Computing GCSE ‘leaves girls and poorer students behind’

A revolution is under way in the teaching of computer science in schools in England – but it risks leaving girls and pupils from poorer backgrounds and ethnic minorities behind. That’s the conclusion of academics who’ve studied data about the move from ICT as a national curriculum subject to computer science. Four years ago, amid […]

Most students’ predicted A-levels ‘wrong’

Only 16% of university applicants achieve the grades their teachers predict, research suggests. Analysis of the results of 1.3 million young people over a three-year period found 75% had been given overly optimistic predictions by schools. But nearly one in 10 (9%) did better than predicted, the study, published by the University and College Union, […]

Faith school push will not ‘help results’

Plans to allow new faith schools in England to increase the share of pupils they take on religious grounds will not improve standards, a report says. The Education Policy Institute research body also said the move was unlikely to boost social mobility. The proposal is part of a range of measures, including opening new grammar […]

Thousands of children ‘missing’ from education

More than 30,000 children were missing from schools in England and Wales for substantial periods of time in the 2014-15 academic year, local education authority figures show. Of these, almost 4,000 children could not be traced by the authorities. The National Children’s Bureau said some may be at “serious risk” of abuse and exploitation, including […]