ISC Daily News Summary

The exam watchdog has said it is "scrutinising" further information from the IB Organisation after thousands of students missed out on their grades. By Camilla Turner, The Telegraph.

The Telegraph also reports that independent schools "have seen record numbers of new pupils" joining due to their online learning provision. By Camilla Turner. The article quotes Chris Hattam, headmaster of The Elms School in Colwall, Kara Dowson, headmistress of Akeley Wood Junior School, James Stenning, headmaster of North Bridge House Prep School, and Christopher King, chief executive of IAPS.

Schools Week has published a lockdown diary written by Allana Gay, headteacher of Vita et Pax Preparatory School.

Rebecca Gibson, group head of marketing and admissions at North Bridge House Schools Group, writes in Tes about how virtual open days can give a sense of what a school is really like.

Schools Week looks at how performing arts schools have adapted as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. By Samantha Booth. The article quotes Jessica Wheeler, principal of Elmhurst Ballet School in Birmingham.

A report from the National Literacy Trust (NLT) and Puffin has found more girls than boys have been reading books during the UK lockdown. The Guardian.

Louise Lewis writes in Tes warning that in the rush to catch children up, 'September interventions may do more harm than good'.

MPs on the petitions committee have said there should be no automatic university tuition fee refunds for disruption caused by the coronavirus outbreak. By Richard Adams, The Guardian.

MSPs on Holyrood’s education committee have asked the Government for clear guidance over its plans for schools to reopen next month. By John Boothman, The Sunday Times.

The Times features a range of views about ways to keep children motivated over the summer holiday. The article quotes James Gibson, head of the lower school at King’s College School (KCS), Wimbledon, and Julia Harrington, head of Queen Anne's School, Caversham.

In an article for The Critic, Will Orr-Ewing asks: "What could our private schools do differently next year to redefine ‘public benefit’ for a new era?"

Jessie Hewitson, deputy money editor at The Times, considers whether sending a child to an independent school is money well spent.

The Guardian looks at GCSE exam data to establish the extent to which schools are teaching black history, as well as the history of people outside Europe and the US. By Anna Leach, Antonio Voce and Ashley Kirk.

Calvin Robinson, an assistant principal in the state sector, writes in The Telegraph warning of the harm that could be caused by "teaching the woke vision of racism as if it were uncontested fact".