Labour is expected to force a Commons vote on the Government's school catch-up plans, after the education recovery commissioner resigned over the "totally insufficient" funding package. By Zoe Tidman, The Independent.

New research from the Education Policy Institute shows pupils fell behind in their learning again in the second lockdown, 'wiping out' progress made during the autumn term. By Branwen Jeffreys, BBC News.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies has warned that school catch-up plans could come "too late" if the decision on funding is delayed until the autumn. The Telegraph.

An editorial piece in The Observer claims Rishi Sunak's "woeful underfunding" of the education recovery programme "will lead to a far bigger cost to the nation in years to come".

Sian Griffiths writes in The Sunday Times arguing the debate over education recovery proposals "threatens a new rift in the Tory party".

The Times explores in more detail the events which led to the Government's controversial catch-up funding announcement. By Oliver Wright, Eleni Courea, Rachel Sylvester and Henry Zeffman.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, has warned the country "must not sleepwalk" into further disruption to education, after Public Health England published "concerning" figures over the Delta variant in schools. By Zoe Tidman, The Independent.

Education secretary Gavin Williamson has urged pupils in England to take COVID tests following the half term break. By Hazel Shearing, BBC News. According to The Telegraph, COVID testing for school children is likely to continue into the autumn term. By Sarah Knapton. A commentary from Lord Bethell, parliamentary under secretary of state at the Department of Health and Social Care, can be found below the article.

According to The Telegraph, Scotland's teenagers and most teachers are not taking part in the SNP's mass testing programme, raising concerns that hidden outbreaks in schools could be contributing to a surge in cases. By Daniel Sanderson.

Teaching unions and school leaders are calling for pupils to be vaccinated as a matter of priority, after the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Authority gave its approval for the Pfizer vaccine to be given to children aged 12 to 15. By Richard Adams and Sarah Boseley, The Guardian.

According to The Telegraph, COVID vaccines could be rolled out to 12 to 15-year-olds as early as August, under the Government's current modelling. By Edward Malnick.

Professor Calum Semple, a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, has said that sending vaccines to Africa or India would have "a greater impact" on saving lives than vaccinating children. By Sarah Knapton, The Telegraph.

The Sunday Times reports Scottish pupils aged 12 to 15 could receive their vaccines before schools return from the summer holidays. By John Boothman.

Magnus Linklater writes in The Times reflecting on the disruption to exams in Scotland. He argues the Government's announcement of reforms to the country's two leading education bodies "is too little and too late to rescue the luckless pupils and teachers who are having to deal with the outcome of two years' confusion".

IE Today features three examples of cross-sector partnerships that have continued to blossom during the pandemic. By Jo Golding. The article quotes Dr David Neill, deputy head (co-curricular) at Canford School, Abigail Skyrme-Jones, higher education and partnerships coordinator at Badminton School, and Toby Seth, headmaster of Pocklington School. The article also references the ISC's latest Celebrating Partnerships booklet.

According to The Telegraph, the LGBT charity Stonewall questioned an exemption in Ofsted's guidance allowing inspectors to avoid asking primary school children about topics such as gender transitioning if a headteacher "reasonably believes" it is sensitive for pupils. By Ewan Somerville.

Some parents have accused schools of body-shaming girls by introducing "modesty shorts" for girls as young as four to wear under their skirts. By Louise Eccles and Sian Griffiths, The Sunday Times.

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