ISC Daily News Summary

Baroness Heather Hallet, the COVID inquiry chair, has written to the prime minister saying she wants to expand her remit to investigate how children and young people have been affected by the pandemic, including the impact on education and early years provision. By Samantha Booth, Schools Week.

Margaret Mulholland, SEND and inclusion policy specialist for the Association of School and College Leaders, has warned that extra funding for mental health support lead training in schools would not be enough to support the "thousands of pupils struggling right now with potentially catastrophic mental health issues as a direct result of the isolation and loss of normal routines suffered during the pandemic". By Matilda Martin, Tes.

Ofqual has published new guidance for exam boards stating that GCSEs and A-level papers must refrain from using “complex” language and show clearer layouts, amid concerns some pupils are disadvantaged by ‘middle-class bias’. By India McTaggart, The Telegraph.

In a letter to The Times, Jane Lunnon, head at Alleyn's School, suggests that existing assessments are "outdated" and now is the time to "explore afresh the possibilities for hybrid qualifications that promote interdisciplinary learning, encourage exploratory and adventurous thinking". The letter is the second featured on the page.

Cambridge academic Professor David Abulafia has suggested that universities should remove school names from application forms to avoid any perceived prejudice against privately educated white boys. Mr Abulafia said: "Penalising applicants for their parents’ choice of school strips the pupil of any agency." By Nicola Woolcock, The Times.

Speaking at the Admissions, Marketing and Communications in Independent Schools (AMCIS) conference this week, Lord Black of Brentwood said that Oxbridge would miss out on “great talent” if they reduced admissions from independent schools. By Irena Barker, Independent School Management Plus.

According to an analysis by the Office for Students (OfS), the proportion of students graduating with a first-class degree has more than doubled in a decade, with 38 per cent of students awarded a first in 2020-21. By Hazel Shearing, BBC News.

The Telegraph explores some of the reasons why football is becoming the sport of choice at many independent schools. By Sam Dean.

Newly published data from the Department for Education has revealed that requests for education health and care plans (EHCPs) soared again last year to 93,302, the highest figure since records began in 2016. By Samantha Booth, Schools Week.

Schools Week reports up to 7,000 early-career computing, maths, physics and chemistry teachers are to receive £3,000 retention bonuses, amid concerns of a growing exodus of staff. By Tom Belger.