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Daily News Summary
16 October 2020

Coronavirus: Scientists call for circuit breaker lockdowns during school holidays
Shadow schools minister resigns over "spycops" bill
Campaign group calls for discounts on healthy food to combat child obesity

Coronavirus: Scientists call for circuit breaker lockdowns during school holidays

 

According to The Times, government scientific advisers have suggested circuit breaker lockdowns should be implemented during every school holiday for the rest of the academic year. By Chris Smyth.

BBC News reports schools in Liverpool could have a two-week half-term break, with pupils taught remotely for the second week.

An article in Tes reports secondary schools in areas moving into tier two over the weekend are expected to be required to make face masks compulsory in communal areas from Monday. By Amy Gibbons.

The Association of Colleges has written to schools minister Nick Gibb warning of the "potential public health risks" of large numbers of pupils retaking GCSEs next month. By Sally Weale, The Guardian.

A Schools Week investigation has revealed nearly £140 million allocated for catch-up tuition remains unspent. By John Dickens.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, has claimed teachers' concerns about coronavirus are not being heard due to a "big disconnect" between Downing Street and the Department for Education. By John Roberts, Tes.

Footballer Marcus Rashford has pledged to continue his campaign for free school meals for children during all school holidays in England, after the Government rejected the idea. BBC News. The Welsh Government has confirmed it will extend its free school meal provision to every school holiday until Easter next year. By Will Hazell, iNews.

Leah Hardy writes in The Telegraph in response to the Government's decision to cut teacher training funding. She argues science teachers are needed "now more than ever" to combat misinformation about coronavirus.

Emily Gunton - director of music, head of co-curricular and outreach and school consultant teacher at Blackheath High School - outlines why she believes schools should help to 'regenerate the arts industry' during the pandemic. Tes.

 

Shadow schools minister resigns over "spycops" bill

 

Shadow schools minister Margaret Greenwood has stepped down from the role to vote against the Government's human intelligence sources (criminal conduct) bill. By Freddie Whittaker, Schools Week.

 
Schools Week

Campaign group calls for discounts on healthy food to combat child obesity

 

The Biteback 2030 campaign group, launched by Jamie Oliver, is urging the Government to give young people discounts on healthy food, as part of efforts to tackle child obesity. By Will Hazell, iNews.

 
iNews

 

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