ISC Daily News Summary

Guardian
The Guardian reports that thousands of international students are being warned against coming to study at universities and schools in the UK because of tough new visa rules, it is claimed. Up to 40% of overseas students who apply for a study visa are being turned away, say education agents in Hong Kong. Others are subject to such long delays that they miss the start of the school or college term. The agents said they were encouraging students to apply to Australia or the US instead. ISC’s Deputy Chief Executive, Matthew Burgess, is quoted.
Tough visa rules deterring overseas students coming to UK (Guardian)

All national newspapers
Too many pupils are leaving school and college without the qualifications needed to get onto courses at elite institutions, according to a cross-party report commissioned by Gordon Brown. The report says the lack of progress means millions of working class children are still unable to get jobs in professional occupations, including law, medicine and the media. The Fair Access to the Professions report has been written by 20 experts and is expected to be accepted in full by the Government.
To view the report click here: 
The Panel on Fair Access to the Professions

Poor performance at school 'biggest barrier to university' (Daily Telegraph)
Give parents the keys to a better school (Times)
Milburn: law still for rich kids - Law Central (Times Online)
Professions 'reserved for rich' (BBC News Online)
Inequality: Milburn's challenge is harder than it looks (Guardian)

All national newspapers
Widespread coverage of the news that Ministers were urged last night to rethink their policy of keeping schools open through the swine flu pandemic after research showed that a shutdown would curb the spread of infection and limit the number of deaths. As Andy Burnham, the health secretary, announced that a flu helpline to take the pressure off GPs' surgeries would go live this week, two infectious disease experts said school closures should be considered to reduce the number of cases and buy time until a vaccine is available.
Shut schools to limit number of swine flu deaths, ministers told (Guardian)
Swine flu school closures (Guardian)
Life goes on: Health Secretary urges calm as he denies muddle over swine flu advice (Daily Mail)

Daily Mirror
Raising the school leaving age to 18 is backed by most teenagers - but they want a say in what they study, a survey revealed yesterday. The Youth Commission found pupils fear they will be stuck doing boring subjects. But over half (58%) of the 4,000 youngsters who took part in the study backed raising the leaving age to 18 by 2015 with 78% saying too much importance is being placed on exam results.
Kids happy staying in class til 18 (Daily Mirror)

All national newspapers
An emergency plan to expand the number of university places by 10,000 for this autumn to ease a crisis in the university admissions system has been criticised by students after ministers said it would be restricted to those applying for science-related courses. Lord Mandelson, the business and universities secretary, announced the extra places in parliament today after months of uncertainty caused by record numbers of students applying to universities at the same time as the government introduced a cap on places to save money.
Students criticise restriction on 10,000 extra university places (Guardian)
Student leaders criticise student place restrictions (Independent)
10,000 more student places 'at a cost' (Daily Telegraph)
Business attacks move on university places (Financial Times)

Daily Telegraph
Boris Johnson writes for the Daily Telegraph on the introduction of the Independent Safeguarding Authority. “From this October, a vast new database will be called into being. Anyone who intends to visit a school or have contact with children more than once a month will have to be registered on that database. That database will not only contain criminal records. It will store any tittle-tattle, rumour or innuendo that anyone wishes to contribute.”
We are now so spineless, I will never see a man walk on Mars (Daily Telegraph)

Times
Charity Commission is government stooge (Times)

A selection of other articles in today's Guardian Education Supplement:
Universities are to be given targets for carbon reduction (Guardian)
Why e-assessment hasn't been quickly adopted (Guardian)
What are you going to do with the children this summer? (Guardian)
Children's Services: Early Years framework (Guardian)

Daily Mail
A school has installed nearly 100 security cameras to monitor classrooms, corridors and play areas, it emerged yesterday. The £60,000-a-year surveillance system at Stockwell Park High is believed to be the most extensive in a school. Cameras also film lessons to help staff improve their technique and may be used to expose poor teaching.
The school with 100 spy cameras: 'Big Brother' system watches pupils everywhere (Daily Mail)

As the summer term draws to a close, the Guardian revisits some of the people whose stories it told this year, to find out where they are now and what happened next.
The school year: We revisit some of the people whose stories we told this year (Guardian)