isc logo  

Daily News Summary
1 October 2019

School heads warn of "sadfishing" social media trend
Coverage from the HMC Conference: DfE benchmarks and genotyping in education
Child abuse victims call for "mandatory reporting" to be introduced
'Why losing the Common Entrance exam would be tragic'
'Would independent schools leave England to protect their assets?'
Headteacher warns NQTs are 'leaving the state sector for better-paid private jobs'
Sports leaders urge the Government to tackle the "public health emergency" of children's inactivity
Education secretary pledges £120m for new technology institutes

School heads warn of "sadfishing" social media trend

 

BBC News reports on findings from a report commissioned by the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference (HMC). According to the research, a growing trend of "sadfishing", where people 'exaggerate about their emotional problems online to generate sympathy', is leaving young people with genuine mental health problems "facing unfair and distressing criticism". By Sean Coughlan. The article quotes Chris Jeffery, head of Bootham School.

The Victoria Derbyshire show featured a segment today on the topic of "sadfishing" and its implications for young people. Mike Buchanan, executive director of the HMC, was joined by Charlotte Robertson, co-founder of Digital Awareness UK, to discuss the issue. Listen from 34:40.

 

Coverage from the HMC Conference: DfE benchmarks and genotyping in education

 

Tes reports on claims that test result benchmarks set by the Department for Education (DfE) 'can limit state pupils' aspirations'. In a speech at the HMC's annual conference, Fiona Boulton, HMC chair and head of Guildford High School, suggested there are children who should be aspiring for grades higher than those set as benchmarks based on their SATs results. By Catherine Lough.

The paper also reports Professor Robert Plomin, a leading geneticist who also spoke at the conference, has suggested genotyping could be used in the future to tailor education to students' individual needs. By Catherine Lough.

 

Child abuse victims call for "mandatory reporting" to be introduced

 

Victims have told the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse that failing to report child abuse should be made illegal. By Tom Symonds, BBC News.

 
BBC

'Why losing the Common Entrance exam would be tragic'

 

Writing in The Telegraph, author Harry Mount argues proposals to phase out the Common Entrance exam mark 'a moment of decline in British education'.

 
The Telegraph

'Would independent schools leave England to protect their assets?'

 

Tes features an analysis piece which evaluates the likelihood of a Labour government implementing policies to seize independent schools' assets, and explores the notion of private schools relocating abroad in response. By Catherine Lough and Dave Speck. The article quotes Barnaby Lenon, chairman of the Independent Schools Council, and Matthew Adshead, head of the Old Vicarage School.

 
Tes

Headteacher warns NQTs are 'leaving the state sector for better-paid private jobs'

 

Speaking at a fringe meeting at the Conservative Party conference, Clare Wagner, head of West London Free School, said increasing teachers' pay is vital for the recruitment and retention of teachers in the state sector. By John Roberts, Tes.

 
Tes

Sports leaders urge the Government to tackle the "public health emergency" of children's inactivity

 

Representatives of 42 sports organisations have written a joint letter to the Government calling for urgent action to address the "public health emergency" of inactivity among young people. By Jeremy Wilson, The Telegraph.

 
The Telegraph

Education secretary pledges £120m for new technology institutes

 

Speaking at the Conservative Party conference, Gavin Williamson announced plans to expand the number of Institutes of Technology from 12 to 20 in England, in an effort to overtake Germany's vocational education system. 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.

Sign-up to the email service is available on our website.

Members can contact the ISC if they know in advance of news, letters or opinions that are likely to feature in the media, or are aware of existing coverage which they would like to see featured in the DNS.

Headlines and first-line summaries are written by the ISC with the link directing to the source material. You should read and comply with the terms and conditions of the websites to which we link.