Official figures from the Department for Education (DfE) have revealed that the number of state school pupils absent from school in England because of COVID rose by about 60 per cent in the two weeks to Thursday last week. By Hannah Richardson, BBC News.

The prime minister has said that Christmas parties and nativity plays should go ahead this year, adding: “We think that overwhelmingly the best thing for kids is to be in school.” By Adam Forrest, The Independent.

The DfE has reintroduced its workforce fund to help schools facing COVID-related staffing problems amid a "very sharp" rise in teacher absences. By Matilda Martin, Tes.

Claire Morgan, Wales' chief inspector of education, has said that the wellbeing of pupils, students and staff should continue to be prioritised following "another very demanding year". BBC News.

BBC News outlines COVID measures in schools across the UK.

According to data analysis from the Association of School and College Leaders, the National Association of Headteachers, the National Governance Association and WomenEd, state school headteachers face a gender pay gap of more than £17,000 by the age of 60. By Catherine Lough, Tes.

Ed Dorrell, director at Public First, writes for The Independent on the Government's attempts to achieve a "parity of esteem" between vocational and academic qualifications, praising catering and cooking as the only sector in which colleges manage to do so.

Minerva’s Virtual Academy, an online independent school, has reportedly been "flooded" with calls from parents seeking support for their children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Headmaster Lawrence Tubb, said "many families have been unable to access appropriate support and care or have experienced delays in obtaining a medical diagnosis, which means they are left to battle in the interim with little or no learning provision". By Serena Haththotuwa, Independent Education Today.

Schools Week summarises eight key facts about Bridget Phillipson, who has been appointed as the new shadow education secretary following a Labour reshuffle. By Freddie Whittaker.

Sarah Carson writes for iNews about the value of good supply teachers. She states "the best ones are inspiring, they show children, young, how big an impact you can have on a person in only a small or fleeting amount of time".

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