ISC Daily News Summary

Daily Telegraph
Vicky Tuck, Principal of The Cheltenham Ladies' College, has an article published in the Daily Telegraph addressing the issue of history teaching in schools.
Fewer students studying GCSE History is an alarming trend. Discuss (Daily Telegraph)

Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph reports that enterprise culture is flourishing in schools, as Oxford High School, Manchester High School for Girls, and Woodbridge School have all taken part in impressive Young Enterprise projects.
Wide range of projects highlight pupil talent (Daily Telegraph)

Times, Daily Mirror, Daily Mail, Sun, Financial Times
Gordon Brown has unveiled a plan to ‘rebuild Britain’ with a series of policy measures in the eleven months before the general election. Plans include legislation for improving schools, safeguarding children and tackling child poverty.
The reforming theme will be reflected in a new education white paper, to be published today.
In further reports, a proportion of money from the Government education budget will now be used elsewhere, as Gordon Brown has announced a transfer of funds in a plan to increase the number of social homes built over the next two years.
Dawn of the Age of Entitlement as Brown stakes all on reform (Times)
Schools, roads and health cash to go on new homes (Times)
My manifesto (Daily Mirror)
Brown's £1bn dole gamble (Sun)
Party sets out election stall (Financial Times)
Brown fires election starting gun (Financial Times)
Brown stakes all on housing, jobs and benefits manifesto (Daily Mail – not online)

Daily Telegraph
A new report published by the Local Government Association has claimed that a million young people will be without a job or a college place this summer after falling victim to the recession. The number of 16 to 24-year-olds not in education, employment or training is on course to be at its highest since records began. According the report, family breakdown and a history of unemployment are the most likely causes of the problem. It calls for earlier intervention to target children under the age of 11, and for councils to be given more power to run their own training courses.
No job, no hope for a million young 'Neets' (Daily Telegraph)

Guardian, Times
An Audit Commission report published today claims that schools are wasting nearly £1billion a year by holding on to money and failing to negotiate the best deal on their contracts.
Watchdog accuses schools of wasting nearly £1bn a year (Guardian)
Schools ‘waste cash’ (Times – not online)

Daily Telegraph
Rural primary schools facing closure could be saved by joining “chains” run by larger schools. Under the Government plan, successful secondary schools would receive more money to lead groups of schools struggling with falling pupil numbers or poor exam results. The plans are part of a white paper to published on education today.
Chains to save rural schools (Daily Telegraph – not online)

Times
The Times features a comment piece on the news that centralised control of schools is to come to an end.
Hands up. Who said school targets don't work? (Times)

Scotsman
Highland Council is seeking savings of £100million over the next four years, which could leave hundreds of teachers out of a job and many schools facing closure.
Schools face axe in budget cuts (Scotsman)

Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail, Times
Two pupils and their teacher were asked to remove their niqab veils before they could visit a Roman Catholic school at an annual open day in Blackburn, as they did not comply with the school’s dress policy. The two pupils agreed, whilst their teacher chose not to attend.
Muslim pupils and teacher ordered to remove veils (Daily Telegraph)
Catholic college ban on teacher in a veil (Daily Mail)
Catholic school bars Muslim visitor in veil (Times)

Daily Mail
The Daily Mail features an article on the rise of the school prom in Britain, amid concerns that parents use the event to compete with displays of wealth, such as providing their children with expensive cars to transport them to the event.
Is it the end of the prom? (Daily Mail – not online)

Times, Daily Telegraph
A troupe of morris dancers who wear black makeup on their faces as part of their traditional costume were prevented from performing at a school in Kent because of fears that they could cause offence.
School say no to morris men with black makeup (Times – not online)
School cancels show by ‘blacked up’ morris men (Daily Telegraph – not online)

Times
The Times has published a letter which suggests that small measures would help parents to feel more involved in schools, and claims the overall message of the Plowden report on primary schools is still valid today.
Re-read Plowden (Times)

Daily Telegraph
A letter to the Daily Telegraph argues the case for universities independent of state control.
University famine (Daily Telegraph)

Here is a selection of articles from the Guardian education supplement:
The big spend (Guardian)
Michael Barber on how schools should react to a fall in funding (Guardian)
Student squeeze looms (Guardian)
Every story needs a picture (Guardian)

Daily Mail
As temperatures across Britain are hotting up, the Daily Mail provides a handy guide on how to survive the heat. It advises drinking tea and eating watercress to keep cool.
How to be cool in the heat (Daily Mail)