Among Us new update introduces roles and ‘cosmicubes’

  • Among Us’ new update introduces ‘roles’ for players, bringing new gameplay to the popular social deduction game.
  • In Among Us, players play as crewmates and secret imposters who try to eliminate the crewmates while tasks are being completed.
  • The new roles have their own unique abilities and include ‘scientist’, ‘engineer’ and ‘guardian angel’ for crewmates and the ‘shapeshifter’ for imposters.
  • These are directly inspired by the popular ‘Town of US’ game modification (mod) created by the Among Us community.
  • The update also introduces ‘Cosmicubes’ – these are cubes containing exclusive cosmetics (personalising add-ons like hats) for their characters.
  • This update comes ahead of the upcoming release of Among Us on Xbox and PlayStation on the 14th of December.
  • Full story, here.

 

DfE review of longer day warns about teaching capacity for 16-19 education in England

  • A Department for Education review has warned that extending the school day in England schools for COVID-19 catch-up would mean overcoming “significant” issues.
  • Issues include finding more teaching capacity to facilitate the change and in the development of accountability measures.
  • The change would require new legislation and the tackling of “contractual constraints”.
  • The review concluded that increasing teaching hours for post-16 education is more feasible than lengthening the school day.
  • This is due to teaching hours in 16-19 education being currently lower than in pre-16 education years.
  • The review was conducted after extending the school day was announced as part of a COVID-19 recovery plan earlier this year.
  • This review follows Education secretary Zahawi urging all schools to move towards being open for six and a half hours a day.
  • Full story, here.

One in four autistic children wait over three years for school support

  • A study by the National Autistic Society has shown that one in four autistic children wait more than three years to receive the support they need at schools in England.
  • 74% of parents surveyed report their child’s school does not fully meet their needs – this has doubled in the last four years.
  • Parents expressed concerns over the “lengthy battles” trying to secure the right support for their child.
  • Over half (57%) reported they had waited more than a year and 26% waited more than three years.
  • 44% of parents reported their child has fallen behind in their work without support and 59% claimed their child has become more socially withdrawn, after the pandemic and the education disruptions caused by remote learning.
  • The charity calls for the government to take appropriate action in its upcoming special educational needs and disabilities (Send) review.
  • The review has been delayed various times previously.
  • Full story, here.