Some headlines on education and schools work from the last 3 weeks:
- I cannot stand the bullying any longer, says diver Tom: Tom Daley, the teenage diver tipped to win gold for Great Britain at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, has been the victim of a bullying campaign so severe his parents may be forced to move him to a new school.
- Faith schools free to preach against homosexuality: Sex education is to be made compulsory in all state schools in England but faith schools will also be free to preach against sex outside marriage and homosexuality, under government proposals.
- Just 14% of children in care get five good GCSEs: Figures show slight improvement but Tories accuse government of failing most vulnerable pupils.
- Generation of boys ‘failed’ by school: Too many boys are hitting a downward spiral of under-achievement that starts at nursery and continues into adulthood because society has focused disproportionately on girls, a leading expert has claimed.
- Science tests ‘to be scrapped in primary schools’: Science tests for 11yearolds will be scrapped under Government plans to overhaul the exams system.
- New qualifications are rushed in too quickly, says exam watchdog: Ofqual wants two-year pilot studies before new courses are introduced.
- Mother faces prison for trying to get son into better school: A mother faces being imprisoned for allegedly providing a false address in an attempt to get her child into a leading state school.
- ‘Dragon’ academy teaches teenagers who quit school to become tycoons: An academy that encourages young entrepreneurs to run their own business at the age of 16 has been swamped by applications. There have been more than five candidates for every one of the 28 places at the new National Enterprise Academy, a business school set up by Peter Jones, the multi-millionaire.
- Danish schools ready to trial internet access during exams: According to reports in the Danish media, ministers are about to trial a system where A-level students are allowed to take internet-connected computers into exams.
