ISC Daily News Summary

New figures show that over 100,000 pupils in England were out of school last week with a confirmed case of COVID. The statistics from the Department for Education (DfE) identified a further 84,000 pupils who did not go in on Thursday last week due to a suspected case. By Zoe Tidman, The Independent.

COVID absences from state schools rose by two-thirds in just two weeks, according to data from the DfE. By Hannah Richardson, BBC News.

Yesterday, headteachers from the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) wrote to education secretary Nadhim Zahawi demanding that he takes action over the "big increase" of pupils off school from COVID-related reasons. By Catherine Lough, Tes.

According to The Guardian, children in England aged 12 to 15 may not be invited to get the COVID vaccine by half-term, amid reports that high infection rates in schools may be delaying the programme. By Sally Weale, Richard Adams and Ian Sample.

Headteachers have been told to stock up on tinned food because deliveries of meat and fresh fruit are being cancelled. James Bielby, the chief executive of the Federation of Wholesale Distributors, said that the shortage of lorry drivers and fuel was making it "increasingly difficult" to deliver food to schools every morning. By Bill Gardner, The Telegraph.

Nadhim Zahawi has commissioned a "deep dive" on the issue of "persistent absenteeism" in schools, after statistics revealed that more than one in 10 pupils missed school last week. By Freddie Whittaker, Schools Week.

Schools are being encouraged to take on the responsibility of teaching teenage boys not to send intimate images. Amanda Spielman, the chief inspector at Ofsted argued that 'schools have got a truly educational role to play to help teenagers who are at the mercy of their hormones as well, learn to behave like decent adults by the time they leave school'. By Nicola Woolcock and Holly Papworth, The Times.

Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton has partnered with education charity Teach First to launch a project that will support the recruitment of 150 black teachers in science, technology and maths (STEM) subjects in England. The initiative follows the publication of a report by the Hamilton Commission which focused on the lack of diversity within UK motorsport and “identifying the best way to attract black talent to STEM teaching roles”. By Tom Kershaw, The Independent.

Carole Willis, chief executive of the National Foundation for Educational Research, has warned that removing a cap on teachers’ working hours could make it harder for schools to recruit and retain staff, adding that “unmanageable workload is the main reason teachers give for leaving the profession”. By Catherine Lough, Tes.

Tes outlines key staff changes within the Department for Education following the ministerial reshuffle. By Amy Gibbons and John Roberts.

Exeter School, in Devon, has appointed former Paralympian David Hill to coach its competitive swimming squads. The athlete represented the British team at four Paralympic Games, as a swimmer and in the triathlon. By Julian Owen, Independent Education Today.