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Daily News Summary
21 December 2020

Coronavirus: Education leaders voice concerns over school testing plans
Scottish schools to receive updated guidance on supporting transgender pupils
Etiquette coach helps state school pupils secure all-fees scholarships
Cambridge college offers places to "outstanding" applicants without interview

Coronavirus: Education leaders voice concerns over school testing plans

 

A coalition of headteachers and college leaders has described the Government's plans to test all pupils in January as "chaotic" and "inoperable". By Richard Vaughan, iNews. The article quotes Dr Simon Hyde, general secretary of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. BBC News reports on the reaction among education leaders to the announcement, with one headteacher saying the news has left some school staff feeling "broken". By Hannah Richardson.

Education chiefs have warned that headteachers could be forced to work on Christmas Day and Boxing Day to prepare schools for coronavirus testing in the New Year. By Joanna Whitehead, iNews. According to The Observer, some school leaders have been asking parents with a "medical background" to help oversee the testing of pupils. By Michael Savage and Donna Ferguson.

According to Schools Week, schools minister Nick Gibb told MPs on Friday that schools "won't be sued" if they do not participate in the Government's mass testing programme. By Freddie Whittaker.

Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, has said the reopening of secondary schools should be delayed until 18 January. By Sian Griffiths, The Sunday Times. Health secretary Matt Hancock has said school closures cannot be ruled out. By Charles Hymas, The Telegraph.

The Times reports on concerns that schools in Tier 4 may not reopen in January. By Nicola Woolcock and Chris Smyth. The Independent explores how the new Tier 4 restrictions could impact on schools. By Chelsea Ritschel.

Education secretary Gavin Williamson writes in The Telegraph arguing 'if we can all work together on rapid, asymptomatic testing, we can keep schools open for the whole of 2021'.

The Educational Institute of Scotland has rejected claims from the Scottish Government that there is no greater risk of contracting COVID-19 in schools than there is anywhere else. By John Jeffay, The Times.

Professor Lindsay Paterson, of Edinburgh University, has expressed concern over the decision to close Scotland's schools until 18 January, describing the country's online learning provision as "woefully inadequate". By Simon Johnson, The Telegraph.

A hundred academics, medics, paediatricians and clinical psychologists have written a joint letter urging the Government to withdraw its advice on the use of face masks in schools, claiming it does not comply with guidelines from the World Health Organisation. By Camilla Turner, The Telegraph.

Schools Week reports the Department for Education has bought a further 440,000 laptops to distribute to schools. By John Dickens.

 

Scottish schools to receive updated guidance on supporting transgender pupils

 

According to The Sunday Times, the Scottish Government is expected to publish new advice for schools on supporting transgender pupils within weeks. By Mark Macaskill.

 
The Sunday Times

Etiquette coach helps state school pupils secure all-fees scholarships

 

The Times features a piece on The Cumberland School in Newham, which employs an etiquette coach to help pupils secure full scholarships to independent schools. By Helen Rumbelow.

 
The Times

Cambridge college offers places to "outstanding" applicants without interview

 

Pembroke College in Cambridge has broken with tradition by offering places to a small number of "outstanding" A-level students without inviting them to interview first. By Emma Yeomans, The Times.

 
The Times

 

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