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Daily News Summary
17 April 2020

Coronavirus: 'We need to build a strategy to manage the risk of schools reopening'
DfE appoints Nick Timothy as non-executive director
National offer day sees thousands miss out on first choice primary school
Actress claims children bullied for ginger hair are 'not dissimilar' to racism victims
Top university plans online-only degrees
Friday Feature: How schools are coming together to support their wider communities

Coronavirus: 'We need to build a strategy to manage the risk of schools reopening'

 

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, writes in Tes warning schools should start actively thinking and preparing for their eventual reopening, otherwise it 'will be something done to them rather than with them'. The Independent questions whether reopening schools is safe. By Jon Stone. An article in The Telegraph outlines what might happen when schools reopen and answers some frequently asked questions. By Sally Peck. Dr Kevin Stannard, director of innovation and learning at the Girls’ Day School Trust, is quoted. The paper also includes a piece from Telegraph readers, who share their thoughts on the issue of schools reopening.

The Telegraph reports on claims made by the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) that independent schools are setting “virtual” mock exams during lockdown, which count towards pupils’ predicted grades. By Camilla Turner. The article quotes Fiona Boulton, chair of the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference. The Times reports some schools are encouraging students to attend exams against official advice. By Nicola Woolcock.

Barnaby Lenon, chairman of the Independent Schools Council, writes in IE Today there will be "a number of consequences" following the cancellation of exams this summer.

David Gibbons, an English teacher at Eton College, writes in Tes that teachers can be tempted when teaching remotely to encourage children to learn things more quickly, but suggests this can actually affect knowledge retention and risk pupil and teacher burnout.

Seventy MPs have raised concerns that vulnerable families are "falling through the support net" and have written to the education secretary criticising the Government's online free school meal voucher system. By Catherine Lough, Tes.

An article in Tes explores idealised qualities of masculinity and argues, during this crisis, boys need positive role models and support more than ever. By Ross Deuchar, a professor of criminology, and Graham Goulden, a former police chief inspector at the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit.

Father Mark Turner, the school chaplain at Birkenhead School, has been lifting spirits by releasing a series of videos performing 80's dance workouts in a bid to encourage pupils to stay active. By Raven Saunt, Daily Mail.

 

DfE appoints Nick Timothy as non-executive director

 

The Department for Education has appointed Theresa May's former chief of staff in Number 10 as a non-executive director on the board. By Will Hazell, iNews.

 
iNews

National offer day sees thousands miss out on first choice primary school

 

Thousands of families in England have missed out on their first choice of primary school for their child, with competition remaining strong in London and Birmingham in particular. By Sally Weale, The Guardian.

 
The Guardian

Actress claims children bullied for ginger hair are 'not dissimilar' to racism victims

 

The Telegraph reports on comments made by actress Lily Cole, who has said teachers often overlook bullying on the grounds of hair colour because it is not considered as serious as other forms of discrimination.

 
The Telegraph

Top university plans online-only degrees

 

Durham University’s student paper reports on proposals seen in confidential documents to "invert Durham’s traditional educational model” by cutting face-to-face teaching by 25 per cent and setting up some online-only degrees. By Nicola Woolcock, The Times.

 
The Times

Friday Feature: How schools are coming together to support their wider communities

 

Schools across the country have been helping their local communities as part of the UK’s fightback against coronavirus. The ISC's Friday round-up aims to provide a little light relief, as we highlight some of the great work schools are engaged in.

 
ISC

 

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