Freddie Whittaker | Schools Week

Long-Bailey: Lack of ‘overarching message’ on education contributed to Labour’s defeat

The lack of an “overarching message” from Labour on its flagship national education service was one of the reasons it lost the last general election, the new shadow education secretary has said. But Rebecca Long-Bailey said the “fantastic” policy will survive and be developed by Labour under Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership. She has pledged to […]

How the government’s free school meals voucher scheme is leaving children without food

“I’ve got nothing. No milk, no bread, no food, nothing.” That was the voicemail message a school received from a sobbing parent who had been waiting two weeks for her free school meal vouchers to arrive. My shopping costs have gone up by £30-£40 a week with the children home. These vouchers are needed…it’s making […]

Coronavirus: Williamson seeks to reassure heads over free laptops scheme

The government hopes its first batch of free laptops and tablets will reach pupils “within weeks”, despite an initial delay to the application process. We hope to get the first of those devices to children who need them within weeks Gavin Williamson told Schools Week the Department for Education was in the process of ordering […]

Coronavirus: School staff to get free tests

School staff who are showing symptoms of coronavirus will now be will be able to access free tests, the government has announced. Matthew Hancock, the health secretary, said during today’s Downing Street briefing that employers of essential workers and those workers themselves will be able to secure tests online. “We can make it easier, faster […]

Coronavirus: DfE’s free laptops portal launch delayed

An application process for academy trusts and councils to secure free laptops for vulnerable and disadvantaged children has been delayed. On Sunday, education secretary Gavin Williamson announced plans to provide free devices to aid home learning to disadvantaged year 10 pupils, along with care leavers and children with social workers. The scheme aims to prevent […]

Coronavirus: Schools can feed pupils without ‘evidence’ of universal credit claim, says minister

Schools can start delivering free school meals or food vouchers to newly-eligible pupils before they receive “evidence” of universal credit claims, the children’s minister has said. Vicky Ford appeared by video link in front of the Parliamentary education committee this morning, and was quizzed about the ongoing free school meals fiasco. It is up to […]

Coronavirus: Aldi joins national free school meal voucher scheme

The supermarket chain Aldi has joined the government’s national free school meals voucher scheme. Vicky Ford, the children’s minister, said in a written ministerial statement that the brand would be accepting the vouchers provided through the government’s supplier, Edenred. According to the firm, vouchers obtained through the scheme will be redeemable in Aldi stores from […]

Coronavirus: School attendance around 1%, finds DfE analysis

Around 1 per cent of pupils are attending school under the coronavirus lockdown, new data from the Department for Education shows. Data from 12,800 establishments found around 61 per cent remained open as of last Friday, when attendance fell to 0.9 per cent of pupils who normally attend (84,000). Analysis by the DfE shows attendance […]

Coronavirus: Struggling academies offered help from resource management advisers

Academies in financial difficulty as a result of the coronavirus pandemic may be offered help from the government’s cost-cutting advisers. In a letter to academy trust accounting officers, Education and Skills Funding Agency boss Eileen Milner said government “may be able to assist” schools in trouble by matching them with a school resource management adviser. […]