Health, which calls for teachers to tell teenage boys about the 'enjoyment of early fatherhood' and discuss with them their 'parenting aims and aspirations'.

Teenage fatherhood glamorised in Government guidance (Daily Telegraph)
Teachers should tell boys the joys of teen fatherhood, government advice reveals (Daily Mail)

Various reports on the disappearance of the Chairman of the Sutton Trust, Sir Peter Lampl.

Chairman of Sutton Trust, Sir Peter Lampl, missing (Daily Telegraph)
Fears for missing philanthropist (Guardian)
Appeal by police as depressed philanthropist Sir Peter Lampl goes missing (Times)
Fears grow for safety of missing philanthropist (Independent)
Fears for missing Sir Peter (Sun)
Missing businessman was depressed (BBC News Online)

Today's Education Guardian supplement includes articles on ICT in schools, adult learning and university complaints procedures. Vernon Bogdanor - Oxford's professor of government - is also interviewed.

Advice in the Education Guardian supplement on how to be the perfect flatmate at university.

The art of being the perfect flatmate (Education Guardian)