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Daily News Summary
14 October 2022

House of Lords debate: The Times Education Commission Report
Headteacher turnover 'rises by a third'
Appeals expected following DfE review of ITT accreditation
Teachers in Wales receive anti-racism training
Counter-extremism scheme leads to ‘thousands of unnecessary referrals’

House of Lords debate: The Times Education Commission Report

 

In a House of Lords debate brought by Lord Lexden, peers discussed the findings of the Times Education Commission, a year-long investigation into the future of the education system. Lord Johnson of Marylebone, the former universities minister and one of the commissioners, called for a Royal Commission to set out a 15-year plan for education in England, building on the Times Education Commission’s recommendations. By Nicola Woolcock, The Times.

In his introduction to the debate, Lord Lexden, president of the Independent Schools Association (ISA), made reference to the Independent Schools Council (ISC) and highlighted the thousands of partnerships which exist between schools in the independent and state sectors “through which teachers and pupils work together as colleagues to their mutual benefit”. Hansard.

 

Headteacher turnover 'rises by a third'

 

Figures released by SchoolDash have shown that headteacher turnover has increased by more than a third since before the COVID pandemic, with one in 10 schools welcoming a new headteacher this autumn. The changes were tracked from DfE data, and covered state and independent schools. By Amy Walker, Schools Week.

 
Schools Week

Appeals expected following DfE review of ITT accreditation

 

Tes reports that around one third of providers which were unsuccessful in gaining accreditation for initial teacher training (ITT) courses are set to appeal. The approvals, which covered both school-based providers and universities, were decided by the Department for Education (DfE) as part of its education sector review. By Matilda Martin.

 
Tes

Teachers in Wales receive anti-racism training

 

Teachers in Wales are being given anti-racism training and resources amid pupils speaking of their experiences of racist bullying and feeling isolated in schools. Wales' education minister, Jeremy Miles, has also said ‘more needs to be done to attract an ethnically diverse range of teachers’. BBC News.

The Guardian reports that a new educational project aimed at increasing the diversity of the curriculum in England is being developed by academics from the University of Bristol in conjunction with members of the renowned Bristol band, Massive Attack. A series of interactive online lessons have been devised, aimed at 'bringing stories of inspiring individuals of African and African diaspora descent into classrooms to enrich history studies'. By Sally Weale.

 

Counter-extremism scheme leads to ‘thousands of unnecessary referrals’

 

According to a study by the Counter Extremism Group think tank, the Government’s guidelines on who may be “vulnerable to extremism” is “vague and lack clear connections to violent radicalisation”, resulting in thousands of unnecessary referrals by teachers and healthcare professionals. By Duncan Gardham and Matt Dathan, The Times.

 
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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