Starting this week more than 800 secondary schools in England will be visited by health teams to offer COVID jabs to children aged 12 to 15. Health secretary, Sajid Javid said the vaccines "will help keep children in the classroom". BBC News.

A group of multi-academy trusts and independent schools has called on ministers to tackle the mental health crisis among young people, warning that catch-up efforts will be "blocked" unless the Government takes action. Jane Lunnon, chair of the Coalition for Youth Mental Health in Schools and head of Alleyn’s School, said "we will help our young find ways to combat and defeat mental illness". By John Roberts, Tes.

Dr Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency, has urged pupils to do a rapid COVID test before they return to school after half-term "so that we can stop the infection in its tracks and keep as many children in the classroom as possible". BBC News.

According to data analysis from No More Marking, pupils in Year 8 have bounced back from learning loss caused by the pandemic. By Catherine Lough, Tes.

Tes takes a closer look at how the second COVID lockdown has impacted learning loss and the disadvantage gap. By John Roberts.

About two-thirds of forest schools surveyed by the Forest School Association have said demand for their services has increased since March 2020, due to raised awareness about the benefits of time in nature for children during the pandemic. By Miranda Bryant, The Guardian.

Essex County Council has become the first council to urge primary school children to take lateral flow tests twice a week when they return to the classroom after half-term. By Camilla Turner, The Telegraph.

Independent Education Today spoke to Rhiannon Wilkinson, head of Ashville College, about her priorities for education post-COVID. Ms Wilkinson said: "Children are resourceful and adaptable creatures, and I think with the right attitude and care – both at home, in school and in the wider community – the majority can bounce back." By Jo Golding.

According to The Telegraph, The Free Speech Union has told ministers that a number of schools have engaged in the “politicised teaching” of white privilege, despite warnings that it is unlawful. Toby Young, general secretary of the Free Speech Union, argued that schools "should be exposing children to a wide diversity of views and encouraging them to debate them and make up their own minds". By Camilla Turner.

Jasamrit Rahala, who won a King’s Scholarship at Eton College, has qualified for the finals of Channel 4's Countdown after winning seven games last week. Rahala said: “I wouldn’t consider myself clever. I just say I take the opportunities when I get them. I think everyone’s clever in their own way.” By Liam Kelly, The Sunday Times.

According to Tes, the British Educational Research Association has called for teaching about the environment to become a central part of the curriculum ahead of Department for Education's consultation on their new Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy during COP26. By Catherine Lough.

New data from a YouGov poll has revealed that almost two-thirds of parents do not consider Ofsted reports or performance tables when deciding where to send their children to school. By Will Hazell, iNews.

The Department for Education has said it "does not hold information on which schools select on the basis of religion as an element of their admissions criteria”, following a freedom of information request from the National Secular Society. By Will Hazell, iNews.

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