coronavirus | Schools Week

The new school day (and it’s not as you’ve known it)

Headteachers say that Covid-driven changes to the traditional school day – such as staggered break times and longer lessons – have halted playground clashes and reduced low-level disruption. A major challenge for schools has been how to implement bubbles of pupils, aimed at reducing transmission between classrooms. To help with catch-up and minimise the movement […]

No tablet? Use your phone and a couple of cans for interview, says Cambridge uni

A Russell Group university has told students unable to access a tablet for its online admissions interview to instead balance their phone on top of tin cans. The University of Cambridge has advised candidates they will need a tablet and stylus for interviews for select subjects, as well as a laptop, after the pandemic forced […]

Oak principal says he ‘didn’t expect’ its success as data suggests half of teachers use the platform

The principal of the online Oak National Academy has said he “didn’t expect it to go as big or as far as it’s gone” with new figures suggesting nearly half of teachers have used the school. A poll of 3,000 teachers by Teacher Tapp found 46 per cent have used Oak, which extrapolated across the […]

Schools scramble to sort inset days after 11th-hour Christmas edict

Schools are scrambling to reorganise their end of term plans after a last-ditch announcement by the government to ensure contract tracing can stop before Christmas Eve. Childcare concerns have also been raised after the Department for Education gave schools less than two weeks’ notice about running inset days on December 18. Although not statutory, I […]

Covid-19: Mass testing planned in London, Kent and Essex secondaries

The government is rolling out mass coronavirus testing in secondary schools in the worst-affected areas of London, Kent and Essex, the health secretary has announced. Matt Hancock told the Downing Street press briefing today that the government had “decided to put in place an immediate plan for testing all secondary school age children in the […]

DfE finally reveals Christmas contact-tracing rules

Schools will be asked to remain “on call” for the first six days of the Christmas holidays to help with contact tracing, but it will be up to them to decide the hours they’ll be contactable. The Department for Education has confirmed arrangements for the end of term after schools minister Nick Gibb said today […]

Schools can take inset day on Dec 18 so contact tracing stops by Christmas Eve

Schools will be allowed to designate December 18 as an inset day to enable staff involved in track and trace to have a “proper break” from Christmas Eve, the schools minister has said. Nick Gibb told the Parliamentary education committee this morning that the Department for Education wanted there to be a “clear six days” […]

Susan Acland-Hood made permanent boss at DfE

The Department for Education’s current acting boss will step up to the role on a permanent basis, it has been announced. Susan Acland-Hood will become the DfE’s full permanent secretary with immediate effect, having covered the role since September. Acland-Hood took over from Jonathan Slater, who stepped down on September 1 amid the fallout of […]

Covid advisory group signed gagging orders, DfE reveals

Twelve members of a group advising the Department for Education on its Covid-19 response have signed gagging orders. Schools Week revealed in May that the recovery advisory group, made up of academy leaders, charity bosses and others, had been formed to help the department. It has now emerged that the group members signed personal confidentiality […]