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Schools remove Ofsted references in tribute to headteacher Ruth Perry
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Inspection
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Headteachers are taking references to Ofsted off their websites, job advertisements and letters in tribute to Ruth Perry, a Reading headteacher who took her own life ahead of her school's Ofsted report being published. Ms Perry's death has led to widespread calls for the reform of England's schools' inspectorate, while the Government has said the watchdog is "crucial" to maintaining standards. By Kate McGough and Rahib Khan, BBC News.
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140,000 pupils “severely absent” from school, survey finds
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General education
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A report by the Centre for Social Justice, a centre-right think tank, has revealed more than 140,000 children were “severely absent” from school last summer. According to the study, increasing levels of anxiety have left many pupils afraid of going to classes, while the cost of living crisis has meant that some families cannot afford the cost of travelling to school. By Emma Yeomans, The Times.
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Report finds teacher vacancies have 'almost doubled' since pandemic began
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Recruitment and retention
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According to the findings of a report by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER), teacher vacancies posted by schools were 93 per cent higher in the academic year up to February 2023 than at the same point in the year before the start of the pandemic. The figures suggest staff turnover is still rising, with vacancies in schools in England up 37 per cent compared with 2021/22. By Sally Weale, The Guardian.
Writing in Tes, NFER's school workforce lead Jack Worth calls on the Government to implement a "long-term strategy on teacher pay to tackle the growing crisis and improve the competitiveness of teacher pay".
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ASCL calls for “significant increase” to all teacher pay ranges
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Education policy
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In a submission to the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB), which recommends rates of teacher pay in England, the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) has called for a “significant increase” to all teacher pay ranges from September. Keen to reverse the “significant real-term decline” in teacher pay rates, the union is seeking a “long-term commitment to funding over a number of years”. By Matilda Martin and Callum Mason, Tes.
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Glasgow school teachers consider landmark strike over pensions
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Independent sector
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According to Tes, EIS teaching union members at Hutchesons' Grammar School have indicated their willingness to take strike action over a proposal to remove them from the Scottish Teachers’ Pension Scheme (STPS). The NASUWT has claimed that if the school is successful, other Scottish independent schools are likely to follow suit. By Emma Seith. The article quotes a spokesperson from the school, who says “a generous defined contribution scheme” has been offered in place of the STPS.
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Apprentice lawyers 'more likely to pass new legal exam', study suggests
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Higher education
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Research published recently by the Solicitors Regulation Authority has shown that prospective lawyers undertaking apprenticeships are much more likely to pass the new qualifying exam than those who have taken the academic course and subsequent training contract. By Jonathan Ames, The Times.
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A closer look at challenges facing international schools
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International education
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Speaking at the 2023 World Education Summit, director general of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Olli-Pekka Heinonen outlined five key issues facing international schools and offered advice on how best to prepare for changes ahead. By Dan Worth, Tes.
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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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