ISC Daily News Summary

Rising numbers of COVID cases are forcing some headteachers to announce entire school closures. By Gareth Davies, The Telegraph.

The new chair of the Headteachers' Roundtable, Caroline Derbyshire, has said ministers need to listen to heads when developing policies 'to build back better after the pandemic'. By Amy Gibbons, Tes.

Amanda Spielman, Ofsted’s chief inspector, has urged schools not to 'bend themselves out of shape' in an attempt to catch up in the wake of COVID disruption. By John Roberts, Tes.

According to Schools Week, the Department for Education has contradicted Gavin Williamson’s claim that six million pupils will benefit from the rollout of tutoring by stating the pledge is actually for "six million courses of tutoring". By Samantha Booth.

The DfE has said it "needn’t be the case in most circumstances" for schools to cancel sports days due to COVID restrictions. By Freddie Whittaker, Schools Week.

An annual survey of UK university students has found that only about a quarter thought they got good value for money from university in the pandemic. By Sean Coughlan, BBC News.

A leading public health expert has called for an end to the 'damaging' COVID contact rule for pupils in Scotland. By Mark McLaughlin, The Times.

Roger Taylor, who resigned from the exams regulator in December, has revealed his belief that decision-making for 2020 exam grades did not properly assess what the public would find acceptable. By Zoe Tidman, The Independent.

The Telegraph offers financial advice to parents who are considering investing in an independent school education for their children. By Marianna Hunt. The newspaper also carries an article explaining "how to use your home to put your children (and grandchildren) through private school". By Harry Brennan.

IE Today takes a look at whether independent schools are effectively supporting transgender pupils. By Chris Warren.

The State School Proud campaign is calling on people who went to state school to shout about it as an act of solidarity as well as a way of starting conversations about the virtues that can come from being state educated. By Catrin Nye, BBC News.

A report by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) in England and Wales has found victims and survivors are often accused of lying when trying to report the abuse to police. By Haroon Siddique, The Guardian.

Ofsted’s chief inspector, Amanda Spielman, has spoken out against parents who force children to cross protests at gates after appointing themselves ' moral guardians of schools'. By Nicola Woolcock, The Times.