Freddie Whittaker | Schools Week

‘There’s still challenges’ – Williamson grilled over FSM voucher scheme

The government still faces “some challenges” over its national free school meals voucher system, the education secretary has admitted, despite the scheme now entering its fourth week of operation. Gavin Williamson appeared in front of the Parliamentary education committee today. Here’s what we learned. 1. ‘Big challenges’ of FSM voucher scheme MPs grilled Williamson […]

Coronavirus: Majority of free laptops won’t be delivered until June

The first batch of free laptops and tablets for disadvantaged and vulnerable pupils won’t arrive until the end of May – with the majority being delivered in June. Education secretary Gavin Williamson told the Parliamentary education committee this morning that the Department for Education would write to councils and academy trusts this week to give […]

Coronavirus: Social distancing in schools ‘very difficult’, says government medical adviser

Social distancing of young pupils in schools “would be very difficult”, the government’s deputy chief medical officer has said. Professor Jonathan Van-Tam told today’s Downing Street press briefing that discussions about schools reopening formed part of “detailed daily deliberating and study” about how, and crucially when the government might relax social distancing measures across the […]

Coronavirus: Williamson expects ‘phased’ return to schools

The education secretary has said he expects schools to reopen “in a phased manner”. Giving evidence to the Parliamentary education committee this morning, Gavin Williamson said the government was giving “a lot of consideration” to how the return of pupils to schools will be managed. Schools have been closed to all but the most vulnerable […]

Coronavirus: Oak National Academy delivers 2m lessons in first week

The government-backed Oak National Academy delivered two million lessons in its first week of operation. Schools Week revealed earlier this month that more than 40 teachers across England had recorded lessons to be shared free via a new curriculum hub to help pupils with home learning. The project launched last Monday with government backing and […]

Coronavirus: School attendance doubles after Easter holidays

The proportion of pupils attending schools doubled in the week after the Easter holidays, updated figures from the Department for Education show. The data, which is based on schools’ reports to the DfE, shows attendance rose as high as 1.9 per cent last Wednesday, with 177,000 pupils attending. This was more than twice the rate […]

Coronavirus: Routine inspections not likely before summer, says Spielman

Ofsted is unlikely to resume routine inspections of schools this academic year, Amanda Spielman has told MPs. The chief inspector appeared in front of the Parliamentary education committee by video link this morning, to answer questions about coronavirus and other pressing issues facing the inspectorate. Here’s what we learned. 1. Routine inspections unlikely before […]

Coronavirus: Williamson pledges to ‘work with the sector’ on school reopenings

Gavin Williamson has promised he will “work with the sector” to decide how schools should reopen, but only “when the time is right”. The education secretary also promised the “difficulties that social distancing present” in schools will be “taken into account”. But he reiterated “no timetable has been set” for reopening. Schools have been closed […]

Ofqual’s proposals for awarding vocational and technical qualifications: A speed read

Ofqual has today published a consultation on how it proposes to award vocational and technical qualifications this summer. Here’s what you need to know The new framework’s ‘key principles’ Ofqual is proposing a new “extraordinary regulatory framework” to let awarding organisations deliver results “using approaches that would not be allowed in ordinary circumstances”. It […]