ISC Daily News Summary

The Covid Social Mobility and Opportunities (Cosmo) study, involving over 11,000 participants in their last year of school, has revealed that 33 per cent believe the Covid pandemic has continued to harm their education, while 31 per cent say it is still impacting their mental health negatively. By Louisa Clarence-Smith, The Telegraph.

Tes reports on the same joint study from University College London and the Sutton Trust, which has found 32 per cent of state school pupils feel negatively about their school’s support for mental health, compared with 16 per cent of independent school pupils. By Matilda Martin.

Amanda Spielman, chief inspector of schools in England, addressed the Commons Education Select Committee saying she recognised there has been a "surge of discontent" about Ofsted this year. Ms Spielman said a lot of people “resent the fact that a poor inspection judgment can lead to a change of control for a school”, adding "I think there's a sense among schools that it's unfair to be held [to] account publicly when they're working so hard with such difficult issues". By Eleanor Busby, The Independent.

Schools minister Nick Gibb told MPs during the inquiry session into Ofsted that removing single-word Ofsted judgements could lead to people focusing on specific parts of a report, which would not provide a balanced view. By Cerys Turner, Tes.

Education secretary Gillian Keegan has said the government "remains committed" to establishing a register for children missing school, and will bring plans before parliament "at a future suitable legislative opportunity". This follows criticism that the King's Speech on Tuesday, which set out the legislative agenda for the year, did not include any reference to the plan to reduce the number of "ghost children". Liberal Democrat MP Munira Wilson said: "What was crystal clear from the King's Speech yesterday is despite her [Ms Keegan's] grandiose statements here, education is not a priority for this government." By Faye Brown, Sky News. 

Tes reports the High Court has given approval for three organisations to pursue legal action against the government over its decision to establish Oak National Academy as an arm’s-length body. The organisations include the British Educational Suppliers Association (BESA), the Publishers Association and the Society of Authors. A spokesperson for the co-claimants said: “The government’s current plans for Oak are an unprecedented and unevidenced intervention that risks causing irreparable damage to the school sector as we know it.” By Matilda Martin.