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11 May 2026

Author: Freddie Whittaker

UCAS extends 2021 application deadline by two weeks

Students will be given an extra two weeks to complete university and college applications following the announcement of partial school closures. The Universities and Colleges Admission Service has announced an extension of its equal consideration deadline to January 29 at 6pm in recognition of the “significant demands” on the time of teachers and careers advisers. […]

Tier 4 failure to blame for schools shutting, says Johnson

The government was forced to partially close schools across England because its tier 4 restrictions did not suppress the virus enough, the prime minister has admitted. Boris Johnson told today’s Downing Street press briefing that in the days leading up to Sunday, the government was “hoping that we would start to see some impact and […]

DfE under pressure to address digital divide as partial closures kick in

The government is under growing pressure to say how it will help disadvantaged pupils access online learning during partial school closures, with the cost of internet access the “single biggest issue” for poorer families. Boris Johnson announced last night that schools will move to remote learning for most pupils until at least the February half […]

Spring school closures: What we know so far

Boris Johnson has announced the closure of schools to most pupils until at least February half term. The announcement was light on detail, and further guidance hasn’t been put out yet, but here’s what we know so far.   1. Schools to move to remote learning Johnson announced this evening that schools will move to […]

Schools closed to most pupils and ‘alternative arrangements’ for exams

Schools in England will be closed to all but the most vulnerable pupils and the children of key workers from tomorrow until February half term at the earliest, and exams won’t go ahead as normal this summer, Boris Johnson has announced. During a televised address to the nation tonight, the prime minister said the tougher […]

Johnson: Parents should ‘absolutely’ send their children to open primary schools

Parents should “absolutely” send their children in to primary schools in areas where they’re open next week, the prime minister has said. However, interviewed on the Andrew Marr show this morning, Boris Johnson repeatedly refused to say whether he would penalise local authorities that urge their schools to stay closed to most pupils in conflict […]

Back-to-school plans in chaos as unions launch legal action

The government’s back-to-school plans are in chaos after leadership unions began legal action and the country’s largest teaching union told its members they don’t have to work in unsafe environments. The government announced on Wednesday that most primary schools will reopen next week, while the start of term for secondaries was pushed back to January […]

DfE to establish new ‘Institute of Teaching’ to train up to 1,000 teachers a year

The government will establish a new Institute of Teaching to train up to 1,000 new teachers each year, with an emphasis on a knowledge-based curriculum and “high standards of pupil behaviour”. The organisation, which will get some of the £22 million allocated for improving teacher quality at the last spending review, will begin offering initial […]