Freddie Whittaker | Schools Week

Extend school day with deprived areas prioritised, says race commission

The school day should be extended and careers advice improved to help disadvantaged children succeed, the government’s commission on race and ethnic disparities has concluded. The commission, chaired by former teacher Dr Tony Sewell, found Britain has become a “more open society” where children from many ethnic communities “do at least as well or substantially […]

£200m summer schools funding details: the 5 things you need to know

Secondary schools will receive £59.70 per place per day to run summer schools this year, but only for a maximum of two weeks of activities, new guidance states. The money will also have to cover all costs associated with running the activities, including additional staff costs, free meals for eligible children and transport, and schools […]

Reopening schools ‘almost certainly’ responsible for Covid rate uptick among young people – PM

A slight uptick in Covid rates among young people is “almost certainly” the result of reopening schools, Boris Johnson has said. But a government medical chief said the case rates rise was not a “dramatic increase at this point”, and that the situation was “likely to become clearer over the next two weeks”. The latest […]

Williamson first education secretary to address NASUWT conference in five years

Gavin Williamson will address the annual conference of the NASUWT teaching union this weekend, five years after an education secretary last appeared at the event. The union announced today that Williamson has accepted an invitation to address the conference, which is being held virtually this year because of Covid-19. The union invites the education secretary […]

DfE to cover cost of 2021 exam grade appeals

The Department for Education will cover the cost of appeals to exam boards over teacher assessment grades issued to state school pupils and private candidates this year, Schools Week has learned. Pupils wanting to challenge their teacher assessment grades this year will first ask their school to check for errors and that their own processes […]

Oxbridge cuts offers to avoid another grade inflation admissions bulge

Oxbridge colleges have been forced to reduce the number of offers made this year by as much as 15 per cent in anticipation of expected grade inflation and its impact on admissions following the cancellation of A-level exams. Ministers are bracing for another year of higher grades after opting to cancel exams for the second […]

DfE officials grilled over Covid-19 response, 7 things we learned

Senior officials from the Department for Education were grilled by MPs this morning about the government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic. DfE permanent secretary Susan Acland-Hood, Covid response director Mike Pettifer and director general for early years and school groups, appeared in front of the public accounts committee. Here’s what we learned. 1. DfE […]

DfE eyes wider rollout of ‘glasses in classes’ and wellbeing schemes after opportunity areas success

Ministers have said they are considering rolling out schemes trialled in their 12 “opportunity areas” more widely, including a programme offering eye tests to reception pupils and a wellbeing programme. Michelle Donelan, the universities minister, who is also responsible for the opportunity areas programme, has written to education committee chair Robert Halfon with an update […]

Kate Green reveals Labour’s education recovery priorities

A Labour government elected tomorrow would focus on addressing educational inequalities and look at the “content of what’s happening in schools” to check it is preparing pupils for a “unpredictable but exciting future”, Kate Green has said. The shadow education secretary addressed ASCL’s virtual annual conference this afternoon, and revealed she would look to “design […]