coronavirus | Schools Week

Coronavirus: Cumbria school becomes a hospital in two hours

A Cumbrian school has been converted into a makeshift hospital in just two hours, in what is thought to be the first use of a school for that purpose since the First World War. Installed with the help of the military and local public bodies, extra bed capacity at Furness Academy in Barrow will be […]

Coronavirus: NQT absences won’t lead to induction extensions

Newly-qualified teachers will not have their induction period extended if they are absent because of coronavirus, the government has said. The Department for Education has announced plans to amend the law to ensure NQTs currently doing their induction can complete it this academic year. Under the current system, NQTs with ad-hoc absences totalling 30 days […]

Coronavirus: Heads demand ‘urgent’ clarification on exam fee rebates

Headteachers have called for “urgent” clarification over whether schools will receive a rebate on exam fees following the cancellation of this year’s GCSEs and A-levels. The decision to call off the summer exams this year following the outbreak of coronavirus has led to questions about whether schools should still pay full whack for exam boards’ […]

Coronavirus: ESFA urges caution as fraud cases soar

The government is warning academies and local authorities to exercise caution when dealing with suppliers, following a 400 per cent rise in coronavirus-related fraud last month. The Education and Skills Funding agency today released additional guidance to support schools and councils operating during the pandemic after March saw a spike in scams. “Periods of instability, […]

Coronavirus: School staff who live with at-risk people should stay home ‘where possible’

School staff who live with people most at-risk from coronavirus should work from home “where possible”, the Department for Education has said. Updated guidance published last night gives schools more information about which staff should come into school, and which should stay home. In keeping with guidance for other workers, school staff with the most […]

Coronavirus: Pupils won’t get free school meal vouchers during Easter holidays

A national voucher scheme aimed at keeping the poorest children fed during school closures will not run throughout the Easter holidays, the Department for Education has confirmed. The government confirmed today that it was pressing ahead with its plans to issue £15 weekly supermarket vouchers to families for pupils who would normally qualify for means-tested […]

Coronavirus: DfE confirms plans for £15-a-week free school meal vouchers

Six national supermarket chains have signed up to the government’s new national voucher scheme for free school meals. However the government has confirmed that vouchers will not be available during the Easter holidays – despite many schools staying open. The Department for Education has today confirmed plans, as revealed by Schools Week, to issue £15 […]

Coronavirus: Don’t monitor staff performance, and 6 other points from joint union guidance

The National Education Union, National Association of Head Teachers and Association of School and College leaders have teamed up to provide their members with joint guidance on the coronavirus crisis. The joint nature of the guidance means that leaders, classroom teachers and support staff in the three unions are getting the same advice. Here are […]

Coronavirus: Don’t seek further work to support GCSE and A-level grades, union tells leaders

Teachers and leaders “should not be seeking further work” from pupils to support their GCSE and A-level grades this year, the ASCL leadership union has said. In guidance issued to headteachers, which seeks to pre-empt an expected government announcement on plans for assessments this year, the union said priorities for pupils in years 11 and […]