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Daily News Summary
2 September 2019

Year 11 results 2019: ISC research
Independent schools' Year 11 results 2019: Press coverage
Letters: Independent schools and IGCSEs
Government plans to increase teacher starting salaries to £30,000
Concerns over drop in number of students applying to study chemistry at university
Boris Johnson announces multi-billion pound cash boost for schools
Study reveals number of bullied children who have considered suicide
Advice for parents of children starting school or university

Year 11 results 2019: ISC research

 

Results data published on Saturday by the Independent Schools Council (ISC) show 23.1% of Year 11 exam entries achieved a grade 9, more than five times the national average.

Other headline figures show:

  • 95.6% of entries received a C/4 grade or higher, compared to the national average of 67.3% and up 0.1% from last year
  • 74.4% of candidates achieved at least one grade 9/8/A*
  • The average number of GCSEs taken per candidate is 9.4
  • More than half (54.7%) of all entries were for GCSE exams. IGCSEs made up 45.3% of entries, a drop from 47.0% last year
 
ISC

Independent schools' Year 11 results 2019: Press coverage

 

The Times reports almost a quarter of GCSE exam entries at independent schools were awarded a grade 9. By Nicola Woolcock.

The Telegraph reports private school pupils are taking fewer GCSEs than ever, with headteachers encouraging them to participate in extra-curricular activities instead. By Camilla Turner. The article quotes Magnus Bashaarat, head of Bedales School, and Julian Thomas, former independent school head. The paper has also compiled an interactive league table of results. By Ashley Kirk and Patrick Scott.

Tes reports on the shift away from IGCSEs, as private schools are beginning to favour the new reformed GCSEs. By Catherine Lough.

All of the articles above quote Barnaby Lenon, chairman of the ISC.

 

Letters: Independent schools and IGCSEs

 

Letters published in The Guardian yesterday defend the IGCSE qualification. Christine Özden, CEO of Cambridge Assessment International Education, argues the Cambridge IGCSE and the reformed GCSEs are 'of the same standard', and should therefore be regarded equally by universities. The letters can be found at the top of the page.

 
The Guardian

Government plans to increase teacher starting salaries to £30,000

 

The Department for Education has announced its plans to raise starting salaries for new teachers to £30,000 by 2022-23. By Catherine Wylie, The Independent.

 
The Independent

Concerns over drop in number of students applying to study chemistry at university

 

Figures from the Royal Society of Chemistry show the number of UK students applying to study the subject at university has fallen by 21 per cent between 2015 and 2018, prompting calls for the Government to take action to encourage more students to pursue careers in chemistry. By Robin McKie, The Observer.

 
The Observer

Boris Johnson announces multi-billion pound cash boost for schools

 

The prime minister has said schools in England are set to receive £14 billion in extra funding over the next three years. By Charles Hymas, The Telegraph.

The Sunday Times features a geographical analysis of the funding boost, which concludes the cash injection 'favours schools in Conservative constituencies'. By Sian Griffiths and Tom Calver.

BBC News reports chancellor Sajid Javid is to announce £400 million of additional funding for further education in England to help support new technical and vocational qualifications.

 

Study reveals number of bullied children who have considered suicide

 

According to a study for the Diana Award, 57 per cent of children have been bullied at some point in their school lives, with almost one in five saying it had made them feel suicidal. By Charles Hymas, The Telegraph.

 
The Telegraph

Advice for parents of children starting school or university

 

The Times features a collection of expert tips for parents of children about to start a new academic year. By Anna Maxted. Julia Harrington, head of Queen Anne's School in Caversham, is quoted.

 
The Times

 

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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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.

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