ISC Daily News Summary

Figures published by the Department for Education (DfE) show almost half of pupils were absent from school towards the end of term in parts of the country worst hit by COVID isolations. By Camilla Turner and Ben Butcher, The Telegraph.

According to Schools Week, the Government may reintroduce a legal duty for schools to provide remote learning for pupils unable to attend in-person lessons due to COVID-19. By James Carr.

Matt Hood, principal of Oak National Academy, writes in The Times stating that the DfE is considering keeping the online platform in place permanently "so the country has a back-up online classroom for emergencies and so teachers have access to all the lessons and materials to use as they wish".

First minister Nicola Sturgeon has said it would have been "very controversial" if the Scottish Government decided to vaccinate teenagers over the summer holidays, against the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. By Emma Seith, Tes.

According to The Times, Scottish ministers have been advised to allow pupils to forgo wearing face masks in classrooms where teachers have received both doses of the COVID vaccine. By David McCann.

Tes explores the impact COVID disruption has had on exams over the past two years, particularly with reference to grade inflation. By Catherine Lough. The article quotes Barnaby Lenon, chairman of the ISC, and Sally-Anne Huang, high master of St Paul's School. Speaking to Tes, Ms Huang expressed concerns over potential plans to increase the number of grades at GCSE, warning the move could "put more pressure on children in terms of their mental health". By Catherine Lough.

Child psychology and education experts have said some students are worried that universities and employers will see their teacher-assessed grades as "fake grades". By Samantha Booth, Schools Week.

St Dunstan's College has co-founded the Lewisham Young Leaders Academy, in conjunction with Lewisham Council and Westside Young Leaders Academy, to help minority groups in the area develop important life skills such as leadership, teamwork, and CV building. By Julian Owen, IE Today. The article quotes Nicholas Hewlett, head of the school.

Mouhssin Ismail, headteacher at Newham Collegiate Sixth Form, has joined with the City of London Corporation to open two new colleges designed to help disadvantaged pupils earn places at leading Russell Group universities. By Emma Yeomans, The Times. The article mentions Eton College.

Helen Cammock, a Turner prize-winning artist, has condemned the Government's decision to cut funding for some university arts subjects, saying: "As far as I can see they're trying to eradicate the subjects that encourage people to think, and the parts of culture that really loudly challenge the system that's in place." By Lanre Bakare, The Guardian.