ISC Daily News Summary
ISC Daily News Summary 21 September 2021- Coronavirus: Vaccination of over-12s begins in schools
- The Big Ask: Children's commissioner calls for more support for "survivor generation"
- Nick Gibb urges successors to resist calls to scrap GCSEs
- Investigation reveals "agonising" waits for child mental health services
Coronavirus: Vaccination of over-12s begins in schools
General educationThe vaccination of 12 to 15-year-olds in England is now under way, with the first COVID jabs given in schools yesterday morning. By Chris Smyth, The Times.
A US study, involving nearly 2,300 American children between the ages of five and 11, has found that the Pfizer vaccine produces a robust immune response and detected no dangerous side effects. By Rhys Blakely, Oliver Moody and Chris Smyth, The Times.
Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, has said that a proposal to spend £5 billion on catch-up vouchers for parents is "well-meant" but "completely impractical". By John Roberts, Tes.
The Big Ask: Children's commissioner calls for more support for "survivor generation"
General educationIn a newly-published report entitled The Big Ask, Dame Rachel de Souza, the children's commissioner for England, has described children in England as a "survivor generation" who remain optimistic about the future despite the challenges of the pandemic. By Will Hazell, iNews.
The children's commissioner's report has called for an "urgent" education recovery package for schools, adding that pupils "should be offered voluntary sessions during the school week for academic catch-up support and a richer set of extracurricular activities". By Catherine Lough, Tes.
According to the Big Ask survey, a fifth of children - and 40 per cent of 16 and 17-year-old girls - in England are unhappy with their mental health. By Rachel Sylvester, The Times.
Nick Gibb urges successors to resist calls to scrap GCSEs
ExaminationsNick Gibb, the former schools minister, has urged his successors not to abolish GCSEs, warning: "Nothing would widen the attainment gap more than such a dismal and unambitious policy." By Freddie Whittaker, Schools Week.
Investigation reveals "agonising" waits for child mental health services
Mental healthA BBC investigation has found that children struggling with mental health problems during the pandemic face "agonisingly" long waits for treatment, with one in five youngsters waiting longer than 12 weeks for care. By Nick Triggle.