According to The Sunday Times, the Government is developing contingency plans in case next year's GCSE and A-level exams cannot take place due to coronavirus disruption. By Sian Griffiths. The article quotes Barnaby Lenon, chairman of the ISC.

The Department for Education has insisted exams will go ahead as planned next year, "underpinned by contingency measures developed in partnership with the sector". By Will Hazell, iNews.

Tes reports teacher judgements of student performance may be used next year to produce rank orders of students in each subject. By Catherine Lough.

The Mail reports Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has insisted "it is a priority to keep schools open" when England goes into lockdown for a second time from Thursday. By David Wilcock.

The mayors of Manchester and Liverpool have said schools and colleges in England should close during lockdown to reduce transmission of the coronavirus. BBC News.

Kevin Courtney, general secretary of the National Education Union, is calling on the Government to close schools in England, except for the children of key workers and vulnerable children. By Charlie Duffield, iNews.

According to iNews, ministers blocked a proposal put forward by scientists advising the Government to close secondary schools during the second lockdown. By Jane Merrick and Will Hazell.

Sir Jeremy Farrar, a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) and director of the Wellcome Trust, has suggested schools may need to close if infection rates continue to rise during lockdown. By Nicola Woolcock and Charlotte Wace, The Times.

Dr Martin Stephen, chair of governors at an inner-city comprehensive, writes in The Telegraph arguing a move to close schools during the second lockdown would be "an appalling misjudgement".

The Telegraph outlines how lockdown measures in England will affect schools, colleges and universities. By Gordon Rayner.

BBC News reports bookings have opened for the new National Tutoring Programme (NTP), which aims to help disadvantaged pupils in England catch up on their education. By Judith Burns. An article in Schools Week features a full list of the 32 providers selected to deliver the NTP in its first year. By Freddie Whittaker.

Nick Brook, the deputy general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, has warned the NTP is "severely constrained by the number of tutors available". By Sally Weale, The Guardian.

Tes reports supermarket chain Morrisons PLC is offering school staff across the UK a 10 per cent discount in its stores until January 2021 to say thank you for "looking after the nation's children throughout the pandemic". By Dave Speck.

Jo Grady, general secretary of the University and College Union, has said it would be "incomprehensible" to allow universities to continue face-to-face teaching during a second lockdown. By Georgina Littlejohn, iNews.

Larry Flanagan, general secretary of the Educational Institute of Scotland, has suggested schools in level 4 areas of Scotland should close and return to remote or blended learning. By Mark McLaughlin, The Times. According to BBC News, senior pupils and teachers in areas of Scotland under level 3 and 4 restrictions are being advised to wear face coverings in classrooms.

The Independent reports a number of MPs in the Blue Collar Conservatism caucus have been accused of "exaggerating their humble backgrounds", after it emerged that they were educated at independent schools. By Jon Stone.

Lord Boateng, a Labour peer, writes in The Times in response to research findings highlighting the racism experienced by young black people in the UK. He argues: "If we want to achieve a society where everyone has an equal chance to succeed then these barriers must be broken down."

Emily Gunton - director of music, head of co-curricular and outreach, and school consultant teacher at Blackheath High School - writes in Tes arguing "every child should have the opportunity to watch David Attenborough's documentaries in the classroom".

The Independent Schools Council (ISC) monitors the national and educational press in order to keep independent schools up-to-date with relevant education news. The DNS is a service primarily for schools in membership of ISC associations, although other interested parties can choose to sign-up. We endeavour to include relevant news and commentary and, wherever possible, notable public letters. Where capacity allows, we may include links to ISC blogs, press statements and information about school or association events. News stories are selected based on their relevance to the independent sector as a whole. Editorial control of the DNS remains solely with the ISC.

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