ISC Daily News Summary

New guidance published by the Government states that pupils who test positive for COVID should stay at home for three days instead of five in order to "balance the risk of transmission with continued disruption to education". By India McTaggart and Sarah Knapton, The Telegraph.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, has described new COVID guidelines for schools as a "shambles", while Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, has called for the "scientific evidence" that justifies the reduction in isolation guidance. By Matilda Martin, Tes.

The Times reports that the £349 million allocated to the National Tutoring Programme will go directly to schools from September, with the outsourcing company Randstad set to lose responsibility for the scheme. By Emma Yeomans. 

According to Schools Week. some schools are sending year groups home and "tripling up" classes in dining halls amid a rise in COVID-related staff and pupil absences. By James Carr.

The Times reports pupils in Scotland will not be required to wear masks in hallways when they return from the Easter holidays. By Mark McLaughlin. 

Education secretary Nadhim Zahawi speaks to Schools Week about his plan for schools, following the publication of the Schools White Paper and the SEND Green Paper this week. By John Dickens.

Writing in Tes, Jon Severs argues "the soundbite-laden Schools White Paper should have taken a note from the SEND Green Paper's ambition".

Schools Week reports on new analysis which shows that two-thirds of "coasting" schools earmarked for potential government intervention from September are already academies. By James Carr.

In a feature piece for Tes, Callum Mason warns schools are on the "financial brink", as they face both the cost of living crisis and the long-term financial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Children's authors and performers have warned that 'censorship' and 'online backlash' are resulting in stories about diversity, sexuality and contemporary world events being deemed inappropriate for younger readers. By Libby Brooks, The Guardian.

John Swinney, Scotland's deputy first minister, has said that pupils in Scotland will sit exams this year as planned, despite high absence rates due to COVID. By Elsa Maishman and Craig Paton, The Scotsman.

The Queen has thanked schools, community groups, families and individuals across the country who have contributed to the Queen's Green Canopy Initiative, which has inspired the planting of more than a million trees to mark the Platinum Jubilee. By Hannah Furness, The Telegraph.