What’s been in the news?
- According to research by University College London children raised in religious homes are more likely to succeed, regardless of whether they went to faith school or not. Researchers found that pupils from Catholic and Church of England families did well because of their upbringing, not because of their school.
- The Association of Educational Psychologists has tabled a motion to the TUC Conference calling for physical punishment to be outlawed.
- Researchers in Belfast have found that many children are suffering from an undiagnosed developmental condition which impacts on their ability to learn mathematics.
- The Local Government Association (LGA) says over half of councils in England are at risk of not keeping up with demand over the next five years – leaving nearly 134,000 children with no school places.
- Children in France have been banned from using their mobile phones during school hours after a new law has been passed prohibiting their use.
- Pupils at secondary schools across UK may have been exposed to asbestos from heatproof gauze mats used with Bunsen burners.
- School Standards Minister Nick Gibb addressed ResearchED at Harris Secondary Academy, St Johns Wood.
- Religious Education (RE) should be re-branded as “Religion and Worldviews” in schools to ensure its survival as a subject, according to a two-year study carried out by the Commission on Religious Education. Read their Executive Summary or download the full report.