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Daily News Summary
4 April 2019

Myth-busting: "Independent schools are only for the wealthy elite"
The edtech strategy and what it means for schools
No requirement for pupils to memorise swathes of text for exams, says schools minister
Heads lack confidence in GCSEs as a good preparation for work, survey reveals
All teaching jobs should be advertised with flexible options, says education secretary
One in five teenagers watch "Study Tubers" while revising their GCSEs
SEND funding drops by 17%
More than 200 school fields sold in recent years

Myth-busting: "Independent schools are only for the wealthy elite"

 

The ISC is running a series of "myth-busting" blogs to tackle some common misconceptions about independent schools. Harry Arnison, a pupil at The Grammar School at Leeds, helps to debunk the idea that "independent schools are only for the wealthy elite".

 
ISC

The edtech strategy and what it means for schools

 

Ty Goddard, co-founder of The Education Foundation and chair of Edtech UK, says the Government's edtech strategy "provides scaffolding and support" for UK schools to further their understanding of technology. Tes.

 
Tes

No requirement for pupils to memorise swathes of text for exams, says schools minister

 

The schools minister, Nick Gibb, has said claims that students are required to learn "huge swathes of text" in the reformed GCSEs are "overstated". By Will Hazell, Tes.

 

Heads lack confidence in GCSEs as a good preparation for work, survey reveals

 

Ofqual has published its annual report on the perceptions of A-levels, GCSEs and other qualifications. The survey has revealed less than a third of heads and teachers think GCSEs prepare pupils for work. By Freddie Whittaker, Schools Week.

 
Schools Week

All teaching jobs should be advertised with flexible options, says education secretary

 

The education secretary, Damian Hinds MP, has told the Schools and Academies Show that all teaching job adverts should include flexible working options. By Freddie Whittaker, Schools Week.

 
Schools Week

One in five teenagers watch "Study Tubers" while revising their GCSEs

 

A poll commissioned by the National Citizenship Service has found one in five teenagers watch videos known as "Study Tubers" to help them revise. The videos show teenagers studying for hours, while also sharing revision tips and advice. By Camilla Turner, The Telegraph.

 
The Telegraph

SEND funding drops by 17%

 

A report by the thinktank IPPR North has revealed the amount of funding for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) has fallen by 17 per cent across England since 2015. By Nazia Parveen, The Guardian.

 
The Guardian

More than 200 school fields sold in recent years

 

According to a report, more than 200 school playing fields have been sold in recent years due to school closures or mergers, building affordable housing, drainage problems, or investment in new facilities. By Eleanor Busby, The Independent.

 
The Independent

 

The Independent Schools Council (ISC) monitors the national and educational press in order to keep independent schools up-to-date with relevant education news. The DNS is a service primarily for schools in membership of ISC associations, although other interested parties can choose to sign-up. We endeavour to include relevant news and commentary and, wherever possible, notable public letters. Where capacity allows, we may include links to ISC blogs, press statements and information about school or association events. News stories are selected based on their relevance to the independent sector as a whole. Editorial control of the DNS remains solely with the ISC.

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