Schools Week Reporter | Schools Week

Speed read: Five things schools need to know about plans for an autumn exam series

The exams regulator Ofqual has launched a consultation on how a new autumn exam series should work. Summer exams are cancelled this year as a result of the coronavirus outbreak and associated partial school closures. Pupils will instead receive grades from their schools. However, ministers have said they want pupils who aren’t happy with their […]

Ofsted halts parent survey asking when inspections should restart

Ofsted had to close a survey that asked parents for their views on whether inspections should restart as soon as pupils go back to school, or wait for as long as up to a year. Parents were also quizzed on what impact they believe restarting inspections would have on their confidence in sending children back […]

School loses appeal to gag Ofsted from publishing critical report

A school has lost an appeal to gag Ofsted from publishing a critical report after claiming falling from ‘good’ to ‘inadequate’ in three years “cannot be justified on any rational basis”. The secondary school, inspected in October last year, was granted an anonymity order in January to prevent publication of the report. However, this was […]

Another exam board offers payments instead of furlough

Another exam board has offered pay-offs instead of furlough for some examiners, while committing to returning savings from unspent exam fees back to schools. In an email to examiners, Pearson said it was not using the government’s furlough scheme because it “believes it has been put in place to protect primarily small and medium-sized business”. […]

Government faces legal challenge over emergency SEND powers

The government is facing a legal challenge after temporarily “relaxing” the duty of councils to provide support for SEND pupils during the coronavirus outbreak. A notice at the end of April told councils they would only need to show “reasonable endeavours” to fulfill their duty in pupils’ education, health and care plans (EHCPs) during May. […]

Schools face logistical problems just to ensure pupils travel safely

Schools are facing logistical problems just to ensure pupils get to the school gates safely without coming into close contact with others. That includes making sure pupils avoid walking in “clusters” to school, along with road safety – particularly around the school gates – should car journeys increase. Meanwhile there are fears that reports of […]

Summer schools could be seen as ‘punishment’ for disadvantaged pupils, heads warn

Summer schools could be a “bad bet” and may be seen as “punishment” by poor pupils, heads have warned in new research published today. The idea of learning over the summer holidays has been tabled as a way to help disadvantaged pupils “catch-up”, with a new study by The Centre for Education and Youth showing […]

Long read: Are schools ready for the return of pupils?

Prime minister Boris Johnson is set to reveal his “comprehensive” plan for how schools will reopen. What do we know? What are schools doing? And how has it worked in other countries? Schools Week investigates. This Sunday Boris Johnson is expected to announce details of his plan to allow children to return to schools, while […]