ISC Daily News Summary

Mike Buchanan, executive director of the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference, discusses the damaging effects of unconditional university offers. The Times.

Letter 1/4 of the way down the page.

Judith Woods writes in The Telegraph arguing that unconditional offers are "making a mockery of our university system".

The Scotsman reports on the findings of the Oxford Economics Report, commissioned by the ISC, which reveals independent schools are worth £260 million to the Scottish economy. By Shan Ross.

Education Executive also discusses the findings of the report.

South Hampstead High School has written a "Family Phone Pledge” which asks pupils and parents to promise they will reduce their mobile phone usage at home. By Rosemary Bennett, The Times.

Josh Beattie, assistant director of the curriculum division of the Department for Education (DfE), has said the Government is "struggling hugely" with the decline in entries to GCSE modern foreign languages (MFL). By Will Hazell, Tes.

Do you partake in any innovative initiatives to help combat the decline in MFL? If your school is involved in an interesting state school partnership scheme or any other activity, and you'd like to write a blog on the subject, please email [email protected].

The Department for Education has missed its teacher training targets for physics and maths graduates, despite offering bursaries and running advertising campaigns. By Nicola Woolcock, The Times.

A survey carried out by the National Education Union, Bath Spa University and special needs charity Nasen, has revealed nearly three-quarters of special educational needs coordinators (Sendcos) do not have enough time to support pupils with less severe special educational needs. By Helen Ward, Tes.

Ofqual research has found the method of paired comparison, or comparative judgement, to mark essays is as reliable as traditional marking. By Jess Staufenberg, Schools Week.

GambleAware, an organisation raising awareness of problem gambling, has said both the Government and parents should be teaching young people about the dangers of gambling. By Katie Grant, iNews.