Freddie Whittaker | Schools Week

Coronavirus: Schools to close from Friday and exams cancelled in England

The government has announced plans to close schools to almost all pupils from Friday afternoon. This year’s summer exam series and SATs tests will also not go ahead, with ministers pledging to work with the exams regulator “to ensure children get the qualifications that they need”. Gavin Williamson, the education secretary, announced the move in […]

Coronavirus: DfE extends helpline operation to weekends and will increase number of handlers

The Department for Education has extended the operation of its coronavirus helpline to weekends and said it is increasing the number of call handlers as it deals with “high volumes of calls”. In an update sent to schools today, the department apologised for waiting times faced by callers, and said the line would now also […]

Coronavirus: Government sets out plans for emergency powers over schools

Emergency legislation proposed by the government will allow ministers to force schools to remain open and relax some of the rules that govern how they are run. The government has published details of its draft “coronavirus bill”, which will grant it emergency powers to deal with the pandemic. If there are not enough healthy teachers […]

Coronavirus: ‘We have a plan for free school meals’, claims Johnson

The government “has a plan” for covering free school meals for eligible pupils if schools are forced to close, the prime minister has said. Boris Johnson told a Downing Street press conference this evening that as the government comes to a decision on whether to close schools, it will “have plans ready to go” on […]

Coronavirus: DfE tells heads to ‘be pragmatic’ on non-isolation absences

The Department for Education is leaving it up to heads to decide whether to authorise absences for pupils who are not in self-isolation, telling them to “be pragmatic” and consult with families. Updated guidance on how to record absences was sent to schools yesterday, just a day after initial guidance on the matter was released. […]

Coronavirus: Schools ‘should be able to claim’ for cancelled trips, says insurers’ body

Schools “should be able to claim” for cancelled trips abroad, the body that represents insurance companies has said, after the government advised the public to avoid all non-essential international travel. Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, told Parliament today that he had “taken the decision to advise British nationals against non-essential travel, globally, for an initial […]

Watch: We’ll close schools if it’s in ‘best interests’ of children and teachers, says Williamson

The government will close schools if medical and science advice tells ministers it is in the best interests of children and teachers, Gavin Williamson has said. The education secretary has released a video, in which he seeks to reassure headteachers about the government’s work to support them, and thanks staff for their “ongoing cooperation at […]

Top DfE boss: Our cost-cutting consultants found £10m savings in UTCs

Government cost-saving consultants have been parachuted into most of the country’s university technical colleges to help them tackle soaring deficits, it has been revealed. Jonathan Slater, the Department for Education’s top civil servant, told MPs on the public accounts committee today that school resource management advisers had identified around £10 million of savings in 33 […]

Coronavirus: Leadership unions say school closures ‘likely’ after DfE crunch talks

The general secretaries of England’s two school leadership unions have said it is “likely that a number of schools will have to close”, following a meeting with ministers. Geoff Barton, the leader of ASCL and Paul Whiteman, who heads up the NAHT, said they had had a “very productive meeting” with education secretary Gavin Williamson […]