ISC Daily News Summary

Daily Mail, Daily Telegraph, Times
The A-level exam has become "hollow preparation" for university, by undermining independent study and original thought, says a think tank. The Reform group claims exam modules have created a "learn and forget culture" - which it likens to using a sat-nav rather than map-reading skills. It says universities should ensure the quality of A-levels, taken by pupils in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Ministers said the extended project and the new A* would address concerns.
'Satnav A-levels damage thinking' (Daily Mail)
'Satnav' A-levels lead pupils to answers (Daily Telegraph)
Pupils forget 'sat-nav' exams (Times)

Financial Times, Guardian, Times, Independent
The proportion of young people in England not in education, employment or training has increased to more than one in 10, government figures show. At the end of 2007, 9.7% of 16 to 18 year olds were considered to be such "Neets", but by the end of 2008, this had risen to 10.3%. The increase is being driven by reduced job opportunities for 18 year olds. But the government says a record number of this age group - 1.61 million - were in education or training.
Disengagement of teens rises (Financial Times)
Young jobless figures are worst since 1990s (Guardian)
Jobless teenagers (Times)
Recession fuels rise in number of jobless teens (Independent)

Times
The Times graduate careers supplement looks at why teaching is becoming an attractive option.
Classroom has growing appeal for graduates (Times)

Scotsman
The Scotsman reports that developments on the internet have transformed the lives of Open University students. iTunes, internet conferencing and social networking sites are helping distance learners share ideas and experience education together, even if they live miles apart.
Web transforms Open University students' lives (Scotsman)

Scotsman
A new policy to eliminate bullying in schools in Aberdeen, partly developed by pupils, was officially launched yesterday. The new policy document sets out a range of strategies to deal with bullying in the playground, as well as “cyberbullying” and bullying by mobile phone.
Pupils help develop new policy on bullying in schools (Scotsman)

Scotsman
Pressure is growing for the Scottish Government to close a legal loophole which could derail its flagship policy of lower class sizes. Ministers are now considering a call by Edinburgh City Council for the target of 18 pupils per class in the first three years of school to be made legally binding.
Demand for legal limit on class sizes (Scotsman)

Daily Telegraph
A quarter of children who parents divorce before they reach 18 turn to alcohol, a survey has indicated.
Divorces cause children to turn to alcohol (Daily Telegraph)

Guardian
The Guardian reports on a roundtable discussion in which the paper and alcohol charity Drinkaware invited teenagers to air their opinions on the portrayal of young people as ‘out-of-control drunks’.
Aged and matured? (Guardian)

Scotsman
Sticklebacks could be the ‘geniuses’ of the fish world, scientists have claimed, after discovering that they display a sophisticated learning technique never seen before in animals.
Brainy fish are found to be rarely out of their depth (Scotsman)