ISC Daily News Summary

Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) yesterday, Conservative MP Peter Fortune highlighted Bishop Challoner School, which has educated pupils in his constituency of Bromley for nearly 75 years and is closing as a result of the VAT on fees policy. Mr Fortune said: "Given the Deputy Prime Minister’s well-publicised views on independent schools, does she welcome this closure or would she like to apologise to the parents, pupils and staff?" In her response, Angela Rayner did not acknowledge the request for an apology, but said: "Taxpayers in this country should not be subsidising tax breaks for private schools. I welcome all schools that give children a great education, but I am also determined to ensure we have qualified teachers in every classroom, for every child, which is something the hon. Gentleman’s government failed to do." Hansard. 

The sharing of deepfake pornography is emerging as "the next sexual violence epidemic" facing schools, according to Laura Bates, the author of a book on the spread of online misogyny. Appearing before the Women and Equalities Committee, Ms Bates said there needs to be statutory guidance for teachers on how to handle this "very significant issue". Deepfakes are pictures, videos or audio clips constructed with artificial intelligence to look or sound real. Although it is illegal to create or share a sexually explicit image of a child, including a deepfake, the technology for making them remains legal. In response to the comments, a government spokesperson told Sky News: "We are reviewing the relationships, sex and health curriculum to look at all modern-day challenges facing children, including that of deepfake porn." By Faye Brown. 

Bristol City Council has been criticised for being the slowest in England to assess pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). In February, only one per cent of assessments for Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) in Bristol were carried out within the official 20-week deadline. Describing her frustration at the speed at which applications are being processed, one anonymous mother from the city said: "I don't think they realise the impact it has on families. There are children who are regressing. There are children who, because they wait so long, end up on medication." Nationally, the demand for support for children with SEND has more than doubled in a decade. By Ana da Silva and Paul Barltrop.

Students should be prepared to be shocked and offended at university, the official responsible for safeguarding free speech on campuses has said. Arif Ahmed, director for free speech at the Office for Students (OfS), told BBC News that encountering views students may find offensive is "part of the process of education". Mr Ahmed's comments follow the OfS releasing guidance for English universities on how a new law protecting free speech will be implemented when it takes effect in August. By Branwen Jeffreys.

A group of refugee and asylum-seeking students in West Yorkshire will perform Shakespeare’s The Tempest after using it to improve their English. The teenagers, who are studying at Bradford College, are part of a unique partnership with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Of the 40 ESOL (English speakers of other languages) students involved, over 20 nationalities are represented. The performance coincides with Refugee Week, which is the world's largest arts and culture festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and those seeking sanctuary. By Cathy Killick and Julia Bryson, BBC News.