Schools Week Reporter | Schools Week

Special schools demand clarity on vulnerability criteria amid closure warning

Special schools could be at risk of closing completely if government guidance on vulnerable children is not updated urgently, sector leaders are warning. The Department for Education has confirmed to Schools Week that special and alternative provision schools will be closed to all but vulnerable and key worker children. However, any child with an education […]

Ofqual will ‘consult rapidly’ on replacing exams, with ‘a number of options’ on the table

Ofqual will “consult rapidly” on alternative arrangements for exams after it was announced last night they would not go ahead this summer “as normal”, with “a number of options” said to be on the table. It comes amid confusion over whether all GCSEs and A-levels will be cancelled. Former education secretary Michael Gove claimed that would be […]

NTP admits catch-up sessions ‘may be postponed’ as only half of providers can deliver home tuition

The National Tutoring Programme has admitted that some sessions may have to be postponed as only half of providers are able to deliver tuition online at home. The NTP has told Schools Week today that 14 out its 33 tuition partners (see list below) are approved to deliver remote tutoring from pupil’s homes in “accepted […]

London boroughs challenge government decision to keep primaries open

London boroughs are challenging the government’s decision to keep their primaries open despite having higher infections than areas told to close. The government announced yesterday that primary schools in Covid-19 hotspots would only re-open on-site provision for vulnerable and key worker children for the next two weeks. All other children will get remote learning. A […]

Glenys Stacey to chair Ofqual’s new ‘2021 committee’ to oversee next summer’s exams

Outgoing exams chief Dame Glenys Stacey is to chair a new Ofqual committee with oversight of next year’s exams. In an exit interview with Schools Week, the interim chief regulator revealed she would “retain a stake” in the policy area as chair of the “2021 committee”, a new subcommittee of Ofqual’s board. By staying on […]

The Glenys Stacey Q&A: ‘I think there’s a long backwash to this pandemic in education’

As she prepares to leave the role of Ofqual chief regulator for the second time, Dame Glenys Stacey spoke to Schools Week about the continuing impact of Covid on education, and why she’s not leaving the organisation behind for good. Stacey, who came out of retirement to fill the role vacated by her successor Sally […]

de Souza confirmed as children’s commissioner despite concerns over ‘knowledge and experience’

Dame Rachel de Souza will become the next children’s commissioner for England from next year after MPs narrowly approved her appointment. Gavin Williamson has confirmed the academy trust boss will take up the role next year after the Parliamentary education committee found she was “appointable”. However, the committee said this was “not a unanimous view” among […]

Top results at A-level drop in Autumn resits compared to summer

The proportion of top grades awarded to students in the Autumn A-level exams is overall lower than the summer centre assessed grades, results published today show. Students who received grade A and above in the Autumn resits series in England was 29.7 per cent compared to 38.1 in the summer. But this is still higher […]

Covid workforce funds: Schools with ‘particularly high’ costs may have claims reviewed

Schools attempting to claim “particularly high” costs through the government’s new Covid workforce fund may have their claims “reviewed”. The Department for Education has published additional guidance on the new fund, which was unveiled last month and is meant to help schools cover the cost of absences during this half term. Where costs are particularly […]