ISC Daily News Summary

David Lyscom, ISC’s Chief Executive, wrote to the Telegraph yesterday in response to a report on league tables. The letter can be viewed here: ISC letter to the Telegraph

Times
British and American universities could merge to fight off competition from abroad, a report commissioned by Gordon Brown suggests today. The Prime Minister asked leading vice-chancellors from both sides of the Atlantic to develop their ideas on how the UK and US could collaborate to strengthen their positions. Universities are springing up in China, Korea, India and the Middle East, posing a potential threat to the supremacy of western institutions.
British and American universities 'should merge to beat competition' (Times)

Daily Express
The BBC may screen more educational programmes for children if many schools close this autumn because of swine flu. Contingency plans to ensure youngsters can continue to study are being drawn up by education chiefs, teaching unions and broadcasters, according to the Department for Children, Schools and Families.
BBC ready to step up school TV if pandemic shuts classes (Daily Express)

Independent
Opinion piece by Mary Warnock in today’s Independent on the issue of social mobility.
Mary Warnock: Children need to be taught to think highly of education (Independent)

Independent, Times
Two letters in the Independent considering private education, and
Lord Mandelson has a letter in the Times following his speech on university access yesterday.
The inequalities of private education (Independent)
Mandelson: university model is outdated (Times)

BBC News Online
A government scheme to create more jobs for the unemployed is being launched today. The £1bn investment, which was announced in chancellor Alistair Darling's April Budget, will attempt to prevent the country from losing a generation to unemployment brought about by the recession.
Help offer to get young into work (BBC News Online)

Daily Mail
The Daily Mail reveals that ministers have approved the sale of more than 200 school and community playing fields, despite repeated promises to protect them. Even in the four years since London was chosen to host the 2012 Olympics, the Government has allowed the sell-off of 49 school sports fields. In total since Labour came to power in 1997, 203 pitches have been lost.
200 playing fields sold off by Labour: How can this be justified ahead of Olympics, ask critics (Daily Mail)

BBC News Online
Pupils at a South Yorkshire school have started an online protest over a plan to introduce clip-on ties. More than 400 people have joined a group on Facebook, demanding that traditional ties be restored at McAuley Catholic High School in Doncaster. Schools across the UK are said to be switching ties over safety fears.
Clip-on tie switch sparks protest (BBC News Online)