ISC Daily News Summary

The National Education Union (NEU) has said that Kit Malthouse, the education secretary, has to meet its demands of increased pay for teachers and support staff by 14 October or it will ballot members on strike action. Schools minister Jonathan Gullis recently said the Government was “not going to budge” on its pay offer, worth 5 per cent for most teachers. By Freddie Whittaker, Schools Week.

BBC News reports that 12 October has been confirmed as the date for a statutory strike ballot in Scotland, with the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) poised to take industrial action if members support the strike.

The Office for Students, the regulator for higher education, has told universities to factor in 'easier grading' in Wales when offering places. It follows the news that the exam watchdogs in Wales and England announced different grading plans for GCSEs and A-levels next year. Dr Kevin Stannard, the director of innovation and learning at the Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST), is quoted, saying: "The unintended, undesirable, but inevitable result will be an increasingly complicated, onerous and expensive public exam system which awards qualifications that nobody actually needs." By Louisa Clarence-Smith, The Telegraph.

Kit Malthouse, the education secretary, has spoken of his ambition for all children and young people to have the chance to achieve their potential. Speaking at the Conservative party conference, Mr Malthouse said the education system in England needs “constant attention and constant pressure” from the Government in order to “drive it forward”. By Freddie Whittaker, Schools Week.

According to The Telegraph, it is unlikely the ban on the creation of new grammar schools will be lifted before the next general election. Liz Truss's plan to cease the grammar schools ban was not in the 2019 manifesto and so has only been endorsed by Conservative party members. By Ben Riley-Smith.