Freddie Whittaker | Schools Week

Coronavirus: List of ‘key workers’ delayed until Friday, says health secretary

A list of roles considered to be “key workers” will not be published until tomorrow, the health secretary has confirmed. Matthew Hancock told BBC Question Time tonight that the list, which will determine which pupils schools have to cater-for from Monday, will be published on Friday. This is despite a pledge by Gavin Williamson, the […]

Coronavirus: Schools may have to prioritise remaining pupils ‘according to need’, warns NAHT

Schools may have to “prioritise according to need” when admitting vulnerable pupils and the children of key workers next week, it has been warned, as leaders wait on further details of the government’s closure plans. The National Association of Headteachers has said it is seeking guidance from the government on how schools with capacity concerns […]

Coronavirus: GCSEs and A-levels will be based on ‘moderated assessment’, says CST leader

GCSEs and A-levels grades will be awarded “on the basis of moderated assessment” this year following the cancellation of summer exams, a sector leader familiar with the government’s plans has told headteachers. Leora Cruddas, the chief executive of the Confederation of School Trusts, told members of her organisation in an email last night that she […]

Coronavirus: Issue food parcels or supermarket vouchers to free school meals pupils, DfE tells schools

Schools should work with catering providers or local authorities to provide food parcels or send out supermarket vouchers to pupils eligible for free school meals who are affected by coronavirus. The Department for Education has sent out new guidance for schools this morning on how to support pupils eligible for means-tested meals who are either […]

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. […]