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Strikes: Half of schools in the north of England 'wholly or partially closed' yesterday
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Strike action
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Attendance data from a sample of schools suggests around half of schools in the north of England closed yesterday to at least some pupils because of industrial action by teachers in membership of the National Education Union (NEU). An estimated 200,000 teachers in England and Wales will be striking this week in an ongoing dispute over pay and funding. By Freddie Whittaker, Schools Week.
Speaking to Sky News, Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the NEU, said his union "sincerely regrets the disruption to children’s education and parents’ work and home lives" but that the strike action being taken by teachers is for a
"high moral purpose to try and get the Government to invest in this generation of children". By Louisa Clarence-Smith, The Telegraph.
Tes features a live report on the strikes that is being updated throughout the day.
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Disadvantaged pupils in England face 'geographic exclusion from top state schools', study suggests
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General education
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As more than 800,000 families across England hear today if their child has a place at their first-preference school, research suggests that poorer children experience “geographic exclusion” from top state schools as they cannot afford to live close enough to get in. According to the findings, published by the University of Bristol, very few state secondary schools give priority to pupils who qualify for free school meals, despite the Government’s admissions rules being altered allowing them to do so. By Richard Adams, The Guardian.
The Telegraph includes an article for parents on what to do if their child misses out on their preferred school place and offers advice on issues such as how to appeal decisions. By Louisa Clarence-Smith.
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UK’s top universities divided over response to ChatGPT
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Higher education
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Analysis conducted by iNews has found that the UK’s top universities are split over how to respond to the artificial intelligence (AI) platform ChatGPT, with Oxford and Cambridge among those deciding to ban the technology over fears of cheating, while others are choosing to embrace it. Of the 24 Russell Group universities, eight have reportedly told students that using the AI bot for assignments will count as academic misconduct. By Poppy Wood.
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Survey reveals rise in public support for expansion of free school meals
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Child welfare
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According to the findings of a poll by YouGov, 80 per cent of the public in England would like the Government to extend free school meals to all children in households receiving universal credit, up from 72 per cent when The Independent launched its Feed the Future campaign five months ago. The poll comes as new figures from the Food Foundation suggest the number of households in England with children in poverty has nearly doubled to 22 per cent, up from 11.6 per cent in January 2022. By David Cohen.
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Michael Gove: 'Reduce benefits for parents of truant children'
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Education policy
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Cabinet minster Michael Gove has suggested parents should face cuts to their child benefit if they fail to ensure their children turn up at school. Addressing delegates at an event held by think tank Onward, Mr Gove said the idea could help restore an "ethic of responsibility" and tackle anti-social behaviour. By Paul Seddon, BBC News.
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Petition for school bereavement lessons reaches 10,000 signatures
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General education
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A petition calling for schools to teach pupils about bereavement has received over 10,000 signatures. Launched by John Adams, president of the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD), the petition says schools "should be required to provide age-appropriate education to help children understand death as a part of life, as part of compulsory relationships education". BBC News.
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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.
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.
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