Schools Week Reporter | Schools Week

Coronavirus: How schools are stepping up to keep disadvantaged pupils fed

At a time of uncertainty and lack of clarity from the top, many school leaders have been sharing ideas on how to keep disadvantaged pupils fed, ahead of today’s coronavirus school shutdown. Schools this week took the lead to ensure poorer pupils are provided with free school meals, with staff providing food hampers and buying […]

Coronavirus: Special school leaders should make decision about pupils attending

Heads at special schools should make decisions about whether their pupils should attend school on a “case by case” basis, according to the government. Some of these schools, which have highly vulnerable pupils, were already beginning to close earlier this week after Monday’s guidance around social distancing for the vulnerable and dwindling staff numbers. However, […]

Coronavirus: Scammers trying to dupe free school meals families

Parents have been receiving scam emails suggesting their children’s school is closing and requesting bank details to pay for free school meals. Durham Constabulary warned schools about the fraud today posting online: “Parents are receiving emails suggesting schools are closing & all pupils are being given free meals followed by a request for bank details […]

Coronavirus: Specialist schools with highly vulnerable pupils decide to close

A number of specialist schools have decided to close in the coming days, with headteachers hitting out at the government for a lack of guidance over how to protect vulnerable pupils amid the coronavirus pandemic. Just yesterday the Medicine in Specialist Schools steering group wrote to the government calling for clear guidance on how to […]

Coronavirus: Heads demand answers over how to feed poorer pupils if schools close

Headteachers are demanding answers on how to feed poorer children if schools close this week. Schools have started pulling together plans on getting food parcels or vouchers to disadvantaged pupils who are entitled to free schools meals, with fears they could go hungry if not. Updated guidance published yesterday warned it “may be necessary” to […]

Coronavirus: Heads want specific guidance to protect highly vulnerable children

Specialist school heads have written to the government demanding specific guidance to help them protect highly vulnerable pupils with medical conditions from coronavirus. The Medicine in Specialist Schools steering group wants to know what can be done to protect the 30,000 to 40,000 pupils who have complex health and care needs and have an “elevated […]

Nearly nine in ten ‘satisfied’ with Ofsted’s new inspections

Nearly nine in ten respondents to a post-inspection survey since September are satisfied with their inspection, according to new statistics. Speaking in Birmingham at the weekend, Amanda Spielman said it was a “small and vocal minority” who were criticising the new inspection framework. In data released today, it shows that 88.6 per cent of 1,336 […]

Ministers reject nine in 10 council bids to prop up high needs budget

Councils have warned of soaring deficits and diminishing support for vulnerable pupils after ministers rejected nine in 10 bids to shore up high needs budgets with general school funds. The local councils of both education secretary Gavin Williamson and schools minister Nick Gibb are among 22 local authorities denied permission by Williamson to move cash […]

Trust issued warning after key stage 3 pupils not taught MFL

An academy trust could have funding axed for one of its schools after Ofsted found some pupils in year 7 and 8 – including those with special educational needs – were not being taught modern foreign languages. Inspectors who visited Bilton School, a mixed secondary school in Warwickshire, said some pupils in key stage 3 […]