Freddie Whittaker | Schools Week

What does the latest attendance data tell us about the scale of the Covid problem?

The government must make better data available and provide more catch-up funding to stop pupils falling further behind, writes Natalie Perera. The question over how we support recovery of the education system post-Covid looms large for policy-makers, researchers and those on the front line. The reality is that we are all trying to find solutions […]

Williamson told education committee to keep exam meeting details secret

A Parliamentary committee was asked to keep details of meetings about this summer’s exams fiasco secret in return for “summaries” of key documents, it has emerged. In September, the education select committee requested all correspondence and minutes of meetings held between the Department for Education and Ofqual about the summer exams. It also asked for […]

Oak principal says he ‘didn’t expect’ its success as data suggests half of teachers use the platform

The principal of the online Oak National Academy has said he “didn’t expect it to go as big or as far as it’s gone” with new figures suggesting nearly half of teachers have used the school. A poll of 3,000 teachers by Teacher Tapp found 46 per cent have used Oak, which extrapolated across the […]

Schools scramble to sort inset days after 11th-hour Christmas edict

Schools are scrambling to reorganise their end of term plans after a last-ditch announcement by the government to ensure contract tracing can stop before Christmas Eve. Childcare concerns have also been raised after the Department for Education gave schools less than two weeks’ notice about running inset days on December 18. Although not statutory, I […]

Covid-19: Mass testing planned in London, Kent and Essex secondaries

The government is rolling out mass coronavirus testing in secondary schools in the worst-affected areas of London, Kent and Essex, the health secretary has announced. Matt Hancock told the Downing Street press briefing today that the government had “decided to put in place an immediate plan for testing all secondary school age children in the […]

Court of Appeal throws out Durand’s compensation claim for leisure centre land

A charity ordered to surrender land on the site of a south London primary school has had its legal bid for compensation thrown out by the Court of Appeal. Lords Justice McCombe, Flaux and Newey have dismissed a judicial review from the Durand Education Trust in relation to land occupied by leisure facilities and accommodation […]

Nick Gibb grilled by education committee over exams: 7 things we learned

The schools minister Nick Gibb faced questions about exams in 2020 and 2021 when he appeared in front of the Parliamentary education committee this week. The hearing followed the announcement last week of a package of measures that are meant to make exams in 2021 fairer. Here’s what we learned. 1. Lack of transparency […]

Dame Rachel de Souza is government’s pick for new children’s commissioner

Prominent academy trust boss Dame Rachel de Souza is to be put forward by the government as their preferred candidate to be the next children’s commissioner, Schools Week has learned. If the appointment is approved, the chief executive of the Inspiration Trust will take over when current commissioner Anne Longfield’s six-year term ends next February. […]

DfE finally reveals Christmas contact-tracing rules

Schools will be asked to remain “on call” for the first six days of the Christmas holidays to help with contact tracing, but it will be up to them to decide the hours they’ll be contactable. The Department for Education has confirmed arrangements for the end of term after schools minister Nick Gibb said today […]