ISC Daily News Summary

New findings from an Office for National Statistics' school infection survey suggest that around half of secondary pupils continued wearing face masks in school after government guidance changed, adding that they felt using face coverings helped keep themselves and others safe. By Freddie Whittaker, Schools Week.

An analysis of Google searches by Access Education has revealed that searches for teacher training courses have risen dramatically since the start of the pandemic. Independent Education Today.

According to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA), student complaints in England and Wales about their university courses reached a record high last year, with more than a third of complaints being related to the impact of the pandemic. By Leo Sands, BBC News.

The Welsh Government has said that face masks will no longer be a requirement in Welsh schools from 9 May. BBC News.

Under new guidance published by the Joint Council for Qualifications, schools will be allowed to use fewer exam invigilators and staff that teach the subject being examined in a bid to alleviate expected disruption to this year's exams. By James Carr, Schools Week.

Schools Week takes a closer look at Ofqual's three-year plan for the future of exams. By Samantha Booth.

Professor Stephen Toope, vice-chancellor of Cambridge University, has warned that the intake of independently educated students at Oxbridge will reduce over time as they expect to be accepting more state school applicants. By Nicola Woolcock, The Times. The article quotes Barnaby Lenon, chairman of the Independent Schools Council. The ISC’s statement in response to Professor Toope’s comments can be read here.

The subject was explored further on Times Radio Breakfast this morning, where Samantha Price, head at Benenden School and president of the Girls’ Schools Association, discussed contextual admissions, the importance of choice in education, and the partnership work taking place between state and independent schools to help prepare pupils for Oxbridge. The interview begins at 02:29:31.

According to The Independent, education secretary Nadhim Zahawi and universities minister Michelle Donelan have told the higher education regulator, the Office for Students (OfS), that universities failing to take tough action on sexual misconduct should risk losing their official status. By Zoe Tidman.

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) has written to the Scottish Parliament’s Education Committee warning that headteachers in Scotland would rather resign than manage education budget cuts of almost 50 per cent in some councils. By Mark McLaughlin, The Times.

Research from the education non-profit Micro:bit Educational Foundation has found that while digital literacy and computational thinking are increasingly becoming core life skills, just 14 per cent of surveyed primary school teachers have a qualification or background in computing. Independent Education Today.