ISC Daily News Summary

Business Secretary Vince Cable is standing by his candidate to head the university fair access watchdog, despite a rejection by MPs. Les Ebdon had been put forward by ministers as their preference for director of the Office for Fair Access. But MPs on a select committee have voted to try to block the appointment. However ministers are not backing down - with a BIS spokeswoman saying: "Vince remains of the view that Les Ebdon is the right candidate."
Vince Cable in stand off with MPs over Offa boss – BBC Online 
Tory MPs veto Vince Cable's choice of university access tsar – The Guardian
MPS reject university watchdog candidate – The Times
Cable to defy No.10 on choice of university tsar – Daily Telegraph
Stand-off over education post – Financial Times (Free registration required)
Tories veto Cable’s choice for university watchdog – The Independent

More than 300 university-based teacher training courses in England could face closure or merger, as funds are switched towards school-based training. The body which funds teacher training says secondary school courses with 10 students or fewer are "potentially unviable" and there are no guarantees of funding for them from 2013. The government says fewer secondary teachers are needed, but universities will continue to play a "vital role". Academics warn expertise will be lost.
University-led secondary PGCEs face uncertain future – BBC Online

In a speech to the Prince’s Institute yesterday, the Prince of Wales said teachers should educate the "whole person" instead of just focusing on narrow academic disciplines and warned that the "element of character" had been missing from teaching for too long, leaving many pupils demotivated when they leave school. He said that a greater emphasis on high-level practical skills could raise the aspirations of teenagers with "low self-esteem, low-motivation [and] low-aspiration". The comments come amid continuing concerns over the number of children leaving school lacking the basic skills needed for the workplace.
Prince of Wales: pupils need to go play outside to develop character – Daily Telegraph

The UK has a smaller proportion of adults with A-levels or their equivalent than Poland or Bulgaria, an analysis by the European Union’s official statistics agency shows. Statisticians ranked 33 countries according to the percentage of their adult population aged 25 to 64 who had completed upper secondary school – the equivalent to A-levels – in 2010. The UK was 19th, with almost a quarter of adults (24%) not having A-levels or the equivalent. Lithuania came top with 8% of adults failing to complete the equivalent of sixth-form courses. Turkey was bottom, with 72% of its adults without A-levels.
UK trails Poland and Bulgaria on adults educated to A-level – The Guardian
Britons are the dunces of Europe – Daily Mail

A quarter of schools rated outstanding are to be re-examined because their teaching did not reach the highest standard, the new chief inspector of schools in England is to reveal. In a speech at a London school today, Sir Michael will formally set out other changes he plans to make - including "no-notice" inspections. The areas on which schools are measured drops from 27 to four categories. Head teachers have warned "constant castigation" was damaging morale.
Outstanding schools to be re-examined – BBC Online
Chalk Talk: An inspector calls – but not everyone will be pleased to see him – The Independent
New Ofsted ratings will focus headteachers – Daily Telegraph

A survey of staff at Education Scotland has revealed complaints of bullying and a widespread belief that the organisation suffers from a lack of leadership. The internal survey conducted last year, and published on the internet, shows a dispiriting picture of morale among the 260 staff questioned. Nine per cent said that they had experienced some form of discrimination at work, and 10 per cent had been bullied. 
Bullying and poor morale in education staff survey – The Times (Subscription required)

The Guardian publishes a list of ten books, chosen to encourage boys to read. The books, for boys aged seven to 12, were chosen with the help of Ellen Ainsworth, a retired children's librarian and mother of two grownup sons who has more than 33 years' experience of getting boys reading.
10 books to help boost young boys' reading – The Guardian

Richard Garner explores how Open University students are embracing modern-technology, and wonders how different the relationship between fictitious character Rita and her tutor in Willy Russell’s award-winning play might be today.
‘Today, Rita could have signed up to Open University on Facebook’ – The Independent

Rising numbers of children are starting school without having been toilet trained, according to the poll by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers. Almost two-thirds  (71%) of primary school teachers say they have seen an increase in children having "accidents" over the past five years.
More children 'not toilet trained' by school age – The Independent

Last month, local authorities applied to the courts to take 903 children into care - the highest figure since courts service Cafcass was set up in 2001. Numbers have been rising since late 2008 and the infamous Baby P case involving the death of a toddler while on the at-risk register in London.
Councils refer record number of children into care – BBC Online

The Social Market Foundation wants the government to help parents spread the cost of childcare over as many as 20 years. The think tank is calling for parents to be offered up to £10,000 up front, which they would pay back in monthly contributions.
Parents should be able to spread the cost of childcare  - BBC Online