ISC Daily News Summary

Experts are raising concern over the availability of university places this year, with institutions said to be offering fewer places than usual because of fears there will be widespread grade inflation. By Dominic Penna, The Telegraph. The Guardian speaks to families affected by the cautious approach to offer-making being taken by universities. By Anna Fazackerley.

The Sunday Times reports that six families are launching a class action to challenge GCSE and A-level grades awarded by teachers last year. By Sian Griffiths.

Mark Enser, head of geography and research lead at Heathfield Community College in East Sussex, writes in Tes looking at how the cancellation of exams could offer some answers about the best ways for schools to motivate students.

According to The Observer, No 10 may have "leaned" on Public Health England not to publish important data on the spread of the new COVID variant in English schools. By Carole Cadwalladr.

Research carried out by Teacher Tapp for Teach First has found nearly half of teachers would support retaining remote working for some of the time once the pandemic is over. By William Stewart, Tes.

The Times has published survey results on education reform to coincide with the launch of its new year-long Education Commission project. The wide-ranging survey looked at different aspects of education including the charitable status of independent schools and state funding for private school places. By Nicola Woolcock and Rachel Sylvester.

Rachel Sylvester writes in The Times outlining some of the different ideas the Education Commission will be exploring.

In a separate article marking the launch of the Commission, The Times looks at whether exam-focused teaching discourages children’s curiosity. By Rachel Sylvester.

The Telegraph takes a closer look at a reported increase in the number of Londoners considering sending their children to schools north of the border. By Anna Tyzack. The article mentions schools in membership of the ISC's constituent associations and references data from the Scottish Council of Independent Schools.

New research has found that MSPs are about four times as likely to have attended an independent school as the average Scot. By Marc Horne, The Times.

Scientists at the University of Kent’s School of Psychology have discovered that when teenagers look away, they may actually simply be trying their best to pay attention. By Anna Maxted, The Times.

Catering company Chartwells has revealed that, from September, it is to move the 1.6 million youngsters it feeds in schools every week towards a “flexitarian” diet. By Sian Griffiths, The Sunday Times.