ISC Daily News Summary

ISC Daily News Summary 31 March 2023

Prime minister promises schools gender identity guidance for summer term

Gender identity

Prime minister Rishi Sunak has pledged to give schools guidance on policies for transgender pupils for the summer term, after the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) said its members were navigating a 'minefield' around gender. When asked about a report from Policy Exchange, which found only 39 of 154 English secondary schools reliably informed parents when pupils identified as trans or questioned their gender, Mr Sunak said he was "very concerned". BBC News.

According to The Telegraph, the prime minister is preparing to announce as soon as today that an independent panel of experts will lead a review of relationship and sex education lessons, taking over work already started by the Department for Education. By Louisa Clarence-Smith and Camilla Turner,


Schools 'struggling' to recruit teaching staff

Recruitment and retention

Research by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) has found schools are increasingly struggling to recruit teaching staff. The number of job adverts has increased to 1.4 million after a rise of 205,000 earlier this month, according to the REC. By Alan Jones, The Independent.


Tes asks: 'Is the Government's pay offer affordable for schools?'

Strike action

Tes takes a closer look at how the Government intends to fund the latest pay offer for teachers and whether schools would find it affordable. By Callum Mason.


Children with strict parents 'much more likely' to develop mental health problems, research finds

Parenting

A study by the University of Cambridge and University College Dublin suggests children of "hostile" parents are more likely to have mental health problems in later life. "Hostile" parenting styles were found to increase the possibility of three-year-olds growing up to be anxious, hyperactive or aggressive by 50 per cent. By Eleanor Hayward, The Times.


Number of home-educated children up by 60% following pandemic, investigation reveals

General education

An investigation by Schools Week has found the number of children in home education has risen by 60 per cent since before the pandemic. Analysis of data from 94 councils obtained by the publication estimates that around125,000 children across England – 1.4 per cent of all pupils – were home schooled at some point in the 2021-22 academic year, a rise of six per cent on the previous year. By Freddie Whittaker, Donna Ferguson and Samantha Booth.


Teachers in Scotland threaten exams boycott over assessments and coursework

Scottish education

Exams at Scottish schools risk being boycotted next year after plans were announced to reintroduce assessments and coursework, which were scrapped during the pandemic. Seamus Searson, general secretary of the Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association, said he has not spoken to a "single secondary school teacher" who believes their pupils are ready to return to full exam requirements. By Lauren Gilmour, The Times.


The Daily News Summary will return after Easter

Message from ISC

The Daily News Summary will be taking a short pause for the Easter break. We wish you all a very happy and peaceful Easter holiday.


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