Freddie Whittaker | Schools Week

Shadow schools minister Margaret Greenwood resigns

Margaret Greenwood has resigned as shadow schools minister to vote against the so-called “spycops” bill. The Wirral West MP and former teacher has only been in the role since April. Labour whipped its MPs to abstain on the government’s human intelligence sources (criminal conduct) bill, which would authorise spies to commit criminal offences. But according […]

Coronavirus: Almost 1 in 10 schools now partially closed

Almost one in ten schools in England was partially closed as of last week, new government data shows. Attendance statistics published by the Department for Education show the proportion of state schools that were fully open fell to 90.8 per cent as of last Thursday, down from 92.4 per cent the week before. Eight per […]

DfE wields axe on teacher training bursaries as Covid causes supply rises

The government has slashed some teacher training bursaries by as much as 73 per cent, with others scrapped altogether, as the supply of people wanting to be teachers rises because of the coronavirus. New guidance on initial teacher training funding for the 2021-22 academic year shows all bursaries previously offered by the government to trainees […]

Exams 2021: Most GCSEs and A-levels pushed back three weeks

Pupils will still sit one GCSE English and one GCSE maths exam before the summer half term next year, despite a move to push most other exams back by three weeks. The Department for Education has confirmed today that most GCSE and A-level exams will take place three weeks later than usual in 2021, to […]

11 special Covid-19 gongs for schools sector in Queen’s birthday honours

Eleven people from the English schools community are to be recognised for their contribution during the Covid-19 pandemic in the Queen’s birthday honours list. Among those recognised for their work are Oak National Academy principal Matt Hood and curriculum lead David Thomas, who will both receive the OBE. Outside the sector, Marcus Rashford, the footballer […]

‘Dithering’ ministers urged to reveal 2021 exam plans

Ministers have been told to stop “dithering” and give schools clarity on what will happen with exams next year, following the Scottish government’s decision to cancel some tests and push others back. Gavin Williamson, the education secretary, has promised exams will take place and that full plans – including whether or not they will be […]

Oak National Academy lessons will ‘never be sold’

The Oak National Academy has pledged it will “never sell its lessons” after the government confirmed that its charity owners will retain the intellectual property, despite large public investment in the platform. Launched in April using content voluntarily contributed by teachers and schools, Oak quickly became a household name during the national lockdown, delivering millions […]

Williamson ally Nick Timothy handed DfE board role without competition

The education secretary has been accused of “trying to subvert process to help his political mates” after appointing an ally to a key government role without following usual procedures. Nick Timothy, Theresa May’s former chief of staff, was also made a non-executive director at the Department for Education before officials had received a declaration of […]

Schools take £900m Covid hit, but few get cash help

New figures show that the cost of Covid safety measures for schools across England has soared to almost £400 million. And in a “double whammy” on school budgets, missed income opportunities following the pandemic have now surpassed £500 million. Schools need the government to make good these unanticipated but necessary costs in order to protect […]