ISC Daily News Summary

ISC Daily News Summary 30 January 2020

Plans to widen access to top universities for disadvantaged students

Higher education

The Telegraph features an article from a parent who wonders whether her son was rejected from Oxford because he attended an independent school. By Kate Wickers. The article quotes Nik Waight, head of English at St George's College Weybridge, and Mike Buchanan, executive director of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. The paper also carries a comment piece by Harry Hodges, arguing the solution to the widening access debate is to expand Oxford and Cambridge.

Peter Green, head of Rugby School, writes in The Times arguing university admissions policies based on "class targets" will disadvantage independent school pupils, even those in receipt of fee assistance. The letter can be found a quarter of the way down the page.

Nathalie Olah, author of "Steal As Much As You Can", writes in The Guardian in support of plans to make universities "more representative of society", adding it will take a "radical cultural shift".


"Conditional unconditional" offers expected to drop this year

Higher education

UCAS has predicted that 75 per cent of universities which made "conditional unconditional" offers last year will no longer do so in 2020. By Will Hazell, iNews.


Letters: 'Boarding schools are willing to help refugee children'

Letters

Robin Fletcher, chief executive of the Boarding Schools' Association, writes in The Guardian saying boarding schools have campaigned "tirelessly" to provide places for refugee children, and are still willing to do so with the Government's support. The letter can be found at the end of the page.


Schools advised to allow transgender pupils to use facilities of their choice

General education

The Crown Prosecution Service has issued new guidelines for schools advising them that excluding transgender pupils from their preferred toilets and changing rooms could be perceived as "indirect discrimination". By Camilla Turner and Ewan Somerville, The Telegraph.


Children's commissioner warns of mental health "chasm"

Mental health

Anne Longfield, the children's commissioner for England, has warned the UK is "a decade away from a decent mental health service for all children". By Shaun Lintern, The Independent.


Secondary schools to receive at least £5,000 per pupil from next year

Funding

The Government has announced local authorities must ensure every secondary school receives £5,000 per pupil from next year, as part of the pledge to 'level up' school funding. By Camilla Turner, The Telegraph.


'The key safeguarding challenges teachers may face in international schools'

International education

Tes features an article interviewing a school leader from the United Arab Emirates about the complexities of safeguarding policies overseas. By Dan Worth. The article mentions the Council of British International Schools.


House of Lords debate: advancing social mobility

Social mobility

As part of a House of Lords debate on improving social mobility, Lord Lexden, president of the Independent Schools Association, highlights some of the ways independent schools help to advance social mobility through working in partnership with state schools. He references the Old Vicarage School, Maple Hayes Hall School for Dyslexics, and the Independent Schools Council.


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