ISC Daily News Summary

According to The Times, the school day will be extended by half an hour as part of the Government's education recovery plans. By Rachel Sylvester and Nicola Woolcock. The Sunday Times reports pupils in England will be offered 15 hours of free tuition to help them catch up on their learning. By Caroline Wheeler and Sian Griffiths.

Speaking to BBC News, a group of sixth formers describe what they want from school catch-up. By Sean Coughlan.

Public Health England reportedly faces legal action over the 'unlawful' withholding of data on the spread of the Indian variant in schools. By Chantal Da Silva, The Independent.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, has said there appears to be a rise in the number of school "bubbles" told to self-isolate, amid concerns over the spread of the Indian variant. By Zoe Tidman, The Independent.

Amanda Spielman, Ofsted's chief inspector, has said children with special educational needs and disabilities are among those who have incurred some of the biggest learning losses during the pandemic. By Will Hazell, iNews.

UK medical authorities have been advised to consider launching a programme of COVID-19 vaccinations for children only in special circumstances. By Robin McKie, The Observer.

According to research funded by the Nuffield Foundation, the combined pressures of homeschooling, childcare and working during the pandemic left mothers of pre-teen children feeling depressed. By Lizzie Roberts, The Telegraph.

Teachers, unions and academics have expressed concerns over this year's results, as parents contact lawyers about how to appeal against their children's grades. By Anna Fazackerley and Michael Savage, The Observer.

Lindsay Paterson writes in The Sunday Times urging the Scottish Qualifications Authority to "accept teacher assessments without question" this year.

The Times reports Scotland is expected to come under pressure to scrap its "outdated" exams in an independent review by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. By David Leask.

The Telegraph reports on the ISC's latest Census findings, which suggest the offer of UK citizenship to Hong Kong residents has contributed to a 79 per cent increase in the number of children from the former colony enrolled in independent schools. By Steve Bird.

The Sunday Times reports increasing numbers of independently educated students are applying to American universities, as top UK institutions accept more state school pupils. By Sian Griffiths. The article quotes Barnaby Lenon, chairman of the ISC, Andrew Halls, headmaster of King's College School in Wimbledon, and mentions several other schools in membership of the ISC's constituent associations.

Speaking to The Sunday Times, Maro Itoje, a rugby player and patron of the Black Curriculum, explains the importance of 'pushing back' against black history being taught only at surface level. By Rebecca Myers.

Study findings from the London School of Economics suggest children born in the summer are more likely to receive support for additional needs compared to those born in the autumn. By Emma Yeomans, The Times.

Campaigners have called on the Government to ensure more specialist resources and training are made available to nurseries and primary schools to help them challenge gender stereotypes. By Katherine Smith, BBC News.

An online concert organised by pupils at Hutchesons' Grammar School has raised £40,000 for the Funding Neuro charity. The concert was held in memory of Daniel Caplan, a 17-year-old student at the school who died from a brain tumour in December. By Mark Macaskill, The Sunday Times.