ISC Daily News Summary

The government has announced plans to reform T-levels in England, which have been plagued by slow uptake and high dropout rates. The changes will alter the industry placement component of the two-year qualification, which provides practical, hands-on work experience but has been challenging to implement. Starting next year, up to 20 per cent of placements may be completed remotely, instead of having to go to a physical workplace, with up to 50 per cent completed remotely for those studying the digital technology T-level. Students will also be expected to develop workplace skills through “simulated activities” in the classroom. Jacqui Smith, the minister for skills and apprenticeships, said: “We are cutting red tape to make it easier than ever for employers and providers to take part in T-level industry placements while ensuring students benefit from meaningful, high-quality experiences.” By Sally Weale, The Guardian. 

The natural history GCSE, announced by the previous government in 2022, has been put on hold. The qualification had progressed through most of the policy process by the time of the general election and was set to go out for public consultation, the final step before implementation. The conservationist and campaigner Mary Colwell expressed her frustration to The Guardian, saying: “Now it’s sitting in limbo. We’ve told Labour it’s ready and popular, but they view it as a Conservative initiative that needs reassessment.” She disputed this claim, emphasising its cross-party and public support. “Nature can’t afford to be a political football,” she added. “We need future generations to understand and care for the natural world.” While Department for Education officials suggested the GCSE might be reviewed as part of a broader curriculum overhaul, Ms Colwell warned this could take years. By Helena Horton.

A pre-watershed ban on junk food advertisements is expected to prevent around 20,000 cases of childhood obesity, the government has said. Further details about the food and drink products included in the regulations are set to be released today. Originally proposed by Boris Johnson’s Conservative government in 2021, the ban will take effect from next October, limiting junk food ads on television to after 9pm. Health secretary Wes Streeting said: "Obesity robs our kids of the best possible start in life, sets them up for a lifetime of health problems, and costs the NHS billions. This government is taking action now to end the targeting of junk food ads at kids, across both TV and online." By Josie Clarke, The Independent. 

Author Alex Quigley writes in Tes about the challenges schools face when trying to tackle the “baked-in” educational inequalities that can restrict young people’s life chances. Schools with higher numbers of students experiencing deprivation often encounter more obstacles than their more affluent counterparts, he states, with high levels of absence remaining a persistent issue for many.

An article in The Independent explores strategies for reducing soaring flight and package costs during school holidays. Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, has called “for government intervention to introduce some restraint on the extent to which travel firms are able to put up their prices”. Jonathan Hinkles, former chief executive of Loganair, claims that “most airlines make profits during the summer and lose money in the winter – if they cannot make a profit in summer, they will go out of business”. He suggests school holiday dates could be staggered over more weeks and airline slot allocations made more flexible during late March and late October, which typically align with Easter and autumn half-term breaks. By Simon Calder.