Schools Week Reporter | Schools Week

DfE looks to 2012 Olympics for inspiration on school transport plans

The government has told schools to look to the 2012 Olympics for inspiration on how to transport children to school from September. New Department for Education guidance on the reopening of schools claims London’s hosting of the event showed it was possible to make a “very real difference” to travel patterns. The capital introduced “games […]

Coronavirus: DfE reveals lockdown rules for Leicester schools

The Department for Education has revealed its local lockdown rules for schools in Leicester ahead of them closing from tomorrow (Thursday). The city and surrounding areas have seen lockdown measures come back into place due to a rise in coronavirus cases, including the government advising against all non-essential travel to, from and within the defined […]

Coronavirus: Support for SEND children has ‘dropped off a cliff’, experts warn

Support for children with special education needs has “dropped off a cliff” after the government relaxed rules around education, health and care plans during coronavirus, experts have claimed. The education committee also heard today that schools are using “spurious reasons” to prevent pupils with special education needs from returning to school. MP Robert Halfon, chair […]

Coronavirus: Autumn series grades to be based only on exams, Ofqual confirms

Pupils performance in this year’s autumn exam series will be based on pupil performance in the tests alone, not on any non-exam assessment, Ofqual has confirmed. The exams regulator has published its decisions following a consultation on the autumn series, which will allow students who are not happy with their summer calculated grades to sit […]

Coronavirus: Has the government really met its 5 tests for reopening schools?

The government confirmed yesterday that schools can begin a phased approach to reopening schools on Monday. Ministers have previously said schools would only reopen to more children if the government’s five tests are met. Prime minister Boris Johnson it was “thanks to the caution we have shown so far that all five tests are being […]

Coronavirus: Schools expected to deliver food parcels when more pupils return

Schools will be expected to make food parcels available for delivery or collection instead of using the national voucher scheme when more pupils go back from Monday. Prime minister Boris Johnson has confirmed schools can begin a phased reopening from Monday as the government’s five tests on the coronavirus outbreak were being met. In updated […]

Coronavirus: £500m for ‘civic army’ of school leavers would reduce mass redundancy risk

The government should spend £500 million paying a “civic army” of school leavers for six months to stave off mass redundancy risks for youngsters, a group including academy trusts has said. The “Community Leadership Academy” would involve 75,000 disadvantaged young people under the age of 25 being given the opportunity to work for six months […]

£300m for councils to help contain local coronavirus outbreaks in schools

A new £300m funding package has been made available to local authorities to help contain coronavirus outbreaks, including in schools. It comes as the Department for Education is set to confirm tomorrow if schools can begin a phased reopening on June 1, with scientists saying a test and trace initiative is key for those plans. […]

Coronavirus: 2020 exam standardisation process will ignore school ‘trajectory’, Ofqual confirms

The “trajectory” of improving schools will not be taken into account when standardising GCSE and A-level results this year, Ofqual has confirmed. The exams regulator said today that the standardisation process for centre-assessed grades this year “will not seek to reflect any trends in improvement or deterioration in a centre’s outcomes in a subject over […]