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Education secretary announces plans for a minimum level of service during school strikes
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Strike action
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Education secretary Gillian Keegan has said schools will be required to maintain a minimum level of service during strikes, under government plans to limit disruption to children's education. Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT, has described the move as an "overtly hostile act" and "an attack on the basic democratic freedoms of school leaders and teachers". By Neil Johnston, The Telegraph.
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Oxford University met with criticism over faulty online entrance tests
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Higher education
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University of Oxford candidates were unable to sit entrance tests properly due to issues with an online assessment. Dr David James, the deputy head of Lady Eleanor Holles School, is quoted saying: "What schools experienced today was unacceptable... Until awarding bodies, and universities, can prove categorically that online exams are glitch free then pen and paper will remain the most reliable, cheapest, and secure, option." By Nicola Woolcock, The Times.
The university has said it will not use results from the online admissions tests to award places on next year's English courses, after sixth formers experienced issues with the new system displaying incorrect questions, repeatedly crashing, and failing to record answers. By Richard Adams, The Guardian.
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Government 'monitoring' social media accounts of teaching staff
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General education
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According to The Observer, the Department for Education (DfE) has been monitoring the social media accounts of "dozens" of teaching staff, including teaching assistants, and is keeping files on posts that criticise education policies. In response, a number of educators have submitted subject access requests compelling the DfE to release any information it holds under their name. By Anna Fazackerley.
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Victims of child sexual abuse 'let down' by government, says inquiry chair
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Child welfare
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Professor Alexis Jay, chairwoman of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), has said she feels the government has failed to make any significant progress in the year since she published her report, and that she is "hugely disappointed" as a result. By Jeremy Ball, BBC News.
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Under-fives need more mental health support, report finds
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Mental health
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A report from the Royal College of Psychiatrists suggests more support is needed to prevent babies and young children developing mental health issues later on in life. Growing evidence suggests that early intervention - from conception to the age of five - may help stop conditions arising or worsening. By Smitha Mundasad, BBC News.
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Survey reveals rise in school absence due to anxiety
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Mental health
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According to a DfE survey of parents, a quarter of pupils absent from school in June were off due to anxiety or mental health problems. The findings have prompted school leaders to call on the government to "redouble" efforts to address the growing problem. By Matilda Martin, Tes.
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School urges council to amend 'disruptive' LTNs
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General education
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Magdalen College School has written to Oxfordshire County Council asking councillors to alter three low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) in the east of the city, warning that congestion caused by the schemes has reduced the number of sports trips pupils attend and forced some teachers to resign. By Steve Bird, The Telegraph.
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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.
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.
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