ISC Daily News Summary

Appearing on BBC Breakfast on Monday morning, education secretary Nadhim Zahawi said that headteachers will not be punished for opting to keep masks in classrooms, adding “I trust headteachers to do the right thing, I work very closely with them and I’m proud of that". By Will Hazell, iNews.

Stephen Morgan, the shadow schools minister, has criticised the Government's National Tutoring Programme by claiming that tutors are "running sessions with empty classrooms to ensure they hit pupil-retention targets". By Emma Yeomans, The Times.

New data has revealed that one in five schools that requested free air-cleaning units for their classrooms was rejected by the Department for Education for not meeting "the eligibility criteria set out". By James Carr, Schools Week.

Ofqual chairman Ian Bauckham has responded to criticism over his suggestion that schools could suspend subjects like music amid high staff absence due to COVID. He said the benefits of musical education for pupils are “profound” and his comments were “not intended to imply any hierarchy”. By Matilda Martin, Tes.

New findings from the Tes Wellbeing Report 2022 suggest that less than two in five school staff feel confident performing their role, a figure that has plummeted during the pandemic. By Helen Chapman, Tes.

According to BBC News, schools in Wales are set to find out what rules will remain in place over the next few weeks following a drop in COVID cases.

The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) has urged the Government to take “greater consideration” of how the pandemic has affected students over the past few months and review plans for A-levels and GCSEs this summer. By Camilla Turner, The Telegraph.

A partnership between Scarborough College and the Yorkshire Cricket Foundation that offers cricket sessions to local Afghan refugees was featured on BBC Look North yesterday. The lessons offer refugees a chance to relax and escape the pressures of starting over in a new country. Watch from 05:34.

Seema Dosaj, managing partner at Berris Law, writes for Independent Education Today on what schools can do to cut the ties between young people and county line gangs.

According to Schools Week, ministers are considering giving London its own regional schools commissioner as part of a wider shake-up at the Department for Education. By John Dickens, Schools Week.