ISC Daily News Summary
27 April 2009
In a hurry? Click on a link to go straight to a story.
Independent sector
Easy exams baffle bright pupils
Independent, Daily Telegraph
Widespread coverage of the news that Andrew Grant, the new chairman of HMC, has warned that some GCSE exams have become so simplistic that they are confusing intelligent pupils. He says he has ditched English literature GCSEs at his school because they are too easy. Instead, the children at Mr Grant's school (St Albans in Hertfordshire) take the International GCSE, which is a more traditional exam with an emphasis on a final test, rather than coursework during the year.
Brightest pupils are baffled by 'easy GCSEs' (Independent)
Easy exams baffle bright pupils (Daily Telegraph)
Independent sector
Don't patronise children with quiz-show learning
Independent sector
Prestigious private schools are vying to offer a place to Olympic diver
Widespread coverage
There were reports this weekend that Plymouth College and Brighton College are competing to educate Tom Daley, the 14-year-old whose skills on the diving board earnt him a place in the Beijing Olympics. Tom's parents have taken him out of the state school where he was bullied. Simon Wormleighton, head master of Plymouth College, and Richard Cains, head at Brighton College, are quoted.
Private schools compete for Tom Daley (Times)
General education
Pupils to be taught to speak properly amid growing 'word poverty'
General education
First year primary pupils need good teachers
General education
Diplomas were to be education system's jewel
General education
SATs
Observer
Exam boards have warned the government that the quality of new academic diplomas intended to replace A-levels and GCSEs will be compromised unless their introduction is delayed. Ministers are pressing ahead with plans to roll out the diplomas, which will be offered at thousands of secondary schools alongside GCSEs and A-levels in 2011. The diplomas, offering courses below GCSE and at GCSE and A-level standard in science, humanities and languages, are scheduled to be introduced on top of the 14 vocational diplomas that began to be phased in last September.
SATs tests (Observer)
General education
Tories plan 'primary academies'
Child welfare
ContactPoint
Times
David Cameron has called for the planned identity cards scheme and the ContactPoint database storing children's records to be scrapped.
ContactPoint (Times)
Higher education
Grammar school pupil surge at Cambridge University
Sunday Telegraph
The number of Cambridge University places won by grammar school pupils has almost doubled in a year, according to new figures. The surge is likely to lead to increased competition for places at England's 164 remaining state schools. The figures mean a large proportion of the much-trumpeted rise in Cambridge's state school intake in 2008 - from 55 per cent to 59 per cent - was down to the success of selective rather than comprehensive school applicants.
Grammar school pupil surge at Cambridge University (Sunday Telegraph)
Higher education
Oxford to push for increase in tuition fees
Daily Telegraph
Oxford University is to push for a sharp increase in the tuition fees paid by students and may seek to charge up to £11,000 a year, the vice-chancellor has disclosed. Dr John Hood has warned MPs that Oxford needs to charge about £8,000 a year more than is currently permitted to cover the full cost of educating its students. Tuition fees are currently capped at £3,145 a year by the Government.
Oxford to push for increase in tuition fees (Daily Telegraph)
And finally...
Girls rush in to change the face of scouting