ISC Daily News Summary
ISC Daily News Summary 24 June 2022- Union warns of potential delays to exam results as AQA staff are balloted for strike action
- Nadhim Zahawi accuses OCR of "cultural vandalism" over syllabus shake-up
- 'Focusing too much on smart kids has halted social mobility'
- 'Independent schools are genuine charities'
- 'Publishing GCSE league tables this year will create tension within the sector'
- Primary schoolchildren spent 83 more minutes per day on screens during the pandemic
- 'Why does England need a National Institute of Teaching?'
Union warns of potential delays to exam results as AQA staff are balloted for strike action
ExaminationsTeaching union Unison has warned that pupils across the country could face delays in receiving their exam results this summer as AQA staff are balloted to strike over a pay dispute. By Samantha Booth, Schools Week.
Nadhim Zahawi accuses OCR of "cultural vandalism" over syllabus shake-up
ExaminationsThe education secretary has criticised the OCR exam board’s decision to remove Philip Larkin and Wilfred Owen from its GCSE English literature anthology, labelling the move "cultural vandalism". By Nicola Woolcock, The Times.
'Focusing too much on smart kids has halted social mobility'
Social mobilityKatharine Birbalsingh, chair of the Social Mobility Commission, said in her new Social Mobility Index that an emphasis on “smart kids” is one of the reasons social mobility has stalled in some areas, adding "we believe that other talents and other jobs should be valued too". By Dominic Penna, The Telegraph.
'Independent schools are genuine charities'
Independent sectorJohn Pitt, head at RGS Worcester, writes in the latest issue of the Independent Schools Magazine on the ways in which independent schools have supported their wider communities throughout the pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine, adding "it is time that there is some recognition for the extraordinary good will of our staff, pupils, parents and former pupils to respond in time of crisis, just like all good charities do, when others need our urgent help".
'Publishing GCSE league tables this year will create tension within the sector'
ExaminationsTes takes a closer look at the Government's decision to publish GCSE league tables this summer, despite widespread opposition within the education sector. By Dan Worth.
Primary schoolchildren spent 83 more minutes per day on screens during the pandemic
Primary education and early yearsAccording to a global analysis of research by Anglia Ruskin University, screen time during the pandemic increased the most among primary schoolchildren, by an extra hour and 20 minutes a day on average. By Andrew Gregory, The Guardian.
'Why does England need a National Institute of Teaching?'
Teacher trainingSir Dan Moynihan, chair of the School-Led Development Trust and chief executive officer of the Harris Federation, writes in Schools Week outlining why he believes England needs a National Institute of Teaching. Mr Moynihan suggests it will "make it easier for schools struggling to recruit in the 55 cold spots to employ specialist subject teachers rather than generalists, knowing they too will be able to access the best curriculum-based training".