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Daily News Summary
7 April 2021

Coronavirus: Face masks to remain in schools 'until mid-May at the earliest'
Exams 2021: Teachers reject motion to permanently replace exams with teacher assessment
'Female teachers and pupils experience misogyny and sexism in schools'
Union calls for black history to be taught across all subjects

Coronavirus: Face masks to remain in schools 'until mid-May at the earliest'

 

The Department for Education has confirmed that secondary school pupils in England must continue to wear face masks until 17 May at the earliest. BBC News.

Dr Patrick Roach, general secretary of the NASUWT, has warned the Government against relaxing COVID-19 safety measures in schools, saying this "would send a message to pupils and parents that the threat of COVID has passed at a time when extreme caution is still needed". The Telegraph.

Survey findings from the National Education Union (NEU) suggest 98 per cent of teachers oppose extending the school day and shortening holidays as a means of helping children to catch up on their learning after the pandemic. By Sally Weale, The Guardian. BBC News reports on other findings from the NEU, which indicate school staff have provided clothing, food and furnishings to struggling families during the pandemic.

According to The Times, Boris Johnson is considering a four-year education recovery plan, following reports that 200,000 pupils will start secondary school behind in reading. By Nicola Woolcock.

Tes reports the next edition of the Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) will explore how COVID-19 has affected school students. By Claudia Civinini.

Education secretary Gavin Williamson has said children have lacked "discipline and order" during lockdown. By Camilla Turner, The Telegraph. In a separate article, Mr Williamson sets out the Government's new Behaviour Hubs programme, designed to "help schools to develop and sustain a culture where good behaviour is the norm".

New survey findings suggest one in three teachers could leave the profession due to increased pressures caused by the pandemic. By David Parsley, iNews.

First minister Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed that pupils in Scotland will return to school full-time after the Easter holidays. By Daniel Sanderson, The Telegraph.

 

Exams 2021: Teachers reject motion to permanently replace exams with teacher assessment

 

According to Tes, 57 per cent of NASUWT members have rejected a call to permanently replace GCSE and A-level exams with teacher assessment, amid concerns it could lead to an increased workload and additional pressure from parents. By Dave Speck.

The Times reports Scottish pupils are expected to be assessed using "closed-book conditions under a high degree of supervision and control", despite the cancellation of exams this year. By Mark McLaughlin.

 

'Female teachers and pupils experience misogyny and sexism in schools'

 

Dr Patrick Roach, general secretary of the NASUWT, has said female teachers and students have experienced "upskirting, down-blousing" and "inappropriate" touching at school, leaving some afraid to walk down the corridors alone. By Eleanor Busby, The Independent.

The Times reports allegations of sexual misconduct in schools, published to the Everyone's Invited website, have extended to involve teachers. By Arthi Nachiappan and Ryan Watts.

The King's School in Worcester has launched a "Change the Narrative" club intended to encourage pupils to highlight and address misogynistic behaviour and attitudes. By Emma Yeomans, The Times.

University professors Tanya Horeck, Jessica Ringrose and Kaitlynn Mendes write in The Independent stating: "Young people's online and offline lives are inseparably intertwined, and it's important to deliver relationships and sex education within this context."

Kate Myers, emeritus professor of professional development in education at the University of Keele, writes in The Times arguing male role models and annual anonymous surveys in schools could help to tackle toxic sexual behaviours and attitudes.

Lord Blunkett, Labour's education secretary from 1997 to 2001, has said the police should not "pronounce guilt without evidence" when it comes to allegations published to Everyone's Invited. By Jamie Fullerton, The Telegraph. .

Campaigners have warned that some university students are "scared" to report sexual assaults that happened outside of coronavirus regulations. By Zoe Tidman, The Independent.

 

Union calls for black history to be taught across all subjects

 

Members of the NASUWT union have passed a motion calling for black history to be "fully embedded and taught across the curriculum" in the UK. By Will Hazell, iNews.

 
iNews

 

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