coronavirus | Schools Week

Coronavirus: GCSEs and A-levels will be based on ‘moderated assessment’, says CST leader

GCSEs and A-levels grades will be awarded “on the basis of moderated assessment” this year following the cancellation of summer exams, a sector leader familiar with the government’s plans has told headteachers. Leora Cruddas, the chief executive of the Confederation of School Trusts, told members of her organisation in an email last night that she […]

Coronavirus: Issue food parcels or supermarket vouchers to free school meals pupils, DfE tells schools

Schools should work with catering providers or local authorities to provide food parcels or send out supermarket vouchers to pupils eligible for free school meals who are affected by coronavirus. The Department for Education has sent out new guidance for schools this morning on how to support pupils eligible for means-tested meals who are either […]

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: Schools closed and exams cancelled – your questions answered

The government announced yesterday that schools will be closed from Friday afternoon to all but vulnerable pupils and the children of key workers, with exams and performance tables scrapped. We’ve covered the story here. Our readers rightly have lots of questions. It’s a pretty fluid situation, and there are still lots of unknowns, but we’ve […]

Coronavirus: Schools to close from Friday and exams cancelled in England

The government has announced plans to close schools to almost all pupils from Friday afternoon. This year’s summer exam series and SATs tests will also not go ahead, with ministers pledging to work with the exams regulator “to ensure children get the qualifications that they need”. Gavin Williamson, the education secretary, announced the move in […]

Exams have been cancelled – so what happens now?

Robert Half, the American businessman, once said “it’s easy to make good decisions when there are no bad options”. Gavin Williamson is now grappling with the opposite. Because it’s not only easy, but inevitable, that bad decisions are made when there are no good options. In a fast moving crisis, you can’t afford to wait […]

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: DfE extends helpline operation to weekends and will increase number of handlers

The Department for Education has extended the operation of its coronavirus helpline to weekends and said it is increasing the number of call handlers as it deals with “high volumes of calls”. In an update sent to schools today, the department apologised for waiting times faced by callers, and said the line would now also […]

Coronavirus: Government sets out plans for emergency powers over schools

Emergency legislation proposed by the government will allow ministers to force schools to remain open and relax some of the rules that govern how they are run. The government has published details of its draft “coronavirus bill”, which will grant it emergency powers to deal with the pandemic. If there are not enough healthy teachers […]