ISC Daily News Summary

According to iNews, a student campaign group is calling for this year's GCSEs and A-levels to be increased by one grade across the board to compensate for a 'lack of fairness' in how the results have been decided. By Will Hazell.

The Government is reportedly searching for a new Ofqual chair to help shape the future of exams during a "period of significant change". By John Dickens, Schools Week.

The National Association of Head Teachers has warned that schools could face a "culture shock" in September, when coronavirus restrictions are relaxed and self-isolation rules change. By John Roberts, Tes.

Amy Sayer, a head of department and mental health workshop facilitator, writes in Tes offering advice for schools on how to support staff who may be suffering from mental health problems brought on by the pandemic.

Dr Gregor Smith, Scotland's chief medical officer, has urged the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation to consider offering all teenagers the COVID vaccine before schools reopen. By Kieran Andrews and Mark McLaughlin, The Times.

In the ISC's latest 'Spotlight On' blog, Duncan Phillips, head of design and technology at St Albans School, and Jane Roberts, the school’s head of partnership and community link, explain how staff and pupils have been supporting their local community - and the vaccination effort - during the pandemic.

If you would like to write a 'Spotlight On' blog about a state school partnership or outreach initiative taking place at your school, please email [email protected] for further details.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, has criticised the Department for Education's plan to invest £4 million in Latin lessons for state school pupils, saying the focus should instead be on addressing the "worrying decline" in modern languages. By Amy Gibbons, Tes.

Jordan Tyldesley writes in The Independent arguing the proposal to widen access to Latin in schools "is both refreshing and important".

Kevin Watkins, visiting professor of development practice at the Firoz Lalji Institute for Africa at the London School of Economics, writes in The Guardian arguing there is "an urgent need for coordinated action backed by finance" when it comes to investing in global education.