ISC Daily News Summary

According to The Guardian, schools in England may be asked to hold rigorous mock exams this winter in case GCSEs and A-levels cannot go ahead in 2021. By Richard Adams.

The Telegraph features a letter signed by a group of headteachers and education experts, which urges the Government not to cancel exams in England next summer. The letter can be found a quarter of the way down the page.

Lindsay Paterson, professor of education policy at Edinburgh University, writes in The Sunday Times arguing changes made to Highers assessments in Scotland next year "severely narrow students' learning" and risk repeating last summer's exams controversy.

An article in Tes reports state school students in Scotland were almost twice as likely as their peers in independent schools to have their results downgraded by this year's moderation process. By Emma Seith and Henry Hepburn.

BBC News reports exams in Northern Ireland are set to start one week later next year. By Robbie Meredith.

Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, has called on the Government to do more to bring down the infection rate in schools, amid a "significant" increase in cases among pupils aged 10 and older. By Dave Speck, Tes.

Dr Patrick Roach, general secretary of the NASUWT, has called on John Swinney, the education secretary for Scotland, to introduce further safety measures in schools following a rise in coronavirus cases among secondary pupils. By Tom Eden, The Times.

The Observer reports parents are struggling to choose secondary schools for their children due to a lack of face-to-face visits. By Donna Ferguson.

Chris Ramsey, headmaster of Whitgift School, writes to The Times arguing the best approach to tackling coronavirus is "that taken by most schools: take sensible precautions but keep open and fulfil your core purpose". The letter is the second featured on the page.

The Times reports City of London School for Girls has enlisted several alumni to help run lessons amid a staff shortage caused by coronavirus. By Nicola Woolcock. The article quotes Jenny Brown, headteacher at the school.

Clare Marchant, chief executive of UCAS, and Alistair Jarvis, chief executive of Universities UK, write in The Times about the higher education sector's response to coronavirus, adding "applicants can be confident that universities will be there to fully support them".

According to the Food Foundation think tank, up to 900,000 children in the UK have recently registered for free school meals. By Patrick Butler, The Guardian. Marcus Rashford, who has been awarded an MBE for services to vulnerable children, has urged Boris Johnson to extend the free school meal vouchers scheme over the October half term. By Will Hazell, iNews.

A group of environmental and youth organisations has written to Robert Halfon, chair of the Education Select Committee, calling for an inquiry into the value of outdoor learning. They argue interacting with the natural world could boost children's wellbeing and attainment, forming part of the country's coronavirus recovery plans. By Harry Cockburn, The Independent.

The Mirror reports thousands of teachers could be affected by "devastating" shortfalls in pension payments as a result of administration errors. By John Siddle.

Writing in The Guardian, Lucy Campbell outlines 10 black history events she believes should be taught in schools.

Joshi Herrmann writes in The Guardian about how he helped pupils from his local state school secure places at Oxford and Cambridge for the first time in seven years.

The Telegraph offers advice to parents on how they can save enough money to send their child to an independent school. By Marianna Hunt.

The Telegraph explores the creative and cognitive benefits of creating and studying art, and offers advice to parents on how they can support their children in pursuing the subject. By Susie Mesure. The article quotes Doug Knight, head of the art department at Bryanston School, and mentions several other schools in membership of the ISC's constituent associations.

Tes reports on some of the people who have been recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours list for their contributions to education. By Dave Speck. Among those receiving honours is Shaun Fenton, headteacher at Reigate Grammar School, who has been awarded an OBE for services to education. An article in FE News highlights the work of Graeme Lawrie, partnerships director at ACS International Schools, who has been awarded an MBE for services to education, particularly during COVID-19.