ASCL | Schools Week

Exams 2020: Education unions call for ‘urgent’ inquiry into grades fiasco

Unions representing hundreds of thousands of school staff have demanded an independent inquiry into the exam grades fiasco. Teaching unions the National Education Union and NASUWT, along with leadership unions NAHT and ASCL, have written to education secretary Gavin Williamson calling for an “urgent and independent” inquiry into the process of awarding A-levels, GCSEs and […]

Heads reissue calls for a plan B as PM says September reopening a ‘national priority’

The government has again been warned it must have a plan B in place for September school reopenings, in case a second national shutdown is needed. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said at a coronavirus briefing today that welcoming all pupils back to school from the start of the Autumn term should be a “national priority”. […]

Coronavirus: Final schools reopening decision ‘to be made on May 28’

Ministers will make the final decision on whether to press ahead with its schools reopening plan on May 28, a union leader has revealed. Geoff Barton (pictured above left), the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said the government will “review the latest science” next Thursday, and that the return of […]

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 […]

Coronavirus: Heads can refuse to reopen schools if they don’t think it’s safe, say leadership unions

Headteachers can refuse to reopen their schools to more pupils if they don’t believe they can do so safely, leadership unions have warned. The National Association of Head Teachers and the Association of School and College Leaders, which between them represent tens of thousands of senior and middle leaders, said the final decision on whether […]

EPI: Suspend Ofsted inspections until 2021 and launch retired teacher volunteer scheme

Suspending Ofsted inspections until next year and asking retired teachers to volunteer would help disadvantaged pupils “catch up” when schools reopen, a think tank has suggested. Education Policy Institute researchers warn poorer children could fall “seriously” and further behind as a result of school closures and disruption to the economy, wiping out over a “decade’s […]

Coronavirus: Government must say why it wants to reopen schools, say heads

The government must explain why it wants to reopen schools in order to build “confidence and agreement” in its plans, headteachers have said. Leadership union ASCL has published a summary of its members’ responses to questions posed by the Department for Education about the reopening of schools. The document reveals the government is considering plans […]

Coronavirus: Reopen schools before summer if possible, say leadership unions

Unions representing school leaders across England are lobbying the government to reopen schools for a “limited period” before the summer holidays if scientific advice says it is safe to do so. Once the scientific advice is that schools can return safely, they should do so, even if it’s for a very limited period before the […]

Coronavirus: How schools have dealt with day one of mass closures

Schools saw a “manageable” number of pupils arrive at their doors today as they begin to adjust to a new way of working, as parents “heeded calls” to keep their children at home unless they had no other option. But things did not go as smoothly elsewhere – with leaders reporting the requirement to submit […]