ISC Daily News Summary

Tes reports on some of the people who have been recognised in the King's Birthday Honours list for their contributions to education. Among those receiving honours is Andrew Baker, class teacher at King’s College Junior School and founder of Obera Schools’ Project in Kenya. Mr Baker has been awarded an MBE for services to education and to the community in Obera. By Matilda Martin and John Roberts.

Tom Rogerson, headmaster of Cottesmore School, has begun the search for an artificial intelligence (AI) expert to embed the technology into the curriculum and teach pupils to make robots their "benevolent servants". Speaking to The Telegraph, Mr Rogerson said: “We need to prepare them for a life of using and living with AI and robots which have AI installed in them." The article mentions head of Epsom College Sir Anthony Seldon, who is leading a cross-sector body set up advise and protect schools from the risks of AI, By Louisa Clarence-Smith, The Telegraph.

Schools Week has learned that ministers are looking into how to ensure schools benefit financially from any future use of pupil data by AI systems. Baroness Barran, the minister leading on AI for the Department for Education (DfE), told the paper that ministers were “absolutely thinking about all of these issues”. By Freddie Whittaker.

Addressing delegates at a conference at Downe House, head of Alleyn’s School Jane Lunnon spoke of the importance of free speech and her belief that it is something educators must fight for. Mrs Lunnon said: “The one thing I’m worried about — I think surely as educators we all do — is a world where we cannot have free speech. I mean, what is that?" By Nicola Woolcock, The Times.

Hasan Ahmed, an A-level student at Eton College, has a letter published in today's Times praising the school for providing an "all-round education to an ever-increasing number of ordinary children, with scores on fully funded bursaries".

The National Education Union (NEU) has announced two more days of national industrial action this term after members voted for further strikes, with teacher members of the union set to strike on Wednesday 5 and Friday 7 July. By Matilda Martin, Tes.

According to The Telegraph, teachers and school leaders have appealed to the NEU to reconsider the strikes planned for next month as the dates clash with planned end-of-term events such as transition days when pupils moving to secondary education visit their new school. By Louisa Clarence-Smith.

Schools are expected to be forced to tell parents if pupils are questioning their gender under new government guidance to be published this week, according to a report in The Sun. It could mean teachers will be required to disclose the information even when students object, as opposed to the current situation in which many schools are making their own decisions. By Nina Lloyd, The Independent.

The Telegraph reports that the Chief Rabbi has advised schools that parents should not be told if their child comes out as trans. Campaigners have claimed this runs contrary to basic safeguarding principles, saying they have been “shocked by this attack on families” by the religious leader. By Hayley Dixon.

The Observer explores the teacher shortage facing schools in England amid warnings from heads that some posts have received no applicants at all. The principal of one secondary academy in Essex says: “If you’re looking for a maths, science, computer science or DT [design and technology] teacher, you might as well be advertising for a unicorn.” By Anna Fazackerley.

In a blog marking the start of National School Sports Week, Paul Borrington, director of cricket at Denstone College, and the school’s cricket coach, Wes Durston, explain the origins of their Howzat! Cricket Coaching Programme, which is providing sessions and hosting festivals in the local community.