Robert Halfon, chair of the Education Select Committee, has said the fallout from the cancellation of this year's exams "could have been avoided had Ofqual not buried its head in the sand and ignored repeated warnings, including from our Committee, about the flaws in the system for awarding grades”. By James Carr, Schools Week.

Gillian Keegan, the minister for skills and apprenticeships, has said GCSE and A-level students will sit exams as planned in 2021. By Kate Parker, Tes.

An article in iNews features the perspectives of some parents and pupils who believe next year's exams should be cancelled due to lost learning. By Claudia Tanner.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, has warned there could be a shortage of Ofsted inspectors next year, as many of them are school leaders who may be busy managing the demands of the COVID-19 pandemic. By John Roberts, Tes.

John Swinney, Scotland's education secretary, has said Higher exams could be cancelled as late as February. By Mark McLaughlin, The Times.

The Guardian reports on data findings which suggest there has been a "shocking" decline in the attainment levels of primary school pupils in England after lockdown. By Sally Weale.

Dr Pam Edmonds, the head of The Hampshire School, Chelsea, writes in The Telegraph about the importance of keeping schools open, and explains how her school has adapted to blended learning during lockdown.

According to a report published by the Careers and Enterprise Company, 72 per cent of school and college leaders believe careers education should be a priority post-COVID. By Kate Parker, Tes.

Jo Grady, general secretary of the University and College Union, has said the Government's plans for students to return home for Christmas are "riddled with holes". By Zoe Tidman, The Independent.

An article in iNews reports Scotland and Wales have also set out their plans for allowing university students to return home for Christmas. By Will Hazell.

Tes reports that from next spring, independent schools will be able to keep existing staff in the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS), while offering alternative pension schemes to new teachers. By Dave Speck.

Suzie Longstaff, headmistress at Putney High School, discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic provides an opportunity to focus on what really matters, with kindness, collaboration and a fresh look at the language of success.

Peter Green, headmaster of Rugby School, has said the school is selling a number of rare books with the aim of raising £400,000 for bursaries. By Nicola Woolcock, The Times.

According to research by Cambridge University, while talk and communication with toddlers is important for their development, it does not directly impact their literacy skills by the age of 11. By Will Hazell, iNews.

A new report has found the number of temporary traffic bans outside schools across London has increased from 81 to 383 in less than six months. By Ben Webster, The Times.

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