isc logo  

Daily News Summary
12 June 2023

School Ofsted inspections to change following campaign by headteacher's family
Partnering with schools can lead to a brighter future for all, says Eton head Simon Henderson
Teachers could strike for a week if pay deal is turned down
'Dangerous' teacher shortage facing UK, heads warn
Puberty blockers to be prescribed only in clinical research
Growing calls for ban on smartphones in school as experts fear they damage cognitive ability
Tributes paid to Emma Pattison as memorial service held

School Ofsted inspections to change following campaign by headteacher's family

 

A number of reforms are to be made to Ofsted inspections in response to the death of headteacher Ruth Perry, who took her own life while awaiting her school's inspection report. Schools in England given an Ofsted rating of inadequate for child welfare will be re-inspected within three months to give them a chance to improve. By Branwen Jeffreys, BBC News.

 
BBC

Partnering with schools can lead to a brighter future for all, says Eton head Simon Henderson

 

In an interview with The Times this weekend, headmaster of Eton College Simon Henderson explains why the intention of a new strategy, 'Honouring Tradition, Inspiring Change', is for Eton to become known as a charity for the advancement of education, rather than as a school with charitable activities on the side. Mr Henderson says: “I firmly believe that the way you increase educational opportunity is by getting really high-performing state and independent educational providers to work together. The more positive education you can put into the system, the better it is."

 
The Times

Teachers could strike for a week if pay deal is turned down

 

Teachers could take part in week-long industrial action this autumn if ministers reject a recommended 6.5 per cent pay deal. Senior education union sources have said their members could support “serious and sustained” strike action in the next academic year should ministers fail to implement the increase put forward by the independent pay review body. By Harry Yorke, The Sunday Times.

During her speech to the annual meeting of the EIS union, general secretary Andrea Bradley claimed increasing levels of violence in Scotland's classrooms are the result of ministers not listening to demands for extra support. By Katrine Bussey, The Times.

 

'Dangerous' teacher shortage facing UK, heads warn

 

Headteachers have told The Independent that the UK is facing a “dangerous” teacher shortage as the recruitment crisis in the sector worsens, with recent figures suggesting teacher vacancies in English schools have doubled in the past two years. Falling pay and conditions make recruitment increasingly difficult, they have claimed. By Archie Mitchell.

 
The Independent

Puberty blockers to be prescribed only in clinical research

 

NHS England has announced that puberty blockers will only be given to children attending gender identity services as part of clinical research. This comes after an interim report into children's gender services said there were "gaps in evidence" around the drugs, which are used to "pause puberty" and work by suppressing hormone release. By Lauren Moss and Josh Parry, BBC News.

 
BBC

Growing calls for ban on smartphones in school as experts fear they damage cognitive ability

 

According to neuroscience and psychology experts, pupils who are allowed to take a smartphone to school will have a lower IQ. Academics are also warning that there is a growing urgency to ban the devices in schools, as studies increasingly suggest they are “extremely dangerous” for young people’s learning, social skills and mental health. By Louisa Clarence-Smith, The Telegraph.

 
The Telegraph

Tributes paid to Emma Pattison as memorial service held

 

Independent School Management Plus (ISMP) features a tribute to Emma Pattison, after a service was held to remember her and her daughter, Lettie. Haileybury master Martin Collier writes: "Emma was a wonderful person to work with. She was relentlessly positive and upbeat; her smile and her laughter were infectious."

 
Independent School Management Plus

 

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.