ISC Daily News Summary

David James, an independent school deputy head, writes in The Critic arguing independent schools have found themselves "caught in the class war crossfire" between Labour and the Conservative Party this general election. He adds politicians should "look elsewhere for the causes of inequality, and recognise that society does not become fairer by destroying excellence".

Susan Hardwick, director of marketing at Gabbitas, writes in IE Today offering an alternative view. She argues the independent sector "remains resilient" to political challenges, adding "our British independent sector remains the envy of the world".

Government figures show teacher training targets have been missed for the seventh year in a row, amid an ongoing recruitment crisis within schools. By Nicola Woolcock, The Times.

The Conservative Party has pledged to give Ofsted the right to visit schools without informing them a day in advance, as part of their proposals to improve standards and discipline in schools. By Steven Swinford, The Times.

The Daily Mail features testimonials from parents who have paid extra for their independently educated children to have one-to-one tuition outside of school. By Sadie Nicholas. The article quotes Dr Fiona Miles, head of Loughborough High School.

Helen Chandler-Wilde writes in The Telegraph discussing the future of single-sex schools, following the news that Scotland's last state-run girls' school is to become co-educational in 2021. The article quotes Sue Hincks, president of the Girls' Schools Association and headmistress of Bolton School Girls' Division.

Sarah Tidy, an English teacher and head of public speaking at Ratcliffe College, writes in Tes arguing students are focusing too much on the aesthetics of their work, rather than its contents. She warns this "gives them a false sense of security about their own effort, and, ultimately, their attainment in a particular subject".

Analysis from King's College London has found 23 per cent of young people display problematic smartphone usage, with one in four exhibiting behaviour consistent with addiction. By Sarah Knapton, The Telegraph.

Alex Battison, senior deputy head at Lord Wandsworth College, writes in Tes arguing schools could benefit from the leadership insights of the Premier League, which offers courses to "prepare future coaches and leaders as architects of compassionate, high-performing environments".