ISC Daily News Summary

According to The Guardian, GCSE and A-level papers from last year's cancelled exams, which many schools are planning to use this summer, are being sold to pupils on social media for as little as £1. By Sally Weale.

The Joint Council for Qualifications has warned it is "unacceptable" for students to sell or exchange exam papers, and that exam boards will "take action to stop this wherever possible". By Catherine Lough, Tes.

Scotland's incoming education secretary is being urged to ensure that schools and local authorities are providing adequate mental health support to pupils in exam years. By Libby Brooks, The Guardian.

Writing in Tes, an anonymous pupil at a school in Scotland reflects on their experience of continuous assessment, arguing the Scottish Qualifications Authority "simply will not take accountability for its flawed system this year".

Dr Patrick Roach, general secretary of the NASUWT, has said a public inquiry into the Government's handling of the pandemic should include an examination of "the provision of education; support for children and young people, teachers and the wider school and college workforce". By Catherine Lough, Tes.

The Department for Education (DfE) has said schools in areas facing "localised outbreaks" of COVID-19 may be asked to temporarily reintroduce mask wearing for pupils. By Freddie Whittaker, Schools Week.

The Telegraph reports one in 10 headmasters could retire next year due to the stress caused by the pandemic. By Jessica Beard.

The DfE has said that its decision to withdraw a £15 million contract to produce catch-up resources was 'not taken lightly', adding the move was made "to ensure that the policy aligns with our broader education recovery plans and recognises the disruption pupils and schools have faced over the last year". By Samantha Booth, Schools Week.

Prime minister Boris Johnson has said that widening access to education for girls in developing countries is "one of the smartest investments we can make as the world recovers from COVID-19". By Sean Coughlan, BBC News.

According to data from ISC Research, the international schools market has maintained growth over the last year, with British international schools proving particularly popular. By Dan Worth, Tes.

An anonymous commentator writes in The Times claiming some pupils at independent schools find their private education "embarrassing", and work to 'conceal their privilege in public'.

Susan McFarlane, head of art at Bedales Prep School, Dunhurst, explains how pupils can benefit from a holistic approach to teaching science and the arts.

The DfE is set to launch a new tool enabling schools to measure their cyber security provision, following a spate of ransomware attacks during the pandemic. By James Carr, Schools Week.

A prosperity index published today has identified Scotland's education system as the weakest in the UK, with particularly poor outcomes at primary and secondary level. By Georgina Hayes, The Telegraph.

Cargilfield Preparatory School is to become the first independent school in Scotland to add chess to its curriculum, with pupils competing in tournaments and one playing chess for Scotland. By Calum Loudon, The Times. The article quotes Ross Murdoch, deputy head of the school.