Freddie Whittaker | Schools Week

Coronavirus: Admission appeal panels could be held by phone or video call

The government is considering allowing admission appeals to be heard by telephone or video call, after a senior official said appeal panels should not meet during the coronavirus outbreak. In a letter to councils, national schools commissioner Dominic Herrington said that “given the current restrictions we do not consider it is sensible to go ahead with […]

Angela Rayner elected deputy leader of the Labour party

The shadow education secretary Angela Rayner has been elected deputy leader of the Labour Party, it has been announced. The MP for Ashton-under-Lyne will serve under new leader Sir Keir Starmer, whose election as leader was also announced today. She has also been appointed by Starmer as chair of the Labour Party, and is understood […]

Coronavirus: Schools and councils step up to feed pupils over Easter

Schools, councils and academy trusts are delving into their own finances to make sure poorer pupils stuck at home during Easter continue to get free meals. The Department for Education finally launched a national scheme this week to provide £15 weekly vouchers for pupils entitled to free school meals. Our conclusion was that it’s our […]

Coronavirus: Schools will rank GCSE and A-level pupils within grades

Schools will rank their GCSE and A-level pupils within each grade under a new system of assessment drawn up for this summer. Following the announcement that all exams this academic year have been cancelled due to the coronavirus, Ofqual has released details of the standardised assessment process that will take their place. Guidance released by […]

Coronavirus: An explainer on how grades will be awarded this summer

Ofqual has revealed how pupils will be assessed for GCSE and A-level qualifications this summer, following the cancellation of exams. The exams regulator has published guidance for schools, along with separate guidance for teachers and a letter to pupils. Here’s our explainer on how it will all work… 1. Schools must provide a grade […]

Coronavirus: GCSE analysis gives ‘confidence’ to teacher assessment plan

An analysis showing the vast majority of predicted GCSE grades are within one grade of being correct will “give everybody confidence” in this year’s plans to replace exams. Analysis by Data Educator of 19,029 predicted grades across 22 subjects last year found that although only 40 per cent turned out to be the same as […]

Coronavirus: Cumbria school becomes a hospital in two hours

A Cumbrian school has been converted into a makeshift hospital in just two hours, in what is thought to be the first use of a school for that purpose since the First World War. Installed with the help of the military and local public bodies, extra bed capacity at Furness Academy in Barrow will be […]

Coronavirus: NQT absences won’t lead to induction extensions

Newly-qualified teachers will not have their induction period extended if they are absent because of coronavirus, the government has said. The Department for Education has announced plans to amend the law to ensure NQTs currently doing their induction can complete it this academic year. Under the current system, NQTs with ad-hoc absences totalling 30 days […]

Coronavirus: Heads demand ‘urgent’ clarification on exam fee rebates

Headteachers have called for “urgent” clarification over whether schools will receive a rebate on exam fees following the cancellation of this year’s GCSEs and A-levels. The decision to call off the summer exams this year following the outbreak of coronavirus has led to questions about whether schools should still pay full whack for exam boards’ […]