ISC Daily News Summary

Former schools ministers Robin Walker and Jonathan Gullis have both confirmed they will seek to be elected the next chair of the Education Select Committee. David Simmonds, a former Committee member, is also running for the position to replace Robert Halfon. By Freddie Whittaker, Schools Week.

Women's rights campaign groups, including Sex Matters and Transgender Trend, have written to Gillian Keegan, the new education secretary, calling for a “Cass review for schools”. Claiming some schools 'promote the idea that children are born in the wrong body', they reference the failings identified by the Cass Review at Tavistock’s gender identity development service in London which is now going to close. By James Beal, The Times.

Writing in Tes, Theresa Kerr, a partner in the education department at Winckworth Sherwood LLP, explores the new guidance for schools on preventing hair discrimination. The law has not changed but the new guidance, introduced by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), outlines how school leaders can avoid potentially discriminating against students with particular hairstyles, including Afros and head coverings.

Schools Week highlights the key findings of research by Ofsted into how six high-performing secondary schools provided targeted support for pupils struggling with reading. The report aims to support other secondary schools and inform inspection practice. By Amy Walker.

Addressing the Petworth Literacy Festival, author Simon Sebag Montefiore said that students would gain greater "perspective and understanding" if history lessons focussed more on world events than British history. By Jack Blackburn, The Times.

The Telegraph explores the issue of 'eco-anxiety' following a global survey which revealed 60 per cent of young people feel 'very or extremely worried about climate change', with 45 per cent saying it affects their daily lives. The article includes advice on how to help students overcome their fears around the issue. By Harriet Barber.

The University of Cambridge is to provide free-speech training to students in an attempt to address so-called "cancel culture" on campus. The initiative follows warnings from the university watchdog that free speech could be suppressed after 'record numbers' of events were cancelled last year. By Neil Johnston, The Times.