ISC Daily News Summary

22 April 2009


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Scottish education

Fee-paying primaries attract fewer pupils as parents feel pinch

Scotsman
The number of primary pupils at Scotland's independent schools has fallen, with education experts blaming the biting recession for the drop. The number of primary pupils decreased by 1.4 per cent, while secondary numbers rose slightly by 0.2 per cent. The figures were released by the Scottish Government. Frank Gerstenberg, former headteacher of George Watson's College in Edinburgh, is quoted.
Fee-paying primaries attract fewer pupils as parents feel pinch (Scotsman)

Higher education

Rising fees and loans make students ask whether higher education is worth it

Daily Mail, Times
Students will graduate with average debts of more than £10,500 by the end of the decade, a Government report has revealed. Graduate debt will be 'considerably greater' than the current £7,800 because 'top-up' tuition fees have driven up the cost of courses, it found. Students who started university under the new funding regime had racked up £3,518 of debt after just one year, according to a study commissioned by the Department for Universities.
Average students debts will hit more than £10,000 by end of decade (Daily Mail)
Rising fees and loans make students ask whether higher education is worth it (Times)

Early years

Schooled in a duty to employees

Financial Times
A feature on Child Base Nurseries, which has expanded from one daycare centre near Milton Keynes 20 years ago to a chain of 36 day nurseries, mainly based in the Home Counties. The six original staff have grown to 1,300, the annual turnover is £25m, and last year operating profits rose 18 per cent to £2.7m.
Schooled in a duty to employees (Financial Times)

Other

SATs exams fiasco

Guardian
The man blamed for failing to prevent the collapse of last year's SATs tests will today accuse the schools secretary, Ed Balls, of misleading the public to avoid acknowledging the government's part in the fiasco. Ken Boston, the then head of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) who resigned after the breakdown of last year's national tests, broke his silence yesterday, telling the Guardian he would challenge ministers' versions of events.
SATs exams fiasco (Guardian)

And finally...

Satellite tracking for school bus

BBC News Online
Parents in North Wales will be able to use satellite tracking to check their children are on the school bus, as part of a new pilot project. The smart card scheme STAR is part of a wider initiative aimed at improving behaviour on school transport. Pupils will swipe a card as they get on buses. It will help schools and parents track them to ensure attendance while drivers can pinpoint any bad behaviour.
Satellite tracking for school bus (BBC News Online)

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