ISC Daily News Summary

ISC Daily News Summary 24 August 2021

Coronavirus: Labour condemns education secretary's "chaotic" decision-making

General education

Kate Green, the shadow education secretary, has accused Gavin Williamson of "chaotic" decision-making, after it emerged that the full return of England's secondary schools would be delayed by a week to allow for COVID testing. By Adam Forrest, The Independent.

Scientists have warned that infection rates could rise again when millions of pupils return to schools next week. By Niamh McIntyre, Nicola Davis and Peter Walker, The Guardian.

The Department for Education has announced that COVID-19 school attendance data will be collected on a weekly rather than daily basis from October. By James, Carr, Schools Week.

According to iNews, students going to universities this autumn are to receive catch-up help and support with "socialisation issues" to compensate for months of COVID disruption. By Will Hazell.

Linda Bauld, professor of public health at Edinburgh University, has warned Scotland's schools may be forced to close again amid a sharp rise in COVID cases. By Marc Horne, The Times.


Exams 2021: Call for inquiry into boys' underperformance

Examinations

Professor Alan Smithers, director of the Centre for Education and Employment Research at the University of Buckingham, has called on the Government to launch an inquiry to understand why boys underperform at GCSE and A-level compared with girls. Tes.

New poll findings suggest more than two in five people think it was easier for students to achieve top grades in 2021 compared with other years. By Catherine Lough, Tes.

According to freedom of information responses obtained by Neil McLennan, director of leadership programmes at Aberdeen University, only nine of Scotland's 32 local authorities raised concerns about the 2020 or 2021 exam diet. By Kieran Andrews, The Times. A commentary piece written by Mr McLennan can also be found in the paper.


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