ISC Daily News Summary

Education secretary Gavin Williamson has said the Government is considering switching to five-term academic years in schools to boost children's attainment levels post-pandemic. By Will Hazell, iNews.

Mr Williamson has urged parents to consent to their children receiving COVID-19 tests at school. By Will Hazell, iNews. According to a separate article in iNews, the education secretary said the Government will not make it a legal obligation for pupils to wear masks in secondary school classrooms. By Will Hazell.

The Telegraph reports 32 Conservative MPs have signed a letter urging Boris Johnson to ensure face masks are no longer a requirement in the classroom after Easter. By Camilla Turner.

NHS Test and Trace statistics show 0.14 per cent of COVID-19 test results reported by secondary schools this term have been positive. By James Carr, Schools Week.

Tes reports the NASUWT and the Department for Education are in dispute over who would be liable if unvaccinated teachers die from COVID-19 after schools reopen on Monday. By Dave Speck.

A group of psychologists have signed an open letter criticising Gavin Williamson's emphasis on catch-up, saying "these expectations do not show an understanding of the substantial percentage of children who are struggling with their daily life due to experiences of trauma". By Amy Gibbons, Tes.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, has warned "unsustainable" pressure on school staff could jeopardise education recovery plans and lead to an "exodus" of headteachers. Tes.

New research findings suggest 50 per cent of teachers do not believe they have the technology needed to close the attainment gap caused by the pandemic. By Amy Gibbons, Tes.

The National Tutoring Programme has revealed regional variations in the take-up of the scheme across England. By Samantha Booth, Schools Week.

The Telegraph reports parents want schools to prioritise PE and physical activity when they fully reopen. By Jeremy Wilson.

According to The Guardian, a fifth of UK schools have set up a food bank since the start of the pandemic to support local families in need. By Patrick Butler.

Jill Duffy, chief executive of the OCR exam board, has said some pupils may need to repeat a year if they have "lost so much learning that it would be difficult to award them a grade at all". By Samantha Booth, Schools Week.

Gavin Williamson has said he will support teachers "all the way" in their efforts to award exam grades this year. By Freddie Whittaker, Schools Week.

Schools Week reports the Festival of Education, which usually takes place at Wellington College, will be free to watch online this year. The article quotes James Dahl, the master of Wellington College.

According to Schools Week, schools will receive £10 million from the Government's Turing Scheme to fund 5,000 school placements on the new international student exchange programme. By Jess Staufenberg and Billy Camden.