ISC Daily News Summary

Children's advocates and education figures have rejected Gavin Williamson's claim that the pandemic has contributed to "out-of-control behaviour" in schools, saying there is no evidence that pupil conduct has worsened during lockdown. By Richard Adams, The Guardian. In a letter to The Telegraph, Jane Prescott, headmistress of Portsmouth High School, challenges Mr Williamson's proposal to ban mobile phones in schools, saying "now is the time to embrace technology and build on the lessons already learnt about the effective use of a digital device". The letter can be found three quarters of the way down the page.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, has said the use of face masks in the classroom can "disrupt" learning, and should not be required for "any longer than is absolutely necessary". By Camilla Turner, The Telegraph.

Heidi Drake, deputy head of English at Colchester Royal Grammar School, writes in Tes stating that while the decision to keep face masks rules in school after Easter is welcome, "there are still many causes for concern, for me and for other shielding teachers".

The latest guidance published by the Scottish Government confirms that secondary students and staff will be required to wear face masks "at all times" when they return to school after the Easter break. By Emma Seith, Tes.

According to a poll by the National Education Union (NEU), 35 per cent of teachers plan to quit by 2026, with increased workload and diminishing respect for the profession listed as some of the main contributing factors. By Sally Weale, The Guardian.

Steve Parry, a former Olympic swimmer, writes in The Telegraph expressing concerns over the impact pool closures have had on children's ability to swim 25 metres before they leave primary school.

Tes explores how the EdTech Demonstrator Programme, run by The Education Foundation, has trained teachers to deliver remote learning during the pandemic. By Dan Worth.

Delegates at the NEU's annual conference yesterday passed a motion to permanently replace GCSE and A-level exams with a "more flexible" form of assessment. By Will Hazell, iNews.

Ofsted has confirmed it will visit a sample of schools and colleges where allegations of sexual harassment and abuse have been reported. BBC News.

According to figures published by UCAS, there were 52,585 teacher training applicants last year, up from 44,965 in 2019. By Amy Gibbons, Tes.