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Coronavirus: DfE tells heads to ‘be pragmatic’ on non-isolation absences

The Department for Education is leaving it up to heads to decide whether to authorise absences for pupils who...

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
News

Coronavirus: Schools ‘should be able to claim’ for cancelled trips, says insurers’ body

Schools “should be able to claim” for cancelled trips abroad, the body that represents insurance companies has said, after...

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
News

Watch: We’ll close schools if it’s in ‘best interests’ of children and teachers, says Williamson

The government will close schools if medical and science advice tells ministers it is in the best interests of...

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
News

Top DfE boss: Our cost-cutting consultants found £10m savings in UTCs

Government cost-saving consultants have been parachuted into most of the country’s university technical colleges to help them tackle soaring...

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
News

Coronavirus: Leadership unions say school closures ‘likely’ after DfE crunch talks

The general secretaries of England’s two school leadership unions have said it is “likely that a number of schools...

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
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Coronavirus: School closures ‘may be necessary’ over staff shortages, says PHE

Public Health England has updated its guidance for schools, warning it “may be necessary” to close schools if staff...

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
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Coronavirus: #covid19walkout trending as leaders attend DfE crunch talks

Parents across England have pledged to remove their children from schools if they are not closed soon, as leadership...

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
News

Coronavirus: Suspend Ofsted inspections now, says Barton

The leader of the ASCL headteachers’ union has joined calls for the government to immediately suspend Ofsted inspections, as...

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
News

Coronavirus: Spielman to preside over inspection deferral decisions

The chief inspector of schools will personally sign off any decision not to defer Ofsted inspections of schools affected...

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker