ISC Daily News Summary

The national schools commissioner has said schools should expect to continue having to manage closures and reopenings until a coronavirus vaccine is found. By Freddie Whittaker, Schools Week.

The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) has warned of the impact on the ability of schools to provide catch-up learning if they are forced to spend their government funding on coronavirus safety measures. By Amy Gibbons, Tes.

James Bowen, director of policy at the NAHT school leaders' union and director of the NAHT Edge union for middle leaders, writes in Tes calling on the Government to do more to relieve the pressure headteachers are currently under.

Ofsted's chief inspector, Amanda Spielman, has said it is not "sensible or realistic" to expect schools to provide a full programme of online learning "for all children all the hours they would normally be in school". By Freddie Whittaker, Schools Week.

Ross Morrison McGill, who works with pupils and teachers, supporting teaching and learning, workload and mental health, writes in The Telegraph praising the efforts of teachers at this challenging time.

According to the Youth Sport Trust, 73 per cent of PE teachers and school leaders reported children have returned with low levels of physical fitness. By Will Hazell, iNews.

The Government is being urged to extend the free school meals scheme to ensure children are fed over the October half-term and Christmas holiday. By Will Hazell, iNews.

BBC News reports on comments made by health secretary Matt Hancock, who has refused to rule out banning university students from returning home at Christmas in order to limit coronavirus outbreaks. By Hannah Richardson.

Simon Hyde, the new general secretary of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference, has said the content on which pupils are tested on in GCSEs and A-levels may need to be halved for exams to be viable next year. By Will Hazell, iNews.

Ofqual has announced it will now publish data on grade appeals at the end of this year. By Catherine Lough, Tes.

The Daily Mail reports on the Tatler Schools Awards 2021, taking a look at the publication's pick of 'the best school dinners in England'. By Harriet Johnston. The article mentions several schools in membership of the ISC's constituent associations.