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Daily News Summary
18 March 2019

Girls' school produces "neuroscience” revision guide
'Private education and power is the root cause of Brexit'
'Private tuition more pernicious than private schools in widening social inequality'
Government launches strategy to increase number of international students
"GCSEs do not prepare students for work and further study"
Parents use FOI requests to understand why Oxbridge rejected their child
Call for new guidance on the risks of e-cigarettes used by many youngsters
Ten-year-old recites Pi to 220 decimal places during school assembly

Girls' school produces "neuroscience” revision guide

 

Queen Anne’s School in Caversham has spent five years working with neuroscientists to understand how teenage brains work and have created a "neuroscience” revision guide. The article quotes Julia Harrington, headteacher at Queen Anne’s. By Nicola Woolcock, The Times.

 
The Times

'Private education and power is the root cause of Brexit'

 

John Harris, a columnist for The Guardian, argues Britain's independent schools and their "domination of our power structures" are to blame for the Brexit crisis. He also said there should be "a demand, via legislation" that Russell Group universities offer places to pupils from independent and state schools in line with the population.

In an interview with The Times, Liz Truss, chief secretary to the Treasury, has suggested Oxbridge automatically offers places to '100 top state school students from each region'.

 
The Guardian

'Private tuition more pernicious than private schools in widening social inequality'

 

The former director of corporate strategy at Ofsted has said school inspections should assess how many children are privately tutored before judging a school in a middle-class area. By Nicola Woolcock, The Times.

Karen Yossman writes in The Times discussing her first job 'helping the wealthy get in to Oxford'.

 
The Times

Government launches strategy to increase number of international students

 

The Government will encourage overseas students to apply to study at UK universities in a bid to boost the post-Brexit economy. By Richard Vaughan, iNews.

 
iNews

"GCSEs do not prepare students for work and further study"

 

Magnus Bashaarat, head of Bedales School in Hampshire, argues GCSEs and A-levels should be replaced by a diploma to help "embed vocational education in our schools". The Tes.

According to Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, the current GCSE system sets pupils up to feel disappointed and forces them to undertake a series of mandatory resits. By Eleanor Busby, The Independent.

 
Tes

Parents use FOI requests to understand why Oxbridge rejected their child

 

According to The Times, parents are using freedom of information (FOI) requests to understand why their child failed to gain a place at Oxbridge. By Nicola Woolcock and Rosemary Bennett. The article quotes Helen Pike, master of Magdalen College School.

 
The Times

Call for new guidance on the risks of e-cigarettes used by many youngsters

 

One of Britain's leading surgeons has written to ministers calling for new guidance on the potential dangers of e-cigarettes. According to the Mail on Sunday, the amount of teenagers now vaping has caused many school heads to write to parents about the issue. The article quotes Amy Sellars, assistant headteacher at Latymer Upper School, who has warned parents of a “new craze" for the devices. By Stephen Adams and Michael Powell.

 
Mail on Sunday

Ten-year-old recites Pi to 220 decimal places during school assembly

 

Charley Thomas, a 10-year-old pupil at Wycliffe Preparatory School, has recited Pi to 220 decimal places during his school assembly - and is thought to be the youngest Briton to do so. The article quotes Wycliffe head, Adrian Palmer.

 
The Telegraph

 

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