Freddie Whittaker | Schools Week

Real-terms boost from extra school funding wiped out by Covid

Per-pupil funding actually fell in real terms this year after changes to prices as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic were taken into account, leaving the government short of its target to boost budgets to above 2010 levels. New analysis by the Department for Education shows average per-pupil funding for five to 16-year-olds fell by […]

Johnson hopes to begin reopening schools from March 8 if vaccine target met

The government hopes to begin reopening schools from March 8 if its target for the first phase of vaccinations is met, Boris Johnson has said. The prime minister told the House of Commons this afternoon that it would “not be possible” to reopen schools immediately after February half term. But if the government’s target of […]

Reopening schools: Announcements coming ‘in next few days’ as minister remains tight-lipped

The government will make announcements on reopening schools “in the next few days”, the schools minister has said. However, Nick Gibb gave no indication of whether the upcoming announcements would include a firm date for schools to reopen, or details of any phased approach the government may take. We want to give two weeks’ notice […]

DfE to stop publishing Covid case data for school staff working from home

The government will stop publishing data on the number of school staff working from home because they have a suspected or confirmed case of Covid or are self-isolating. The Department for Education has announced today that from next week, it will only publish information on the reasons for staff absence if they cannot work remotely […]

Invicta Academy drops top Tories’ ‘sponsor’ tag after backlash over founder’s comments

An online learning platform has stopped describing top Conservative MPs – including Gavin Williamson – as “sponsors” after a backlash over comments made by one of its founders. Politicians including Williamson and education committee chair Robert Halfon were until today listed as sponsors of the Invicta Academy, which was set up last summer by Conservative […]

Give us a ‘routemap’ to reopening schools, says education committee chair

The chair of the education select committee is calling on ministers to create a “routemap” to reopening schools, amid speculation that they may not reopen fully until after Easter. The Times reported yesterday that education secretary Gavin Williamson is expected this week to rule out reopening schools to all pupils until after February half term. […]

Fact check: Are school staff at greater risk from Covid-19?

There have been conflicting statements this week on whether teachers are more likely to catch Covid-19. Dr Jenny Harries, the government’s deputy chief medical officer, told MPs there was “no evidenced increased risk” for education staff, but admitted there was still “uncertainty” about the role schools played in transmission of the virus. However, a National […]

Give us freedoms on reopening schools, leaders tell ministers

Leaders have urged the government to hand them back freedoms to make decisions on reopening schools – with staggered returns and rota systems being touted again. Ministers have refused to give a firm date for when schools will reopen, although education secretary Gavin Williamson said this week he hoped pupils would start returning before Easter. […]

DfE extends emergency school admission appeals flexibilities until September

Flexibilities in the way school admission appeals are handled have been extended until the end of September. The school admission appeals code was amended last April by emergency legislation to give admission authorities, local authorities and appeal panels “some additional flexibility when dealing with appeals” during the Covid-19 outbreak. The temporary changes were due to […]