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Daily News Summary
27 March 2023

Labour's school fee tax plans would leave parents 'scrambling' for top state places, ISC research suggests
Cabinet minister calls for review of Ofsted's "limiting judgment" rule
Police strip-searching minors as young as eight, investigation finds
"Urgent action" needed to get absent pupils back into school
Anthony Horowitz: 'Reading offensive books is better than nothing'
A closer look at digital exams

Labour's school fee tax plans would leave parents 'scrambling' for top state places, ISC research suggests

 

Analysis by the Independent Schools Council (ISC) suggests the predicted shift of around 25 per cent of independent school pupils to the state sector, as a result of Labour's plan to add VAT to school fees, would make it harder for parents to get their first-choice state school. Areas including the South East, Bristol, Birmingham and Manchester would be particularly affected, according to researchers at the ISC who analysed 10 local authorities covering at least 19 Labour constituencies to see how the influx of independent pupils to the state sector would impact admissions over five years. Commenting on the findings, Julie Robinson, the ISC’s chief executive, said: “Labour’s tax on parents would have unintended consequences for the state sector. The pressure of pupil movement from independent to state schools would damage social mobility and lead to fewer disadvantaged pupils having the option to attend their preferred school." By Steve Bird, The Sunday Telegraph.

 
The Sunday Telegraph

Cabinet minister calls for review of Ofsted's "limiting judgment" rule

 

Levelling up secretary Michael Gove has called for a review of the way an “inadequate” Ofsted judgment in any one of four key areas is guaranteed to lower a school’s overall rating. The rule – the so-called “limiting judgment” – meant the school where Ruth Perry was headteacher had been downgraded from “outstanding” to “inadequate”, despite achieving a “good” result in most areas. By Amy Gibbons, The Telegraph.

Members of the Education Select Committee have said they would support an inquiry, led by ministers, into school Ofsted inspections and grading following Ms Perry’s suicide. By Louisa Clarence-Smith, The Telegraph.

In interviews with The Guardian, a number of senior teachers in England have spoken of the "detrimental impact" stress from Ofsted inspections has had on their health and careers. By Richard Adams and Sally Weale, The Guardian.

Research by the Hazards Campaign charity and the University of Leeds has revealed the stress of Ofsted inspections was cited as a factor in the deaths of 10 teachers over the past 25 years. By Anna Fazackerley, The Observer. An editorial piece in the paper looks at the pressures facing those working in the teaching profession and argues that "fixing this will start with raising salaries".

Writing in The Telegraph, columnist Camilla Tominey says "teachers rightly query the fact that some assessors, especially in early years education, appear never to have taught in a school". In a Sunday Times column, Robert Colevile, director of the Centre for Policy Studies think tank, argues that 'Ofsted may be harsh, but there’s no denying it has hauled many schools out of the doldrums'.

 

Police strip-searching minors as young as eight, investigation finds

 

Children’s commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza has said she found evidence of “deeply concerning practice” while investigating nearly 3,000 strip-searches conducted on children aged up to 17, including the fact that black children are up to six times more likely to be stopped and the youngest child to be strip-searched was aged eight. By Cahal Milmo, iNews.

Commenting ahead of the publication of the report, Dame De Souza said her “shocking” findings had “kept her awake at night”. By Caroline Wheeler and Dipesh Gadher, The Sunday Times.

 

"Urgent action" needed to get absent pupils back into school

 

Writing in The Times, Matthew Patten, political director of the Centre for Social Justice, calls for "urgent action" to get absent children back into school, after a report by the organisation revealed a 50 per cent jump in the number of pupils severely absent — out of class more than in — in less than two years.

Iain Duncan Smith points to "the emergence of a worrying change in attitude" by some parents who view attendance as optional. In a comment piece for The Telegraph, Mr Duncan Smith writes: "We need urgent action now. This should include accelerating the roll out of attendance mentors, removing the barriers to school attendance and ensuring families can access the right support."

 

Anthony Horowitz: 'Reading offensive books is better than nothing'

 

Anthony Horowitz, the bestselling author of series including the Alex Rider books aimed at under-15s, has said it is better for children to read “offensive” books than none at all. Mr Horowitz's comments follow a number of text changes made by publishers and literary estates to updated editions of books by Roald Dahl, Agatha Christie and other writers. By David Sanderson and Ben Clatworthy, The Times.

 
The Times

A closer look at digital exams

 

Tes explores the development and testing of digital assessments, featuring a number of international schools that have been trialling online IGCSE exams. By Gráinne Hallahan.

 
Tes

 

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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