ISC Daily News Summary

Schools Week reports some schools are being forced to close as growing numbers of teachers go home to self-isolate. By James Carr.

An article in Tes reports the secretaries of state for health and education have written to local public health directors telling them to support the Government's plans not to close schools or move them to a rota system. By John Roberts.

Dr Patrick Roach, general secretary of the NASUWT, has called on the Department for Education to publish weekly data on the number of coronavirus cases among staff in schools. By Dave Speck, Tes.

The National Tutoring Programme has said it is working with a number of its partners to ensure "necessary systems are in place to allow at home tuition to take place when needed". By Freddie Whittaker, Schools Week.

Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, writes in Tes arguing teachers feel "abandoned" by the Government, and encourages school staff to "treat each other well, to recognise the pressure and stress each are under and to do all they can to relieve this".

Wes Streeting, Labour's shadow schools minister, has said "nobody in their right mind" thinks routine Ofsted inspections should return in January. By John Roberts, Tes.

Sports minister Nigel Huddleston has said grass-roots youth sport will be "at the front of the queue" to return once lockdown ends. By Tom Morgan, The Telegraph.

Dani Worthington, headteacher of a primary school in West Yorkshire, writes in The Guardian about the impact of coronavirus disruption on the lives of homeless children.

Chris Seal, principal of Shrewsbury International School Bangkok, considers the benefits of a return to in-house CPD during the pandemic. Tes.

An anonymous secondary school teacher writes about teaching the realities of racism in schools, arguing: "Rather than shutting down these conversations and topics, educators should be better equipped to explore these issues in the classroom without fear or ignorance." The Guardian.

According to data from the Office for Students, the proportion of university students receiving a first-class degree was 29.5 per cent in 2018-19, up from 15.7 per cent in 2010-11. By Zoe Tidman, The Independent.

The Guardian reports on the response to the Government's decision to end funding for programmes working to tackle LGBTQ+ bullying in schools. Shadow minister for children and early years, Tulip Siddiq, has warned the move "will only serve to further marginalise LGBT young people". By Ben Quinn.

The Mail reports Rugby School has raised £775,000 by auctioning first editions of classic books. By Jack Wright. The article quotes Peter Green, headmaster at the school.

Martin Leigh, director of music at King Edward's School, Birmingham, considers how challenging pupils beyond their capability can unlock new insights into teaching and learning. Tes.