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Daily News Summary
27 July 2021

Coronavirus: Drop in cases among young people 'could be because schools have broken up'
'Why TAGs might be perceived to be unfair even before the results are known'
'Action is needed to protect teenage girls from public sexual harassment'
MPs condemn "unacceptable level of opaqueness" over home education
ITT review will "help rather than hinder" the recruitment and retention of teachers
Gap year student aims high in record-breaking global flight

Coronavirus: Drop in cases among young people 'could be because schools have broken up'

 

Dr Mike Tildesley, a member of the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Modelling Group, has suggested that the number of COVID cases being detected among young people may be dropping because schools have closed for the summer. Tes.

Children's minister Vicky Ford has said children "don't need to" wear face masks when they return to school in September. By Kate Gill, The Independent.

Professor Devi Sridhar, chairwoman of global public health at Edinburgh University, writes in The Guardian warning of the consequences of not vaccinating teenagers against COVID-19.

Proposals to make COVID vaccinations mandatory for university students to attend lectures have been met with backlash, with the University and College Union describing the plans as "hugely discriminatory". By Andrew Woodcock and Zoe Tidman, The Independent.

 

'Why TAGs might be perceived to be unfair even before the results are known'

 

Dr Philip Purvis, deputy head (academic) at Croydon High School, writes in IE Today exploring two potential reasons why people might not trust the teacher-assessed grades (TAGs) awarded this year. He adds that any fallout over the next few weeks 'should not be allowed to diminish the achievements of pupils or the Herculean efforts of all the teachers who made the process happen'.

 
IE Today

'Action is needed to protect teenage girls from public sexual harassment'

 

Maya Tutton, a co-founder of the Our Streets Now campaign group, writes in The Times in response to the Government's new Violence against Women and Girls strategy. She argues: "Until a comprehensive legal framework is introduced, and accompanied by a thorough educational and awareness programme, public sexual harassment will continue to be a daily reality for the next generation of girls in our country."

 
The Times

MPs condemn "unacceptable level of opaqueness" over home education

 

The Education Select Committee has called for a national register of home-educated children in England, stating it is "frankly astonishing that we are only able to make a best guess at the number of children being educated at home". BBC News.

 
BBC

ITT review will "help rather than hinder" the recruitment and retention of teachers

 

Ian Bauckham, chair of the ITT market review expert advisory group, has said the proposed overhaul of initial teacher training (ITT) "should contribute to higher recruitment of trainees and better retention of these teachers". By Catherine Lough, Tes.

 
Tes

Gap year student aims high in record-breaking global flight

 

Zara Rutherford, a teenage pilot and former pupil of St Swithun’s School, is aiming to become the youngest woman to fly solo around the globe this summer. By Will Humphries, The Times.

 
The Times

 

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