ISC Daily News Summary

The Government has acknowledged that the evidence it used to make the decision to introduce face coverings in classrooms is "not conclusive". BBC News.

According to BBC News, some older pupils in England are refusing to take lateral flow tests and wear face masks in classrooms as they return to school, as claimed by parents and other pupils. By Hazel Shearing.

Figures from a poll by the National Association of Head Teachers have found that 36 per cent of school leaders said they had more than 10 per cent of their total staff absent on the first day of term due to COVID-related reasons. Geoff Barton, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, has warned that the high rates of staff absences will leave schools with "no alternative but having to send some classes or some year groups home”. By Will Hazell, iNews.

Schools Week takes a closer look at rising teacher absence rates across the country. By Freddie Whittaker.

According to The Telegraph, the National Education Union has issued advice to its members to ignore government guidance and introduce stricter COVID rules at school, saying its recommendations are designed to “slow the spread” of the virus. By Camilla Turner.

Growing numbers of pupils across Scotland are being told to revert to home learning amid teachers shortages caused by COVID. By Helen Puttick, The Times.

Schools Week reports that Ofsted has just over 10 per cent of its usual inspection workforce, meaning far fewer schools will be visited than expected over the next few weeks. By James Carr.

Concerns have been raised that struggling pupils could be “doubly disadvantaged” by plans to give advance notice only for “higher tariff” questions in this summer’s GCSE and A-level exams. By Will Hazell, iNews.

Melvyn Roffe, the head of George Watson’s College, in Edinburgh, has called for a whistleblowing officer to be appointed in Scotland to protect the wellbeing of children, saying that often when reports of neglect or abuse are made whistleblowers “face blatant intimidation”. By Mike Wade, The Times.

Emily Morris, journalist and author, writes for iNews arguing that advice given by Katharine Birbalsingh, chair of the Social Mobility Commission, to teach children at home after school ignores the realities of parenthood for single parents.

The Prince's Foundation, of which Prince Charles is president, has applied for planning permission to build a farming school in Scotland to encourage young people to enter the industry. By Ali Mitib, The Times.