ISC Daily News Summary

Colin Hughes, chief executive of the AQA, has warned none of the contingency options for next year's GCSE and A-level exams will "solve the whole problem" caused by the pandemic. By Catherine Lough and William Stewart, Tes.

A separate article in Tes breaks down six potential options for the 2021 exam series, as outlined by Mr Hughes. By Catherine Lough.

Dorothy MacGinty, head of Kilgraston School, and Jane Prescott, head of Portsmouth High School, write in Independent Schools Magazine reflecting on the current proposals for 2021 exams in Scotland and England.

The Local Government Association has raised concerns that the pandemic may be contributing to an increase in the number of children leaving full-time schooling, as some areas have seen significant rises in registrations for home schooling. By Hannah Richardson and Paige Neal-Holder, BBC News.

Nick Brook, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, has said school leaders have "found themselves between a rock and a hard place" during the pandemic, with many forced to cover lessons themselves due to staff shortages. By John Roberts, Tes.

Dr Patrick Roach, general secretary of the NASUWT, has written a letter to health secretary Matt Hancock expressing concern over reports that some teachers are being told to "pause" contact tracing on the NHS COVID-19 app. By Dave Speck, Tes.

Bear Grylls OBE writes in The Times calling on the Government to provide funding for struggling youth organisations, warning: "Without action now this could spell a lost generation."

Findings from an Oxford University study suggest children's mental health improved when they returned to school after the first lockdown. By Camilla Turner, The Telegraph.

Larry Flanagan, the general secretary of the Educational Institute of Scotland, has warned SNP ministers they face strike action in schools amid rising infection levels. By Simon Johnson, The Telegraph.

Julie Robinson, chief executive of the ISC, marks the publication of this year's Celebrating Partnerships booklet by reflecting on the ways state and independent school partnerships are enduring, adapting and growing, despite the pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to findings from the Office for National Statistics, one in five children aged between 10 and 15 have experienced at least one type of online bullying behaviour. By Gabriella Swerling, The Telegraph.

The Guardian reports universities and colleges could face sanctions if they are found to be delivering substandard courses or lowering their expectations for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. By Ben Quinn.