Mike Buchanan, executive director of the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference, writes to The Telegraph in response to geneticist Robert Plomin, who stated school type is not important because a pupil's academic success is pre-determined by their genes. The letter references 'academic value added' research that found pupils attending independent schools gained the equivalent of two additional years of schooling by the age of 16, even after taking into account differences such as prior ability, socio-economic status and gender.

Letter just above half-way.

Ceri Stokes, assistant head and designated safeguarding lead at Kimbolton School, writes that documenting pastoral incidents at school can make a huge difference in preventing and reducing safeguarding trends. Tes.

Magnus Bashaarat, the head of Bedales School, argues that GCSEs in their current form are 'stifling creative teaching'. Tes.

The defence secretary, Penny Mordaunt, has said children at risk of falling into gang and knife crime could benefit from schools that provide an education based on military principles. By Dominic Nicholls, The Telegraph.

A Cornish painter and the Eden Project’s artist in residence has said children will better understand climate change through forming a connection to the natural world first. By Kate Parker, Tes.

Are you using inventive teaching methods to help pupils understand about climate change? Do you have an example of a project your school has been involved with? If you'd like to write a 400-800 word blog on the subject, please email georgina.belcher@isc.co.uk.

The Institute for Research in Schools has partnered with UCL Institute of Education to produce a study exploring the experiences of research-active science teachers. By Dr Lizzie Rushton, a research associate at King’s College London, and Professor Michael Reiss, a professor of science education at UCL Institute of Education. Tes.

Eleven-year-olds have shown a poor understanding of the nature of British wildlife, following a survey of more than 2,000 young people. By Adi Bloom, Tes.

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