Category: HMC News

Comparing the relative grading of International GCSEs and reformed GCSEs

2019 HMC Autumn Conference in the News

Saturday 28th September 2019 The Times, Too much emotion bad for the young, says behaviour expert Gillian Bridge, (Gillian Bridge, HMC Conference 2019), 28.09.19 iNews, Boys’ private school bans ‘banter’… Find out more

Government initiative for Looked After Children

In response to the speech by the Minister for Children and Families, Nadhim Zahawi, to the Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) conference in Manchester on 5 July 2019,… Find out more

Labour and Independent Schools

Following media reports of moves by Labour activists to introduce a more punitive approach to the independent sector, HMC Executive Director Mike Buchanan said: “It would be a shame for this issue to be a… Find out more

Independent school attendance figures

Commenting on new Department for Education figures that show a small drop in the numbers attending independent schools (1,910 fewer than in 2015), HMC Executive Director Mike Buchanan said: “The figures show… Find out more

The Sutton Trust’s “Elitist Britain” report

Commenting on the Sutton Trust’s ‘Elitist Britain’ report published on June 25, HMC Executive Director Mike Buchanan said: Many independent schools are centres of intellectual, artistic and sporting excellence. They… Find out more

NEW FUND TO SUPPORT CROSS SECTOR SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS

Following the announcement today by Lord Agnew at the Schools Together annual conference of a new fund to help independent schools, state schools and universities share expertise and resources, Mike… Find out more

Contextual admissions and Oxbridge

Following the announcement by Oxford University that it is to increase its proportion of students from disadvantaged backgrounds, Chris Ramsey, Headmaster of Whitgift School and HE spokesman for HMC, said:… Find out more

Oxbridge, contextual offers and university admissions

Commenting following news items re: Oxbridge contextual offers and admissions, HMC Executive Director, Mike Buchanan, said: HMC schools are amongst the most academically successful in the UK and across the… Find out more

HMC Chair, 2019 Spring Conference speech

HMC’s 2019 Spring Conference, ‘Partnership & Collaboration in Practice’, was held at the British Library on Wednesday, 1st May. To view the speech by HMC Chair, Shaun Fenton, please click… Find out more

ISC Census 2019: European pupil numbers rise despite Brexit

  UK independent schools have recorded an increase in the number of pupils from European Economic Area (EEA) countries in the current academic year despite ongoing Brexit uncertainty. The finding… Find out more

NEW HMC RESEARCH SHOWS THAT PLAYING SPORT IS BENEFICIAL TO PUPILS EVEN IN THE RUN-UP TO THEIR EXAMS

The report by Professor Peter Clough, the head of the Department of Psychology at Huddersfield University, showed that physical activity significantly improved mental toughness and can help students cope with… Find out more

HMC response to the review of post-16 qualifications at Level 3 and below in England

Responding to the DfE consultation on the future funding of BTECs, HMC Executive Director, Mike Buchanan said: “We have concerns about the risk to the future of BTECs as part… Find out more

HMC welcomes consultation on a mixed economy for teachers’ pensions

Responding to the announcement by the Department for Education over the teachers’ pension scheme, Mike Buchanan, Executive Director of HMC said: “We support the provision of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme to… Find out more

HMC statement: HMC schools are acutely aware of their duties to report any concerns over the provenance of money they are receiving

Following suggestions that schools may have, in the past, received funds from sources that have subsequently been linked to illicit activity, Mike Buchanan, Chief Executive of HMC, said: “HMC takes… Find out more

Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance on school foreign exchange visits

In September 2017, the DfE amended its guidance on the responsibilities of schools in organising DBS or similar checks on hosting families, in Britain or abroad. Whilst HMC welcomes KCSiE… Find out more

New data from Ofqual reveals the true extent of grading unreliability

On 27.11.18, Ofqual published a series of documents outlining their research into quality of marking. This included a report entitled Marking Consistency Metrics; an update. Click here to access the… Find out more

HMC statement: Robust systems at HMC schools for reporting any concerns over provenance of money they are receiving

Mike Buchanan, HMC Executive Director, said: “Our schools follow the letter of the law, have robust systems in place for reporting any suspicious funds and are determined to play their… Find out more

HMC Executive Director Mike Buchanan highlights the priorities for HMC

HMC Executive Director, Mike Buchanan, is interviewed by Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), about his priorities for HMC. He shares the issues… Find out more

HMC statement: University initiation events/student pathways to university

On 25.10.18 the inquest into the tragic death of Newcastle University student and former Oakham School pupil Ed Farmer found that he had died from the “toxic effects” of alcohol… Find out more