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Daily News Summary
13 April 2021

Coronavirus: 'Schools need unwavering support and resources to deliver catch-up learning'
'Prep schools stay relevant through innovation'
"If you want to level up, libraries have to be a key part of that"
Poll reveals key life skills parents wish they had learned at school
Tributes paid to ex-education secretary Shirley Williams
'Clear language is a great leveller'

Coronavirus: 'Schools need unwavering support and resources to deliver catch-up learning'

 

Siobhain McDonagh, a Labour MP, writes in The Times arguing education secretary Gavin Williamson is "incapable" of leading the school catch-up plan, which she says "needs the drive and delivery of the vaccination programme".

According to poll findings from Ipsos Mori, more than half of parents would like their children to receive additional tutoring and wellbeing support as part of education recovery plans. By Dave Speck, Tes.

The Association of Colleges (AoC) has said sixth form students should be allowed to repeat part of the academic year to make up for lost learning. By Rachel Hall, The Guardian.

David Hughes, chief executive of the AoC, writes in Tes calling for an increase in college funding per student.

Secondary and primary pupils in six Scottish councils have returned to school full-time following the Easter break. BBC News.

 

'Prep schools stay relevant through innovation'

 

Tes features a profile piece on Chris King, chief executive of the Independent Association of Prep Schools. By Catherine Lough.

 
Tes

"If you want to level up, libraries have to be a key part of that"

 

Children's Laureate Cressida Cowell has called on the prime minister to ringfence £100 million a year to support primary school libraries. By Emma Saunders, BBC News.

 
BBC

Poll reveals key life skills parents wish they had learned at school

 

A new survey has revealed the key life skills parents wish they had been taught at school, ranging from money saving to self-care skills. By Steve Richmond, The Independent.

 
The Independent

Tributes paid to ex-education secretary Shirley Williams

 

Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the House of Commons speaker, and Lord Adonis, a former Labour schools minister, have paid tribute to Baroness Williams of Crosby, a former education secretary and advocate of the comprehensive school system who has died aged 90. By Amy Gibbons, Tes.

Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, writes in The Times saying "there is no doubt that Shirley will live on: through the party she founded, the causes she championed, and the countless lives she touched".

 

'Clear language is a great leveller'

 

Laura Freeman writes in The Telegraph in response to reports of some universities adopting "inclusive assessments", arguing the idea that students from disadvantaged backgrounds cannot learn English grammar is "the soft bigotry of low expectations". In a separate article, Celia Walden warns the move risks "grinding the English language as we know it to a pulp".

 

 

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