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Daily News Summary
26 May 2023

Letter: Independent-state school partnerships 'inspire and encourage all pupils'
Teaching unions call for new pay talks after 6.5% figure leaked
'Students shouldn’t be included in net migration figures'
One in 10 childcare providers in England facing closure, report finds
Prime minister: Promoting vapes to children is 'ridiculous'
Hope for music subject as increasing number of students take vocational courses
Entrepreneurship and the importance of teaching 'reflectiveness, resourcefulness, responsibility and resilience'

Letter: Independent-state school partnerships 'inspire and encourage all pupils'

 

Joe Spence, master of Dulwich College and co-director of the Southwark Schools Learning Partnership, writes to The Times in response to Robert Verkaik's article on social mobility within the legal profession. Outlining the range of benefits arising from cross-sector partnerships, Dr Spence writes that, rather than barring access, independent school networks can be an "engine of social mobility". The letter can be found halfway down the page.

 
The Times

Teaching unions call for new pay talks after 6.5% figure leaked

 

Education unions are urging the Department for Education (DfE) to “urgently” restart negotiations and publish the independent pay review recommendations for teacher pay. It comes after the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) recommendation that teachers should receive a 6.5 per cent pay increase for 2023-24 was leaked last weekend. By Matilda Martin, Tes.

The Association of Educational Psychologists (AEP) has said its members are going to be balloted for industrial action amid a dispute with the Local Government Association (LGA) over pay. The AEP, with the National Education Union and Prospect, had asked the LGA for a rise of nine per cent on all pay points. By Amy Walker, Schools Week.

 

'Students shouldn’t be included in net migration figures'

 

Senior Conservative MPs have suggested separating student visa statistics from net migration data would help “bring down the numbers” without harming Britain’s university sector. By Poppy Wood, iNews.

The Guardian takes a look at why a growing number of students from India are coming to the UK to study, with around 140,000 Indians seeking educational opportunities in Britain last year. By Hannah Ellis-Petersen.

 

One in 10 childcare providers in England facing closure, report finds

 

According to the government’s research into the impact of the cost of living crisis on the childcare sector, one in 10 childcare providers in England is facing closure and more than half are finding it difficult to cover their costs. The findings are likely to raise concerns about the capacity of the sector to grow to meet the government’s £4 billion expansion to its free childcare offer, which was outlined in this year's budget. By Sally Weale, The Guardian.

 
The Guardian

Prime minister: Promoting vapes to children is 'ridiculous'

 

The prime minister has said it is "ridiculous" that vapes, illegal to be sold to under-18s, are promoted to children, as he pledges to look at ways to tighten marketing rules. Speaking to ITV's This Morning, Rishi Sunak said he didn't want his daughters to be "seduced by these things". BBC News.

 
BBC

Hope for music subject as increasing number of students take vocational courses

 

Tes explores the increasing popularity of vocational qualifications (VQs) in music, following concerns from sector bodies amid years of waning interest in the subject at GCSE and A-level. A spokesperson from Pearson explains a possible reason for the rise in music VQs: “This may be because the rise of accessible music creation software and new music-making technology, for example, has attracted young people who create and perform music in new ways." By Dan Worth.

 
Tes

Entrepreneurship and the importance of teaching 'reflectiveness, resourcefulness, responsibility and resilience'

 

Writing in Independent Schools Magazine, James Polansky, executive headteacher at Boundary Oak School, explains why lessons in entrepreneurship have been introduced at the school and why he believes the subject needs to be given more prominence in the curriculum.

 
Independent Schools Magazine

 

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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