ISC Daily News Summary
27 May 2009
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General education
British girls left trailing behind boys at science
Scotsman
Research by the OECD has found that boys are significantly outperforming girls in science in the UK. They found boys in the UK scored on average ten points higher in the science tests than girls. This gender gap is bigger in the UK than in any other developed country, the study concluded.
British girls left trailing boys at science (Scotsman)
General education
Why are fewer pupils studying history, and what can be done about it?
Higher education
University cuts threaten standards, say lecturers
Guardian
University funding cuts threaten to drag down degree standards and could provoke a backlash from fee-paying students, the head of the University and College Union will warn. A government order for universities and colleges to make £400m in efficiency savings could trigger thousands of redundancies, forcing up class sizes and reducing students' contact time with their tutors, according to the UCU, whose annual conference starts in Bournemouth today.
University cuts threaten standards, say lecturers (Guardian)
Higher education
New university for the Highlands and Islands
Environment
Companies use pupils to further green drive
Financial Times
It is reported that schoolchildren are being made the focus of a new green marketing drive as energy companies and other advertisers bid to boost their credentials and counter claims of "greenwashing". Working with schools to cut energy usage and raise environmental awareness is one way that companies can contribute to the community, while also ensuring their brand is associated with sustainability.
Companies use pupils to further green drive (Financial Times)
Health
Swine flu hits 50 at just one school
Health
Mobile phones to be banned in French primary schools to limit health risks
Times
Mobile telephones are to be banned from French primary schools, and operators must offer handsets that allow only text messages, under government measures to reduce the health risk to children. Companies will also be required to supply phones that work only with headsets, to limit the danger to the brain from electromagnetic radiation.
Mobile phones to be banned in French primary schools to limit health risks (Times)
Health & safety
Council U-turn on wrapping children in cottonwool
Sun
Council leaders have said that parents must "shake-off the cottonwool culture and just let children be children", and have pledged to put the adventure back into the nation's playtimes. Research by the Local Government Association has found playgrounds have rejected the "no ball-games allowed" culture to introduce adventure equipment, funded by £235million announced as part of the Children's Plan.
Council U-turn on wrapping kids in cottonwool (Sun)
Technology & new media
Does revising online give an unfair advantage?
And finally...
Family time? We can spare 45 minutes for a TV dinner
Daily Mail
A new poll reveals that the average family spends just 45 minutes a day together. This time is mostly spent eating meals, watching television or playing computer games. Parents were twice as likely to describe themselves as a ‘TV and digital family' than a ‘caring family'.
Family time? We can spare 45 minutes for a TV dinner (Daily Mail)