Freddie Whittaker | Schools Week

DfE and PHE not on same page over school face masks evidence

A teaching union is demanding to see the “clear scientific evidence base” behind any government decision on face masks in schools. It comes as freedom of information requests show the Department for Education and Public Health England are using different evidence. The current guidance is that staff and pupils in communal areas in secondary schools […]

‘Big four’ telecoms firms won’t zero-rate remote education websites

Telecoms companies have poured cold water on calls for them to “zero-rate” remote education websites, citing technical issues around third-party content. Calls for unfettered access to online education resources have been growing since the government announced on Monday that most pupils will learn remotely until at least February half-term. If we can prove to them […]

Calls for Williamson’s resignation amid chaos and confusion of partial school closures

Headteachers across England were left scrambling to implement last-minute partial school closures this week after a chaotic series of U-turns and confusing announcements by the government. After resisting repeated calls for further restrictions on pupil attendance over recent weeks, Boris Johnson announced on Monday night that schools would move to remote education until February half-term […]

Partial school closures guidance: What you need to know

The Department for Education has finally updated its main Covid guidance document to include details of how leaders should handle this year’s partial school closures. Many of the instructions on how to keep schools Covid-secure are similar to or the same as they were before, but there are some other important instructions. Here’s what we […]

Gavin Williamson update on spring partial closures: What did we learn?

The education secretary has given more information about the government’s contingency plans for schools, after it was announced that mainstream settings will move to remote education for most pupils. Here’s what we learned. 1. Teacher assessment to replace exams, but no algorithm The government had already announced that GCSE and A-level exams would not […]

Government to increase remote education expectation and demand video lessons

The government will increase the number of hours of remote education schools have to provide and introduce an expectation that at least some provision is delivered via video lessons. A new legal duty for schools to provide remote education for absent pupils came into force last October, and will be used by the government to […]

SATs scrapped in 2021, Williamson confirms

SATs will be cancelled this year following the decision to partially close schools, the education secretary has said. Gavin Williamson said in the Commons today that the government recognised the primary tests “will be an additional burden on schools and it’s important we area very much focused on welcoming children back to the classroom at […]

Government to relaunch national free school meals voucher scheme

Pupils eligible for free school meals will once again be offered supermarket vouchers via a national scheme again this year if their school cannot provide food parcels or meals to them at home. Gavin Williamson, the education secretary, said today that following the decision to partially close mainstream schools, extra funding would be provided to […]

Teacher assessment grades to replace GCSE and A-level exams in 2021

GCSE and A-level students will receive teacher assessed grades in 2021 following the partial closure of schools – but the grades won’t be adjusted by an algorithm. Gavin Williamson, the education secretary, confirmed in the House of Commons today that GCSE, AS and A-level grades will not go ahead this year, and that the government […]