Latymer Upper School has dropped plans to end GCSE exams amid concerns that increasingly automated admissions systems could disadvantage applicants. The school in London was planning to scrap all but English and Maths GCSEs from the start of this academic year and replace them with an alternative curriculum. Ian Emerson, senior deputy head at Latymer Upper School, said staff were "full steam ahead" with plans to overhaul the GCSE curriculum but had been forced to "pivot" after a number of universities and medical schools in the UK, as well as continental European universities, revealed a reluctance to recognise alternative qualifications. The paper highlights growing interest in alternatives to the GCSE model, citing Wellington College and Bedales School as schools taking a different approach. On his school's continued commitment to its own in-house qualifications, Will Goldsmith, head of Bedales, said assessing pupils at 16 is "fundamentally inequitable" and can create unnecessary anxiety, "particularly for girls". By Andrew Jack, Financial Times.

In a letter to The Times, Sophie Blewitt, head of Hanford School, praises Winchester College for moving away from laptops in lessons. "As the head of a prep school which is unashamedly and purposefully low-tech, I see the clear benefits of our approach," she writes. Acknowledging the importance of technical competence in computing, Ms Blewitt says "there is something particularly valuable about seeing the workings of a child's mind on paper", and that "there is much to be gained from giving children the space to learn, think and develop without the constant presence of a screen". The letter appears just above halfway. 

Children learning a foreign language may benefit more from developing an ear for sounds than focusing solely on vocabulary and grammar, according to new research from UCL and Tohoku University. Professor Kazuya Saito-van Poeteren, lead author of the study, said: "Foreign language education should move beyond an approach based on 'more practice' and towards one that develops learners' ear for language learning in line with their auditory characteristics." By Anna Bawden, The Guardian. 

Ofsted’s latest inspection framework has been described as "brutal" by governors responding to the National Governance Association's (NGA) annual survey, although most agree that the watchdog produces fair outcomes. The findings of the NGA survey, which will be released in full on 20 October, raise concerns about the impact of inspection on school staff, what respondents consider to be rigid assessment criteria, and whether inspectors adequately account for disadvantage and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Emma Balchin, chief executive of the NGA, said the findings reveal a "fundamental problem" with school inspection. By Cerys Turner, Tes. 

The Department for Education (DfE) has relaxed eligibility rules for the assessment-only route to qualified teacher status (QTS), meaning teachers with at least five years' experience no longer need to have worked in two schools to qualify. Published today, the DfE's updated guidance states that those with less than five years' experience must still have taught in at least two schools and have a minimum of two years' teaching experience. The changes come into effect immediately, including for applicants already undergoing assessment. By Jabed Ahmed, Tes. 

The Welsh government has reached a deal with Labour on its mini-budget, which had failed to pass in the summer. Ministers said the Plaid Cymru-led administration has now agreed an extra £60 million towards educating children with additional learning needs (ALN). Labour, which sits in opposition after losing May's Senedd election, had previously rejected an annual £40 million deal across three years at the Welsh Parliament in July. Reaction to the deal has been mixed, with Reform saying it benefited Labour and Plaid rather than Wales, the NAHT expressing "deep disappointment" at the planned funding levels, and ASCL welcoming the agreement. The budget will be debated in the Senedd on 3 November. By David Deans, BBC News. 

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