ISC Daily News Summary

Three former Department for Education (DfE) ministers have urged the Government to resist calls to extend face mask rules in schools until 21 June. By Camilla Turner, The Telegraph.

Dr Yvonne Wren, director of Bristol Speech and Language Therapy Research Unit, writes in The Telegraph arguing mask wearing in schools has impeded children's development.

According to the latest attendance data from the DfE, the number of pupils self-isolating at home because of potential contact with a COVID case in school has almost doubled in a week. By Freddie Whittaker, Schools Week.

Ed Dorrell, director at Public First, writes in The Independent calling for investment into mental health services for young people to help them recover from the pandemic.

The British Educational Suppliers Association has warned that the quality of catch-up resources for teachers is being risked by a DfE procurement process that may "discriminate" against some organisations. By Amy Gibbons, Tes.

Speaking to Tes, several school leaders share their plans for catch-up summer schools. By Grainne Hallahan.

Duncan Goodhew, an Olympian and president of the Swimathon Foundation, has urged parents to put swimming lessons "front and centre of their priorities" as the country comes out of lockdown. By Doug Faulkner, BBC News.

Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, has said teachers should be paid extra for producing exam grades on top of their existing workload. By Dave Speck, Tes.

Lord Lexden, president of the Independent Schools Association, writes to The Telegraph in response to the claim that "middle-class parents are being priced out of the costliest schools". He argues that many independent schools charge less than £5,000 per term, adding "undue preoccupation" with a small number of high-fee schools "does deep injustice to the independent sector as a whole". The letter can be found halfway down the page.

According to a survey of more than 13,000 teenagers in England, Sweden and the Netherlands, the relative age of pupils affects their popularity in school. By Natalie Grover, The Guardian.