ISC Daily News Summary

ISC Daily News Summary 8 February 2024

Labour considers pension tax exemption for headteachers

Pensions

According to iNews, Labour is considering protecting "crucial" public sector workers under its plans to reinstate a tax on large pension pots. This comes amid warnings from senior education leaders and pension experts that the policy would have a major impact on the retention of headteachers in schools. The Association of School and College Leaders told iNews it was "concerned" that senior school leaders leaving the education sector could be an "unintended consequence" of the plans. By Callum Mason and Chloe Chaplain. 


'Alarming' gender confidence gap in schools, Teach First poll reveals

Teaching and learning

More than half (54 per cent) of British girls do not feel confident learning maths while two fifths (43 per cent) feel insecure about science, according to the findings of a report by Teach First. The figures were based on the results of a YouGov poll of 1,000 young people aged 11 to 16 ahead of International Day of Women and Girls in Science this Sunday. By Sally Weale, The Guardian. 


Exclusion rate of black Caribbean schoolgirls triples in last year

Attendance

Freedom of Information figures from the Department for Education have shown that the rate of black Caribbean girls being excluded from schools has tripled within the past year. The data has also revealed that, in the academic year 2021-22, this group was excluded at double the rate of white British girls, while girls from traveller backgrounds also experienced worse school outcomes. By Nadine White, The Independent. 


Mother of Brianna Ghey joins campaign calling for mindfulness to be taught in schools

Mental health

The mother of murdered teenager Brianna Ghey is supporting calls for mindfulness to be added to the national curriculum as "a lasting legacy" to her daughter. Alongside Warrington North MP Charlotte Nichols, Esther Ghey is backing a nationwide campaign calling on the government to fund mindfulness programmes in every school in England. By Kristian Johnson, BBC News. 


Classical education to be offered to pupils at leading state school in Newham

Teaching and learning

Staff at Newham Collegiate Sixth Form are to teach lessons in Classics that will aim to provide students, many of whom come from underprivileged backgrounds, with the kind of “rich diet of knowledge” typical of independent schools. Welcoming the initiative, head of Epsom College Sir Anthony Seldon said: “This is an exciting idea... I also think it’s very good they are aiming for US universities. It’s been overwhelmingly independent schools that have tended to send young people to US universities.” By Sally Weale, The Guardian. 


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