ISC Daily News Summary

Tes reports schools are being told not to finish term prematurely this year, as education settings will be expected to remain open once the country moves back into a tiered system of coronavirus restrictions. By John Roberts. Schools Week outlines key takeaways for schools following the launch of the prime minister's COVID-19 winter plan. By Freddie Whittaker.

Kate Green, the shadow education secretary, has called on Gavin Williamson to provide more support for "dedicated and desperate" teachers, parents and school staff during the pandemic. Tes.

Jonathan Mountstevens, deputy headteacher at Beaumont School, St Albans, writes in The Telegraph arguing decisions made by the National Tutoring Programme "are making it harder for schools to use the Catch-Up Premium effectively for those who need it most".

Poll findings from the Chartered College of Teaching suggest two thirds of teachers found government guidance on remote learning during the first national lockdown "unhelpful". By Amy Gibbons, Tes.

An article in The Telegraph explores the impact of the pandemic on homeless children. By Sarah Rodrigues.

Tes reports Dr Sarah Rasmussen, a University of Cambridge academic, has filed a complaint to the UK statistics watchdog, claiming data published by the Office for National Statistics does not support the conclusion that teachers are no more likely to catch COVID-19 than other key workers. By John Roberts.

According to The Times, teachers in Scotland's coronavirus hotspots have threatened to strike over safety concerns in schools. By Mark McLaughlin.

Ministers in Wales are advising staff and pupils in secondary schools to wear face coverings in all areas outside classes, including playgrounds. By Bethan Lewis, BBC News.

BBC News reports university students in England will be urged to take two COVID tests before they travel home for Christmas. By Sean Coughlan.

According to research published by Ofqual yesterday, while there is a "strong argument" in favour of applying comparable outcomes to next year's exams, it is impossible to compensate for the learning loss incurred during the pandemic. By Freddie Whittaker, Schools Week.

Tes reports mock exams and catch-up tests have revealed "dramatic" levels of learning loss among exam cohorts this year. By Catherine Lough.

A report by Universities UK has concluded that the country's higher education institutions "perpetuate institutional racism", and must do more to raise awareness of racism and micro-aggressions among staff and students. By Sally Weale, The Guardian.

Anne Longfield OBE, the children's commissioner, is expected to outline proposals for changes to the care system, warning "without urgent reform, and better funding, it will fail more children". By Gabriella Swerling, The Telegraph.