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Daily News Summary
23 August 2021

Coronavirus: State schools to receive CO2 devices to monitor airflow in classrooms
Exams 2021: Warning over "systemic bias against boys" in this year's grading system
University applicants offered cash to defer their degree
'All pupils should have access to arts education'
Teachers encouraged to help tackle incel movement as part of new RSHE curriculum
Findings suggest 30% of families have little choice but to send their child to a faith school
Warning over 'mass exodus' of experienced teachers in Scotland
Educationalist describes Scottish curriculum as "an empty shell"

Coronavirus: State schools to receive CO2 devices to monitor airflow in classrooms

 

The Department for Education has announced that £25 million will be provided to purchase approximately 300,000 carbon dioxide monitors for state schools, in an effort to improve ventilation in classrooms and minimise the spread of coronavirus. By Harry Yorke, The Telegraph.

iNews reports on growing concerns that the third wave of coronavirus is still too high ahead of the return of schools in less than two weeks. By Jane Merrick.

According to The Sunday Times, the full reopening of England's secondary schools is set to be delayed by at least a week to allow for COVID testing. By Sian Griffiths.

Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, has said some schools could reintroduce the bubble system after just two confirmed cases of the virus. By Bill Gardner, The Telegraph.

According to The Telegraph, school teachers will be offered overtime pay to do one-to-one tuition with pupils as part of the Government's latest education recovery plans. By Camilla Turner.

Schools Week reports almost one in five pupils enrolled in the first year of the National Tutoring Programme are yet to receive any tuition. By Samantha Booth.

Shirley-Anne Somerville, Scotland's education secretary, is self-isolating at home after testing positive for COVID-19. By Mark McLaughlin, The Times.

 

Exams 2021: Warning over "systemic bias against boys" in this year's grading system

 

Mary Curnock Cook, the former head of UCAS, has warned that the gender gap in this year's A-level results points to a "systemic bias against boys". By Graeme Paton, The Times.

The Telegraph reports the proportion of GCSE pupils at independent schools who achieved seven or more grade 9s increased by more than 50 per cent this year. By Harry Yorke.

Dominic Burke, head of a comprehensive school in Cheltenham, has said that the gap in A-level performance between independent and state schools shows "schools work best when they are funded properly". By Sian Griffiths and Alastair McCall, The Sunday Times. A commentary piece by Mr Burke can be found below the article.

 

University applicants offered cash to defer their degree

 

The Telegraph explores how a number of universities have offered students deferral packages, after a surge in top A-level grades left many courses oversubscribed. By Abigail Buchanan.

 
The Telegraph

'All pupils should have access to arts education'

 

In an interview with The Guardian, Wes Streeting, the shadow child poverty secretary, highlights the impact of funding cuts on arts education in state schools. Jessica Elgot.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Joan Koenig, a Juilliard trained flautist and music educator, explains how children can benefit from learning a musical instrument. By Boudicca Fox-Leonard.

 

Teachers encouraged to help tackle incel movement as part of new RSHE curriculum

 

According to The Guardian, education secretary Gavin Williamson expects teachers to help counteract the rise of the incel - or involuntary celibate - movement and the dangers of misogyny through the new relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) curriculum. By Richard Adams, Ben Quinn and Vikram Dodd.

 
The Guardian

Findings suggest 30% of families have little choice but to send their child to a faith school

 

According to analysis by the National Secular Society, for the third year running, more than 20,000 pupils have been assigned to faith schools this autumn despite their families expressing a preference for a non-faith option. By Will Hazell, iNews.

 
iNews

Warning over 'mass exodus' of experienced teachers in Scotland

 

The Times reports rising numbers of experienced teachers in Scotland are leaving the profession amid complaints about government targets and unrealistic parental pressure. By Mark McLaughlin.

 
The Times

Educationalist describes Scottish curriculum as "an empty shell"

 

Lindsay Paterson, professor of education policy at Edinburgh University, has condemned the Scottish curriculum, warning another 250,000 young people in Scotland "will leave school under-educated, under-achieving by proper international standards, and under-prepared for the real challenges of a very uncertain future". By John Boothman, The Sunday Times.

 
The Sunday Times

 

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