Freddie Whittaker | Schools Week

PM sets out March 8 school reopening plans

Boris Johnson has set out the government’s school reopening plans, confirming that all schools will reopen to all pupils on March 8. The prime minister said that “two weeks from today, pupils and students in all schools and further education settings can safely return to face-to-face teaching, supported by twice weekly testing of secondary schools […]

Secondary schools expected to test returning pupils three times on site

Secondary schools will be expected to test returning pupils on site three times when they reopen, the government has said. Ahead of Boris Johnson’s announcement on school reopening this afternoon, the Department for Education has confirmed arrangements for asymptomatic testing of pupils and staff. All schools are expected to reopen to all pupils on March […]

Government to research ‘harms’ caused by Covid-19 to pupils and staff

The Department for Education is to commission research into how Covid-19 has impacted pupils and staff. The “rapid” data and literature review will consider “harms” to mental and physical health, domestic violence and loss of learning. Working on behalf of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), the DfE project is worth up to £85,000 […]

Health minister: ‘All schools’ to reopen on March 8

All schools will reopen to all pupils on March 8, a health minister has said, as Boris Johnson prepares to set out his “roadmap” out of the current lockdown. The prime minister is due to address the House of Commons this afternoon with further details of the government’s plan, with reports that he is planning […]

Unions ‘increasingly concerned’ government will order full school reopening on March 8

Unions have urged the government to phase the return of pupils to education settings, amid concerns ministers will opt for a “big bang” approach to school reopening. We are increasingly concerned that the government is minded to order a full return of all pupils on Monday March 8 in England Organisations representing leaders, teachers, support […]

Why we shouldn’t rush to scrap GCSEs in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic

We need a debate about the future of education post-Covid-19, but that shouldn’t mean a rush to abolish things like GCSEs, writes Tim Oates. A lot has changed over the past year. The effect of Covid has been seismic for individuals, industries and countries around the globe. But there is now hope that mass vaccination […]

Unions reject teacher pay freeze and call on STRB to defy government

Four education unions representing hundreds of thousands of teachers and leaders have rejected the government’s pay freeze for 2021, and called on the School Teachers’ Review Body to defy ministers’ wishes and recommend a rise. The ASCL and NAHT leadership unions, along with the National Education Union and Voice, warned in a joint statement today […]

Children’s commissioner to warn of over-focus on school improvement in critical last speech

Ministers should commit to making children “better-off” rather than talking about increasing numbers attending ‘good’ or better schools, the outgoing children’s commissioner will say tomorrow. Anne Longfield will use her last speech in the role to launch a broadside against government, claiming she has often had to “force officials and ministers to the table” to […]

Primary school attendance now six times higher than in the last lockdown

Almost one in four primary pupils were in school last week, with attendance rates among younger pupils now six times higher than in the first lockdown. Data published by the Department for Education today shows primary school attendance reached 24 per cent on February 11, up from 23 per cent the week before. Attendance rates […]