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Daily News Summary
17 July 2020

Coronavirus: 'Bordering on reckless to have no plan B for exams if schools disrupted further'
New figures show poor progression in bid to achieve teaching diversity in primary schools
'Scrapping 50 per cent university target was a necessary first step'
Children’s commissioner calls for 30 hours’ free childcare from age of two
Teachers share best books to read this summer

Coronavirus: 'Bordering on reckless to have no plan B for exams if schools disrupted further'

 

The Association of School and College Leaders has criticised the Government for not establishing contingency plans for exams if schools are disrupted in the autumn. By Hannah Richardson, BBC News.

The Guardian reports on concerns raised by headteachers that Ofqual will be standardising schools' scores in line with previous years’ results - adversely affecting improving schools. By Jess Staufenberg. Robert Halfon MP, chair of the House of Commons Education Select Committee, writes in Tes calling on Ofqual to publish details of its grading model immediately. Tes has also published a commentary by an MYP coordinator at an IB school in Europe who says the IB and other exam boards need to ensure a fair system is upheld "so that all stakeholders have trust and belief in it".

A snap Tes poll has found 89% of teachers lack trust in the Department for Education over coronavirus. By Catherine Lough.

James Wilding, academic principal and head of senior boys at Claires Court, has written to The Telegraph explaining how his school has helped "other schools to connect with their communities", keeping their classrooms alive during lockdown. The letter, which responds to a recent article by Hattie Garlick, can be found two thirds of the way down the page.

The education secretary has said universities in England at risk of going bust could access emergency loans from the Government if certain conditions are met. By Sean Coughlan, BBC News.

A survey by the charity Magic Breakfast has revealed more than half of teachers believe there will be an increase in the number of children arriving at school hungry this September. By Will Hazell, iNews.

Scientific advisers for the Scottish Government have said that pupils can return to schools in August without distancing but teachers should remain two metres apart where possible. By Tom Eden, The Times.

 

New figures show poor progression in bid to achieve teaching diversity in primary schools

 

Figures released in response to a Parliamentary Question have revealed the lack of progression achieving diversity in primary and early years teaching over the past five years. By Mikey Smith, The Mirror.

Tes reports Martyn Oliver, the head of Outwood Grange Academies Trust, has been appointed to the Government’s Commission on Race and Ethnic disparities, which will be chaired by Dr Tony Sewell, an education consultant who heads the Generating Genius charity.

 

'Scrapping 50 per cent university target was a necessary first step'

 

Will Tanner, a director of a think-tank called Onward, writes in The Times arguing for the introduction of "true parity in post-18 education by ensuring that funding and status follow quality".

 
The Times

Children’s commissioner calls for 30 hours’ free childcare from age of two

 

Anne Longfield believes the 30 hours’ free childcare entitlement should be extended to children aged two and infants should be eligible for the 15 hours scheme after their first birthday. By Greg Hurst, The Times.

 
The Times

Teachers share best books to read this summer

 

Tes rounds up teachers' top books to read over the summer holiday. By Grainne Hallahan.

 
Tes

 

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