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Daily News Summary
5 August 2019

'What you can do if your exam grades fall short'
Boys predicted to outperform girls at A-level for a third year
Universities relax entry requirements to encourage diversity
'It's time to end our obsession with Oxbridge'
DfE urged to tackle SEND bullying in schools
Plans to introduce a British Sign Language GCSE
Humanists to help set religious education lessons following legal battle
'Are school uniforms necessary?'

'What you can do if your exam grades fall short'

 

Dorothy MacGinty, head of Kilgraston School, writes in Tes reassuring prospective university students of the options available should their grades fall short of course entry requirements.

 
Tes

Boys predicted to outperform girls at A-level for a third year

 

A report published by Alan Smithers, of the Centre for Education and Employment Research at Buckingham University, predicts boys will attain more A* and A grades than girls for the third consecutive year. By Sian Griffiths, The Sunday Times.

 
The Sunday Times

Universities relax entry requirements to encourage diversity

 

Top universities in the UK are set to drop some of the toughest A-levels from their entry requirements in an effort to attract more girls and pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds. By Sian Griffiths and Julie Henry, The Sunday Times.

 
The Sunday Times

'It's time to end our obsession with Oxbridge'

 

Writing in The Times, Emma Duncan argues parents of prospective university students should consider an array of institutions for their children to attend, not just Oxford and Cambridge.

 
The Times

DfE urged to tackle SEND bullying in schools

 

A new report has called on school leaders and the Department for Education (DfE) to address the bullying of pupils with special educational needs in schools. By John Roberts, Tes.

 
Tes

Plans to introduce a British Sign Language GCSE

 

A British Sign Language GCSE may be rolled out in the UK ahead of the next general election following a campaign by a deaf schoolboy to introduce the qualification. BBC News.

BBC News also reports on analysis from the National Deaf Children's Society, which suggests deaf children are being "left behind" in the Scottish education system.

 

Humanists to help set religious education lessons following legal battle

 

The Humanists UK charity has won a legal challenge to join a council's religious education body, meaning it will be able to help shape the religious education curriculum for local schools. By Gabriella Swerling, The Telegraph.

 
The Telegraph

'Are school uniforms necessary?'

 

Writing in Tes, former independent school headteacher Dr Bernard Trafford questions the need for uniforms in schools, adding they have "no measurable effect on outcomes".

 
Tes

 

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