ISC Daily News Summary

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) has published its final report today, following seven years of investigations, hearings, evidence gathering and interim publications. The report details a series of 20 recommendations which include making the failure to report child abuse a criminal offence under a new law. By Gabriella Swerling, The Telegraph.

Read the Independent Schools Council's (ISC) statement in response.

According to Schools Week, the Schools Bill is set to be abandoned but some policies may be brought back in the next Parliamentary session as smaller pieces of legislation. By Freddie Whittaker.

The Times reports the subject of charity law is set to 'take centre stage' in the run-up to the next general election, with the Labour Party pledging to remove independent schools' charitable status. The Conservative Party reportedly intends to defend independent schools, with Jonathan Gullis, the education minister, recently saying Labour's proposal was his “biggest fear of all”. The article mentions the Independent Schools Council (ISC).

The article also reports on the findings of a report by the Social Mobility Foundation, due to be published next month, which suggest that social mobility at City law firms is 'slipping backwards' despite social advancement programmes and recruitment initiatives. By Robert Verkaik.

The item on charitable status is second on the page.

The Fixing Neverland report by Crest Advisory, a criminal justice consultancy, has recommended that Ofcom introduces a safety rating scale for social media sites. This could prevent children viewing harmful content and enable parents and carers to decide whether their child should access a particular social network. By David Woode, The Times.

The Chartered College of Teaching (CCT) and Education Support, a teaching support charity, have called on the education secretary to address the "persistent state of stress and burnout" among teachers. In a joint letter, the organisations warned Kit Malthouse of the "inevitable impact" such stress could have on teacher retention and the educational attainment of children. By Matilda Martin, Tes.

Professor Robert Tombs, a fellow of St John’s College, Cambridge, has said schools should not try to please activists by turning history lessons into “nice, comforting stories”. Professor Tombs was addressing a working group advising ministers on non-statutory guidance to support a model history curriculum for schools in 2024. By Louisa Clarence-Smith, The Telegraph.

Black history should be taught in schools all year round, according to children's author and former children's laureate Malorie Blackman, who has said history lessons should tell "the whole truth" of the British Empire. At present, schools in England are not required to teach any black history. By Adina Campbell, BBC News.

A group of former senior Ofsted inspectors have called for the regulatory body to be reformed in order to focus on safeguarding checks and carry out fewer full inspections of schools. By John Roberts, Tes.

Writing in Tes, Robert Halfon, Conservative MP for Harlow and chair of the Commons Education Select Committee, and Oli de Botton, CEO of the Careers Enterprise Company, discuss how devoting time to career skills can help children prepare for the working world.