ISC Daily News Summary

Amanda Spielman, Ofsted's chief inspector, has warned home-schooling during the lockdown could widen the attainment gap between low and high achievers, as well as between those from disadvantaged and more affluent backgrounds. She added it is in children's interests to return to school "as soon as possible", describing home and online learning as "very imperfect substitutes". By Adam Forrest, The Independent. Speaking to the Commons' Education Select Committee yesterday, Ms Spielman said Ofsted has "no expectations" for how schools should respond to coronavirus, adding full inspections are not expected to resume before the end of the summer term. By Dave Speck, Tes.

Margaret Greenwood, Labour's shadow minister for schools, writes in Tes calling on the Government to ensure vulnerable children receive online learning resources "urgently", adding the education secretary "must expand the scheme so that no child is left behind".

Lee Elliot Major, professor of social mobility at the University of Exeter, writes in The Times arguing the coronavirus crisis provides an opportunity to revise the traditional school calendar, which he believes could "boost the progress of poorer pupils and improve the working lives of teachers".

Professor Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer for England, has said there is "no doubt" that opening schools would contribute to increasing the rate of infection. By Amy Gibbons, Tes.

Kirsty Williams, the Welsh education minister, has said there will be "a phased approach in allowing more pupils to return to school" once lockdown restrictions are relaxed. By Bethan Lewis, BBC News. John Swinney, Scotland's education secretary, has also said schools will have to be reopened on a "phased basis" to allow for social distancing. BBC News. Larry Flanagan, the general secretary of the EIS teaching union, has said a regime around "testing, tracing and isolating" coronavirus cases is needed to reassure teachers and parents that schools are safe to reopen. By Kieran Andrews, The Times.

Tes reports two racial equality groups have written a joint letter to the Government raising their concerns over "possible bias" against disadvantaged or black students in this year's teacher-assessed A-levels and GCSEs. By Catherine Lough.

The NEU has written to the Department for Education warning supply teachers and support staff may only receive minimum wage while schools are closed as some umbrella companies refuse to use the Government's furlough scheme. By Dave Speck, Tes.

Adam Riches, a senior leader for teaching and learning, specialist leader in education and head of English, outlines five ways teachers can develop their skills during the lockdown. Tes.

Sarah Cullen, an English teacher at the British Vietnamese International School in Ho Chi Minh City, shares three lessons she has learned from hosting a parents' evening online. Tes.

Nicky Cox MBE, editor in chief at First News children's newspaper and executive producer at FYI, lists five questions children most want answered about the coronavirus. The Telegraph.

Chinese investors have bought Abbots Bromley School, an independent school forced to close last summer due to financial difficulties, which they hope to restore to its "former glory". By Rosemary Bennett, The Times. The article mentions several other schools in membership of the ISC's constituent associations.

An article published in Independent School Sport highlights some of the many mutually beneficial sports partnerships taking place between independent schools, state schools and their local communities. By Bernadette John, IE Today. The article quotes staff members at several schools within membership of the ISC's constituent associations.