ISC Daily News Summary

According to Schools Week, ministers plan to water down the new Schools Bill to “constrain” its scope and stop future governments “misusing” broad new powers. By Freddie Whittaker and Tom Belger, Schools Week.

The education secretary has denied accusations that plans to give the Government power to intervene in the daily running of academy schools are a power grab, claiming the changes were essential to protect schools because the existing regulatory system is only held together by “rubber bands and sellotape”. By Will Hazell, iNews.

The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) has said it is “concerned” about the impact rail strikes next week will have on pupils’ exams, suggesting young people should "talk to their school or college at the earliest opportunity to discuss the options that are available". By Camilla Turner, The Telegraph.

Michael Gove, the levelling-up secretary and former secretary of state for education, has backed key recommendations in The Times Education Commission’s final report. Mr Gove said he agreed with the report’s “emphasis on the teaching profession, continuous professional development and attracting the brightest and the best into teaching". By Holly Papworth, The Times.

New figures from the Higher Education Statistics Agency suggest that 80 per cent of students who graduated in 2020 are in full-time work, with only five per cent unemployed. By Emma Yeomans, The Times.

Exam board AQA has apologised to A-level law students after complaints that a 30-mark question in a recent paper was not included in advance information. By Freddie Whittaker, Schools Week.

The National Governance Association (NGA) has written to Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman to warn that school governors are “increasingly concerned” their work is becoming less visible in Ofsted inspections. By Freddie Whittaker, Schools Week.

St Paul’s School and Winchester College will face new state school rivalry at Rugby fives. The new competitors, Stoke Newington school in Hackney, east London, are leading a new wave of state school players who have started training to take on their independent school counterparts. By Robert Booth, The Guardian.