ISC Daily News Summary

According to The Sunday Times, Boris Johnson is preparing to announce that all schoolchildren will return to the classroom on 8 March. By Tim Shipman, Caroline Wheeler and Sian Griffiths.

Matt Hood, principal of Oak National Academy, writes in The Times setting out what needs to be done to help students catch up on lost learning when schools are able to return.

Anne Longfield, the children’s commissioner for England, has claimed that one in six pupils may never be able to catch up on school time lost during the pandemic without the right level of support. By Will Humphries, The Times.

A survey conducted by the Britain Thinks pollster has found that mothers in “red wall” constituencies oppose 'catch-up' proposals such as shortening summer holidays and extending the school day. By Tim Shipman, The Sunday Times. PlayFirstUK, a group that includes 15 child psychologists and education specialists, has called for young people to be allowed to play with friends this summer for their mental health instead of being expected to complete extra lessons. By Zoe Tidman, The Independent.

A Tes survey has highlighted the physical and mental struggles that teachers have experienced this term as a result of the demands of delivering remote education. By Catherine Lough.

Nick Boles, who served as minister for skills between 2014 and 2016, writes in The Times suggesting that Boris Johnson has an opportunity to overhaul the education system in the wake of the pandemic.

Schools Week reports the DfE is being tight-lipped over whether it will be producing league tables based on school attendance this year, despite the widespread closures. By James Carr.

According to The Sunday Times, trials of coronavirus vaccines for children as young as five are set to begin within days. By Ben Spencer.

Jonny Kay, a head of teaching and learning at a college in the north east of England, writes in Tes looking at how schools can use this period of closures to reassess how tech can best be utilised to engage with parents.

Scottish secondary pupils could face two-metre social distancing rules when schools reopen. BBC News. This week will see the launch of a mass-testing programme for teachers and pupils to help pave the way for the phased reopening of schools in Scotland. By Marc Horne, The Times.

William Stewart, news editor at Tes, questions why the DfE has not taken more action to address the impact of differential COVID learning loss on this year's GCSE and A-level students.

Stuart Block, director of partnerships at St Paul’s School, explains how its unique peer learning app, Colet Mentoring, is helping students across the country stay on top of their studies during lockdown.

Following growing calls for GCSEs to be scrapped, Pearson has launched a “major” consultation into the future of exams. By Samantha Booth, Schools Week.

Jane Prescott, headmistress of Portsmouth High School and president of the Girls’ Schools Association, has said the Government should consider changing the national assessments at age 16 and look at their future relevance. Tes.

Rick Clarke, headteacher at Frensham Heights School in Surrey, has written to The Times in support of claims that GCSEs are outdated. The letter can be found a third of the way down the page.

According to The Telegraph, hard-left unions are telling teachers to prepare for strikes if their pay demands are not met. By Hayley Dixon.

The Sunday Telegraph reports that ministers are considering fining universities which stifle freedom of speech, as part of plans that will see a 'Free Speech Champion' given powers to defend academic freedom on campuses. By Christopher Hope.

The Sunday Times has published a half term survival guide to keep parents and children busy during the "(non) holiday". By Gemma Bowes and Siobhan Grogan.