ISC Daily News Summary

Schools minister Nick Gibb told ministers on the Education Select Committee yesterday that parents have no “veto” on what is taught in relationships and sex education (RSE), and should complain to schools about “inappropriate” content instead of withdrawing their children from class. By Freddie Whittaker, Schools Week.

Appearing in front of ministers to answer questions on a range of issues, Mr Gibb said cautious parents working from home are contributing to a “staggering” increase in absenteeism. By Nicola Woolcock, The Times.

An estimated 700,000 pupils are being taught in unsafe or ageing school buildings in England that require major repairs, according to a report from the National Audit Office (NAO). It says the Department for Education (DfE) has, since 2021, assessed the risk of injury or death from the collapse of a school building as "very likely and critical", but the years of underfunding have left the risks unaddressed. By Nathan Standley, BBC News.

Pupils should read for 12 hours a week to boost their school performance, according to the findings of a University of Cambridge study of more than 10,000 children in the US. Reading for pleasure was found to increase the size of young people's brains, boost cognitive ability, aid good mental health and also contribute to better grades. By Joe Pinkstone, The Telegraph.

Writing in Schools Week, head of English and media at Westonbirt School Tabatha Sheehan explains how schools can best complement and enrich pupils' reading and learning. Outlining six ways in which the English curriculum can be diversified, Ms Sheehan concludes: "Much like an essay answer in an English exam, there is no single, perfect way to diversify your curriculum. There is one sure-fire way to get it wrong though, and that is to not make a start."

iNews understands that Lord’s will keep hosting its “historic fixtures” between Eton College and Harrow School and the universities of Oxford and Cambridge for another five years, despite the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) saying the annual matches should not be held at there after 2023 to combat “elitism and class-based discrimination“. By Katherine Lucas.