Leading independent school monitors pupils' social media activity, head admits
One of England’s leading independent schools has admitted it monitors pupils’ social media accounts to ensure children are not criticising the school online.
The Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School made the admission amid an ongoing dispute between senior staff and pupils over its alleged “Big Brother” methods.
Over the past six months, students at Haberdashers’ have been secretly erecting posters in protest at the school allegedly clamping down on freedom of speech.
In response, a number of students have taken to erecting posters lashing out against the school’s no-tolerance approach to subversion, while others have been told to take down social media comments criticising its methods.
See also: School 'bans social media' over health concerns
Less than a third of businesses understand next month's new numerical GCSE grades
More than a third of businesses do not know that a new numerical grading system for GCSEs in English and maths is being used from next month, a new survey suggests.
And as well as the 35 per cent who are "wholly unaware" of the major exam reform, another 29 per cent say they are aware of the new 9-1 grading scale – which will gradually replace A*-G – but do not understand it.
A further 8 per cent of businesses are aware of the new grading but do not realise it is starting this year, according to a report by the CBI (Confederation of British Industry) and Pearson.
Only 28 per cent of employers surveyed say that they understand the numerical grades, even though young people will be awarded them this summer.
And among those businesses that believe they do have some knowledge of the system, nearly one in five (19 per cent) think that grade 1 is the top grade, rather than the lowest.
The report calls for urgent government action to raise levels of awareness and understanding among businesses about the system – which is being phased in over the next three years.
See also: The new GCSE grading system is simple. Why all the fuss?