Freddie Whittaker | Schools Week

Coronavirus: Heads can refuse to reopen schools if they don’t think it’s safe, say leadership unions

Headteachers can refuse to reopen their schools to more pupils if they don’t believe they can do so safely, leadership unions have warned. The National Association of Head Teachers and the Association of School and College Leaders, which between them represent tens of thousands of senior and middle leaders, said the final decision on whether […]

Coronavirus: Government wants all primary school pupils back before summer

The government wants all primary school pupils to return to school for a month before the summer “if feasible”. Ministers have finally published further details of their “recovery strategy” this afternoon. However, the document is light on detail in terms of the government’s plan for schools. It is hoped that will come in the form […]

Coronavirus: We believe primaries could reopen to some pupils on June 1, says Johnson

The government believes it “may be in a position” to begin the phased reopening of schools on June 1, the prime minister has said. In a televised address tonight, Boris Johnson said he hoped pupils in reception, year 1 and year 6 would be able to return to schools on June 1, which would have […]

‘Confusing’, ‘frustrating’ and ‘unfair’ – heads respond to Boris Johnson’s schools announcement

The prime minister’s announcement that schools may begin to reopen on June 1 has been labelled as “confusing”, “frustrating” and “unfair” by headteachers. Boris Johnson announced last night that he hoped pupils in reception, year 1 and year 6 would be able to return to schools on June 1, and set out an “ambition” to […]

Adonis updates register of interests after he blasts schools over remote learning

A Labour peer who accused schools of failing to provide online learning has updated his register of interests after questions over links to a global education company that boasts of an extensive remote learning programme. House of Lords files were updated this week to state that Lord Adonis (pictured), a former schools minister in Tony […]

Charities in talks with ministers over tuition pilot

Four charities are in talks with ministers about a pilot scheme that could see one-to-one tuition delivered to thousands of pupils across England in an attempt to close the disadvantage gap. The Education Endowment Foundation, Nesta, Impetus and the Sutton Trust have confirmed they are “exploring ways to get high-quality tuition – including through online […]

DfE reports 10% rise in number of EHC plans

The number of pupils with education, health and care plans increased by 10 per cent in the past year, the Department for Education has said. The latest data shows there were 390,109 pupils with an EHC plan as of January 2020, up from 353,995 at the same point in 2019. However, at the same time, […]

Coronavirus: DfE seeks more online education resources to promote

The Department for Education has launched a consultation process to identify more online education resources that it can promote to schools and parents. It follows the publication around a month ago of a list of online education resources, hosted by the DfE on its Gov.uk website. Now the Department says it is “reviewing and updating” […]

DfE’s SEND review must address ‘significant failings’, says Public Accounts Committee

The government’s review of provision for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities must result in “concrete action” to address “significant failings”, an influential committee of MPs has said. An inquiry by the parliamentary public accounts committee found that the education, wellbeing and life-chances of pupils with SEND are being damaged by the government’s failure […]