ISC Daily News Summary

Schools across England are reportedly closing early for the summer break or moving to online teaching as record numbers of pupils are forced to self-isolate at home. By Rachel Hall, The Observer.

iNews features an article summarising changes to school bubbles and self-isolation rules as of 19 July. By Alex Finnis.

According to The Telegraph, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation is expected to announce that only vulnerable 12 to 15-year-olds and those about to turn 18 will be offered COVID vaccines, though the rollout may be extended to all children later this year once trials conclude. By Sarah Knapton.

BBC News reports the number of children registering for home education in the UK rose by 75 per cent between September 2020 and April 2021. By Alix Hattenstone and Eleanor Lawrie.

The Association of School and College Leaders has urged the Government to provide clarity over advice for pupils with common cold-like symptoms. By Zoe Tidman, The Independent.

Matthew Parris writes in The Times arguing there will be children and young people who have "identified their talent; found themselves and found their interests, even genius" during lockdown.

Former prime minister Sir John Major has joined eight former education secretaries in a call to overhaul the exam system, saying he dislikes GCSEs because of the "stress and strain they impose on students". By Rachel Sylvester and Nicola Woolcock, The Times.

According to research by the Independent Association of Prep Schools (IAPS), the number of young girls playing cricket almost doubled between 2017 and 2019, and twice as many are registered for cricket fixtures as their male classmates next year. By Nicola Woolcock, The Times. The article quotes Fran Hide, sports manager for IAPS, and mentions Bede's Prep and its senior school.

More than 35 million people, including secondary school pupils, will be offered a free flu vaccine this year amid warnings of a "challenging winter" ahead. By Sophie Morris, Sky News.

Five education unions and the Chartered College of Teaching have urged the Government to scrap proposals to overhaul initial teacher training, warning the reforms will "cause fundamental and irreparable damage to the supply of high-quality teachers". By James Carr, Schools Week.

Oliver Mundell, the Scottish Conservative education spokesman, has called on ministers to exit Scottish education's "data desert" by reinstating sample testing of pupils and rejoining international programmes. By Kieran Andrews, The Times.