ISC Daily News Summary

The TES leads today with a claim that the salaries of state school head teachers are rapidly closing in on those of heads in leading independent schools. Experts tell the newspaper that a culture of higher salaries has been fostered by the burgeoning number of executive heads, while wages of many of England’s 203 academy heads are enhanced by performance-related bonuses. The article refers to a number of independent heads’ salaries, and HMC chairman Andrew Grant gives the TES his view on the issue. The findings come from the latest TES Pay Survey, details of which can be found in the Magazine, and the leader article also considers the issue. Elsewhere, there is an article based on new HMC research which suggests that its schools are outperforming state grammars when it comes to adding value in exam results at sixth form level. The research revealed that the top 5 percent of English schools on the “value added” measure include 16 percent of HMC’s 210 schools but no state grammar schools. An article also appears based on a warning from a corporate financial adviser and Eton College governor that independent schools must adapt to the aftermath of the financial crisis. David Verey said that a fall in pupil numbers could be felt as late as September 2011, and offered a number of tips for the sector on how to cope. The piece later refers to the launch of the ISC manifesto earlier this week. Another article looks at the “mass exodus” of teachers to schools abroad, with ISC research on the rising number of international schools cited. In the Times Higher Education magazine, HMC general secretary Geoff Lucas writes a comment piece urging an end to the discrimination against independent school pupils in the higher education sector. Finally, the TES Magazine reviews a book by Ian Morris, who is described as the pioneer of the “happiness curriculum” at Wellington College.
Top state leaders close in on pay of elite public school heads (TES)
Who’s earning what in education (TES Magazine)
Comment and opinion: High pay may rankle, but the profession wins (TES)
HMC claims to outstrip state grammars in adding value to exam results (TES)
‘Bung the pupils in Portakabins,’ Eton governor tells broke independents (TES)
Teachers flee UK (TES)
Comment and opinion: Uneven playing fields (THES)
Review: Cheer up why don’t you (TES Magazine)

A number of newspapers pick up on concerns raised by Wellington College master Anthony Seldon that the state system is producing “factory schools” which turn out young people incapable of living full lives. Dr Seldon argues that too many students are “little more than well-drilled automatons” as a result of an education lacking intellectual depth. Writing in a pamphlet for the Centre for Policy Studies, Dr Seldon makes 20 recommendations to ensure a return to “delight, gratitude and stimulus” in schools. Among other things, he calls for state schools to be afforded the opportunity for genuine independence, with legal freedom to make a profit, and to choose their own curriculum and exam system.
State schools accused of turning pupils into 'well-drilled automatons' (Guardian)

ISC chief executive David Lyscom yesterday appeared on BBC Radio Wales to discuss the benefits of an independent school education. To hear the interview, click here, and begin the audio at 16 minutes.

A report which warns the student loans payment problems are likely to be repeated in 2010 receives widespread coverage today. Students across England faced months of delays to payments last autumn after the collapse of the Student Loans Company’s processing system, and auditors have said there was a “substantial risk” that the payment of grants and loans would be hit by fresh delays. The Student Loans Company is expected to deal with twice as many applications this year with little proof it can cope, said the National Audit Office report. The report found that less than half of all applications were fully processed by the start of the academic year. Applications arrived quicker than the company could process them, the report said, and by early September some 241,000 were outstanding.
Student loan delays 'could be repeated' (Telegraph)

Village schools are facing a leadership crisis as they struggle to appoint new headteachers, according to research. Schools in rural areas are around 10 percent less likely to recruit a head at the first attempt – risking a decline in education standards. More than 1,000 primaries have been forced to shut in the last decade and more could close in coming years as councils attempt to cut large numbers of empty desks to save money. According to research, schools in rural areas are less likely to recruit a headteacher. Figures from Education Data Surveys, a research company, found that 305 rural schools advertised for a head in 2009 and 75 were forced to re-advertise. The findings coincide with the release of new figures suggesting 2,000 new primary schools will be needed within the next eight years to cope with a massive increase in pupil numbers.
Rural schools 'struggling to find headteachers' (Telegraph)
Primary school admissions 'crisis' as birthrates soar (Telegraph)

The Telegraph reports a warning from the head of the Imperial War Museum that museums are being swamped by a “tide of children with worksheets” spoiling trips for other visitors. Most centres are full and struggling to solve problems caused by the growing numbers of school field trips, which is affecting other “non-school visitors”, Diane Lees said. The organisation’s first female director general was speaking in a private address to the Museums Association.
Imperial War Museum chief warns: 'tide of children with worksheets spoiling visits' (Telegraph)

Education issues feature prominently in the letters pages today. Michael Pyke from the Campaign for State Education writes to the Guardian to respond to HMC chairman Andrew Grant’s claim that “moral pressure” was placed on parents who chose to spend money on their children’s education. In the Telegraph, a number of letters appear in relation to the teaching of Latin in schools, which Boris Johnson was advocating earlier this week. The Times’ letters page is taken up with debate on whether schools should test pupils’ fitness, while in the Independent the future of higher education is discussed. In a comment piece for the Times, University of Buckingham vice-chancellor Terence Kealey addresses the subject of higher education funding.
Letters: State education is the moral choice (Guardian)
Letters: Simply knowing a language has little practical use – especially if it’s Latin (Telegraph)
Letters: Should schools test our children’s fitness? (Times)
Letters: Universities turned into technical colleges (Independent)
Comment and opinion: Cut state funding to universities (Times)

This month’s Schools in Focus feature looks at Claires Court in Maidenhead, Berkshire. The article can now be viewed on the ISC website, by clicking here.  

A reminder to all schools that the Independent Schools Show will be taking place in Battersea, London 29-30 October 2010. To exhibit, and for all other information, click here.

Sir, I have received a form from my daughter’s secondary school to be filled in by her “female parent” and “male parent”.
We used to be her mum and dad.
C. Brannigan
Richmond, N Yorks
Letters: In loco parentis (Times)