Freddie Whittaker | Schools Week

Coronavirus: School closures ‘may be necessary’ over staff shortages, says PHE

Public Health England has updated its guidance for schools, warning it “may be necessary” to close schools if staff isolation due to coronavirus causes “operational issues”. Until this morning, the organisation’s official advice stated that there was “no need” to close schools or send learners or staff home, even if they had a suspected case. […]

Coronavirus: #covid19walkout trending as leaders attend DfE crunch talks

Parents across England have pledged to remove their children from schools if they are not closed soon, as leadership unions and academy representatives prepare to meet ministers for coronavirus crunch talks. The hashtag #covid19walkout is trending on twitter, with many parents saying they will take matters into their own hands following the government’s decision last […]

Coronavirus: Suspend Ofsted inspections now, says Barton

The leader of the ASCL headteachers’ union has joined calls for the government to immediately suspend Ofsted inspections, as schools’ response to the coronavirus is ramped up. Geoff Barton told the union’s annual conference in Birmingham today that he “calling on the government to call a halt to all routine inspections”, amid concerns that they […]

Coronavirus: Spielman to preside over inspection deferral decisions

The chief inspector of schools will personally sign off any decision not to defer Ofsted inspections of schools affected by coronavirus, it has been announced. Sean Harford, the watchdog’s national director of education, told the ASCL conference today that Ofsted will “look very favourably” on any requests for deferral as a result of coronavirus. Requests […]

Coronavirus: Ofsted says inspections may be deferred

Ofsted will talk to headteachers before inspections to work out if the impact of coronavirus warrants a deferral to a later date, new guidance states. The watchdog has issued advice to schools, stating that the impact of coronavirus could be considered an “exceptional circumstance” warranting a postponement. Ofsted sparked anger earlier when the inspectorate tweeted […]

ASCL survey: 9 in 10 leaders believe inspection isn’t consistent, fair or accurate

Nine in ten school leaders believe Ofsted inspections fail to “consistently, fairly and accurately” judge their schools, an ASCL survey has revealed. Despite three quarters of respondents reporting that Ofsted’s new inspection regime is an improvement on the old framework, the vast majority are still not happy with the set-up, the union claims. The findings […]

Coronavirus: Schools won’t be penalised for absences, says Williamson

Schools will not be penalised for issues “that are completely outside their control”, Gavin Williamson has said, amid concerns about pupil absences caused by coronavirus. The education secretary told journalists at the ASCL conference in Birmingham this afternoon that the Department for Education would be taking a “sensible and pragmatic approach” to things like absences […]

Coronavirus: Williamson pledges exams will be ‘fair’ for pupils

The government is “doing everything to make sure” this summer’s exams are fair for pupils and their efforts are “fairly rewarded” amid the coronavirus pandemic, Gavin Williamson has said. Addressing the ASCL union conference this morning, the education secretary said concerns about exams were “only to be expected, especially when so much hard work has […]

Coronavirus: Heads summoned to DfE meeting to discuss potential school closures

Leadership unions and academy representatives have been summoned to the Department for Education to discuss schools’ response to coronavirus. Geoff Barton, the general secretary of the ASCL union, said today that his organisation, along with the National Association of Headteachers and Confederation of School Trusts, have been asked to attend a meeting on Monday about […]