ISC Daily News Summary

Rt Hon John McDonnell MP claims the Scottish Parliament could expect to receive £100m through Labour's pledge to charge VAT on school fees. By Paul Hutcheon, The Herald. The article quotes John Edward, director of the Scottish Council of Independence Schools (SCIS).

The Commission on Religious Education has called for RE to be "rejuvenated" in order to better reflect Britain's diversity and prevent the subject's decline. By Judith Burns, BBC News.

Rt Hon Damian Hinds MP has visited Ireland to understand why it does so well in global education league tables. By Nicola Woolcock, The Times.

Libby Purves writes in The Times, suggesting the Education Secretary could learn from the post-16 'transition year' offered to pupils so they can study life skills.

A research report from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and the Gatsby Charitable Foundation suggests initiatives encouraging young women to take up engineering should focus on those aged 15 to 25. By Julia Belgutay, Tes.

The Times reports that the Engineering Professors’ Council has produced almost 50 recommendations to better support degree apprenticeships.

Universities UK believes students should be able to declare their mental health problems on a new section of the UCAS application form, and not have to declare it as a disability. By Eleanor Busby, The Independent.

Rt Hon Damian Hinds MP has said the level of funding for the Government's 30 hours of free childcare scheme is sufficient. By Pippa Crerar, The Guardian.

A survey of GMB members in England has shown that nearly half of school support staff experience violence at work. By May Bulman, The Independent.

An assistant headteacher in the south west of England writes in Tes, explaining why he thinks schools should ditch items of stationery, such as highlighter pens. By Mark Roberts.