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‘We have a great partnership with our local independent school – but it wouldn't know how to run a state primary'

One primary head explains that her school's partnership with a private school is so strong because it is on a voluntary basis. Forcing independent schools to run state schools wouldn't work, she argues

If the government is considering what sort of help big independent schools should offer to the state sector (as it is in its recent Green Paper), it should talk to a primary like mine, which for years has worked in partnership with private schools.

Jessica Mair explains that her school “like many of my neighbouring schools, work with our local independent school, Latymer Upper, and the support they provide to us is absolutely invaluable in the progress and development of all of our children.  These relationships ensure that children are provided with opportunities to think outside of the four walls they are educated in and see where they are heading in their school career and beyond.

This partnership work is delivered very much in the spirit of voluntarism, and it is this which makes it both strong and successful. That should not be changed. Everyone would lose out – crucially, the children.

https://www.tes.com/news/school-news/breaking-views/we-have-a-great-partnership-our-local-independent-school-it-wouldnt

Only two pupils will get straight top grades in new GCSEs, DfE adviser predicts

Prediction about scarcity of straight grade 9s exacerbates fears about increased pressure on top-performing pupils

Just two pupils in England could end up achieving top grades in all their GCSEs under the new grading system, the Department for Education's chief analyst has predicted.

The government is gradually replacing the current A* to G grades with numerical grades, from 1 to 9 – with 9 being the highest.

Just 20 per cent of those who would have achieved A or A* under the existing system will be awarded a grade 9.

Responding to a tweet about the number of pupils who would get straight 9s, Tim Leunig, the DfE's chief analyst and chief scientific adviser, wrote: “2 is my guess – not a formal DfE prediction. With a big enough sample, I think someone will get lucky...”

https://www.tes.com/news/school-news/breaking-news/exclusive-only-two-pupils-will-get-straight-top-grades-new-gcses-dfe