James Carr | Schools Week

Ofsted plans ‘lighter-touch’ on-site inspections during summer term

Ofsted will undertake “lighter-touch” on-site inspections during the summer term before returning to full graded inspections next year, it has announced. The watchdog confirmed today that it would not resume a full programme of graded inspections until September, but its summer inspections could still result in a change of grade for schools. “Following extensive discussion […]

School backs down on face masks refusal following DfE pressure

A school whose headteacher vowed to defy official advice on face masks in secondary classrooms has quietly reversed its stance following pressure from the government. David Perks of East London Science School (ELSS) made headlines at the end of February when he claimed he would not ask pupils to wear face coverings. In guidance published […]

Low-income parents eligible for £500 support payment if schools tell children to self-isolate

Hard-up parents and carers whose children are told to self-isolate by their school will be eligible for the government’s £500 test and trace support payment, the Department for Education has said. They will still be able to claim for the one-off payment even in instances where they have not been told to self-isolate by NHS […]

Surge in ‘devastating’ ransomware attacks cripples schools

Schools were forced to delay pupils’ return to the classroom, suspend Covid testing and cancel parents evening after hackers struck in a series of targeted ransomware attacks. A Schools Week investigation can reveal the devastating aftershocks of the cyber attacks, as the government’s security centre warned this week of the “growing threat” facing schools. At […]

DfE tells schools study leave ‘may not be applicable’

Schools are being given the freedom to choose whether or not to implement a period of independent study leave for Year 11 and 13 pupils after the May half-term. Updated schools guidance states that as schools will submit exam grades by June 18, work done after the May half-term will not contribute towards their grades. […]

£79m for another music hubs extension, but national plan ‘on hold’

The government has committed £79 million to extend its music education hubs scheme for another year, while its national plan for music education remains on hold due to Covid-19. The Department for Education today published its new model music curriculum for key stages 1, 2 and 3 which will see pupils listen and learn about […]

PHE: Nearly half of Covid outbreaks in education settings

Almost half of all suspected outbreaks of Covid recorded last week occurred in education settings, a Public Health England report shows. The organisation’s latest flu and Covid-19 report shows that of 197 new acute respiratory infection (ARI) “incidents” involving Covid reported in the week ending March 21, 83, or 42 per cent, were reported by […]

Schools lose Covid testing data and student coursework after ‘spike’ in cyber attacks

Schools have lost financial records, students’ coursework and Covid-19 testing data during a recent “spike” in cyber attacks targeting the education sector. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) today published an alert warning schools and other education settings to take further precautions to protect themselves against ransomware following “an increased number” of attacks since late […]

Covid testing should continue over Easter holidays, says DfE

The government has told schools that staff and pupils should continue to undergo Covid testing throughout the Easter holidays. In an email sent to school leaders today, and seen by Schools Week, the Department for Education (DfE) warned it is “vital to keep testing at home throughout the Easter holidays and into the summer term”. […]