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Daily News Summary
18 February 2022

Schools across the country close due to severe weather warnings
Union criticises government guidance on impartiality in schools
School hopes to enter Guinness World Record books with climate change statement
Overhaul the exam system and make it fit for purpose, says head
ISC blog: A closer look at the concept of student flourishing
"Boarding can provide opportunities for students to develop their leadership potential"

Schools across the country close due to severe weather warnings

 

Hundreds of schools across the country have been forced to close today following severe weather warnings, with some areas preparing for 100mph winds. By Tom Batchelor, The Independent.

 
The Independent

Union criticises government guidance on impartiality in schools

 

The National Education Union (NEU) has criticised the Government's new guidance on political impartiality in the classroom, claiming that putting “flashing warning lights” around certain topics will discourage pupils from wanting to learn about them. By Camilla Turner, The Telegraph.

Zoe Paramour, assistant headteacher of South Hampstead Junior School, writes for iNews arguing that teachers must "avoid the temptation to exaggerate the contents of this guidance" which doesn't ban them from "teaching the truth".

Schools Week outlines what schools need to know about the Government's new advice on maintaining political impartiality in the classroom. By Freddie Whittaker.

 

School hopes to enter Guinness World Record books with climate change statement

 

Children at St Edward's Prep are hoping to enter the world record books after spelling out a sentence with 3,350 plastic bottles. The slogan, "There is only one Earth", was voted on by pupils at the school who were keen to make a "statement" about climate change and the environment. BBC News.

 
BBC

Overhaul the exam system and make it fit for purpose, says head

 

Neil Walker, head of Westfield School, writes for Independent Education Today arguing that there needs to be "an urgent overhaul of our system of assessing pupils at age 16 and 18".

 
IE Today

ISC blog: A closer look at the concept of student flourishing

 

Mark Beverley, director of the Institute of Teaching and Learning at Sevenoaks School, explains how research findings on the concept of student flourishing can shed light on how to support pupils with their personal development.

 
ISC

"Boarding can provide opportunities for students to develop their leadership potential"

 

Writing for Independent Schools Magazine, Dr Andy Kemp, principal of The National Mathematics and Science College, and John Taylor, foundation head of boarding at the Mill Hill School Foundation, explore how boarding can encourage students to "step up and practise leading in a meaningful way".

 
Independent Schools Magazine

 

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