ISC Daily News Summary

A number of newspapers report that Roedean School is to take on the St Mary's Hall Junior School and welcome St Mary's Hall Senior School pupils from September 2009. Headmistress of Roedean, Frances King, and Chairman of Governors at St Mary's Hall, Andrew Russell, are quoted. Reference is also made to Holmewood House in the Financial Times article.

Recession forces private school to close (Daily Telegraph)
Roedean takes over neighbour hit by recession (Times)
More private schools close in recession (Financial Times)

Government figures reveal that state schools are hoarding almost £2billion intended for books, teaching staff and equipment, amid fears that the downturn will hit funding in future years. Ministers say that action will be taken unless they see a 'substantial reduction' in the amount of money being hoarded.

Almost £2bn unspent in school bank accounts (Daily Telegraph)
School surplus 'deprives pupils' (BBC News Online)
Schools slow to spend budgets (Financial Times)
Schools keeping cash (Times not online)

Feature in today's Daily Telegraph on the benefits of strong head teachers.

How a good head can save a school (Daily Telegraph)

Universities Secretary John Denham has said that more teenagers should study practical courses, such as information technology, at university. In a speech, Mr Denham admitted the government had failed to create the 'range and balance' of qualifications that the country needed to get more working class pupils into university. However, he has rejected suggestions that he is planning to re-introduce polytechnics for vocational courses in England.

Denham: More vocational degrees are needed (Guardian)
John Denham: Traditional degrees to decline in favour of 'vocational' courses (Daily Telegraph)
Poly's real expertise (Times letters)
Denham says no return for polys (BBC News Online)

Further coverage of a letter written by the Independent Academies Association (IAA) to Schools Minister Jim Knight, which accuses the government of eroding the independence of academies.

Leave academies alone, teachers tell Balls (Guardian)
Independent schools (Times)

The Scottish government has a long way to go to achieve its policy of cutting classes to a maximum of 18 pupils, figures have suggested. In the last year, the number of pupils in classes of that size increased by 1% to 13%, meaning that it would take 87 years for the target to be achieved at that rate of growth.

SNP promise to cut class sizes 'will take 87 years to achieve' (Scotsman)
'Slow progress' on class pledge (BBC News Online)
Does classroom size really matter, Mr Clegg? (Guardian)
Pledge to cut class sizes is proving a challenge (Herald)

'I recently learnt that GCSE results will be published on August 27, a week later than in 2008 and just before the Bank Holiday weekend. My son's school goes back on September 3, by which time entrants to the sixth form will have had to gain their minimum grades. I wonder how many parents and schools are aware of this impending bedlam.'

Classroom discipline / GCSE result bedlam (Daily Telegraph letters)

Researchers from parenting group TheBabyWebsite.com have created a definitive list of some of the most 'unfortunate' names after trawling through online telephone records. Names on the list include Justin Case, Barb Dwyer, Stan Still, Terry Bull, Paige Turner, Mary Christmas, Anna Sasin, Pearl Button, Jo King, Barry Cade, Carrie Oakey, Priti Manek and Tim Burr.

'Most unfortunate names' revealed (BBC News Online)
Jo King and Terry Bull on list of Britain's most unfortunate names (Daily Telegraph)
At least no one will forget you Justin Case: The most unfortunate names in Britain (Daily Mail)
My name? It's really Terry Bull (Sun)