Freddie Whittaker | Schools Week

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 […]

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 […]