coronavirus | Schools Week

Caterer Compass repays furlough cash after free school meal parcel row

A multinational catering firm at the centre of the free school meal parcel fiasco has announced plans to repay millions in furlough cash and serve more plant-based meals. Official figures published this month show Compass Services UK claimed between £12.5 million and £25 million between December and February alone to pay staff wages. Data has […]

More primary pupils off with suspected Covid, but overall attendance remains high

The number of primary school pupils absent because of a suspected Covid case increased by over 60 per cent last week, according to government attendance survey data. However, only around 1 per cent of pupils nationally were off for Covid-related reasons nationally last week. The latest statistics published by the Department for Education show that […]

DfE to offer new headteachers ‘targeted support’ during first two years in post

The Department for Education has announced a “targeted support package” for new headteachers, offering additional training in the first two years of headship. School leaders and experts welcomed the measures, but warned they must come with funding attached amid stretched school budgets. The extra training will be offered to those who are either currently taking […]

Pupil face mask rules to be lifted from May 17

Pupils will no longer wear face masks in school from next week, Boris Johnson has confirmed. The recommendation that masks be worn in secondary classrooms and by students in communal areas will be lifted from May 17. However, the rule that staff and other adults wear face coverings in situations where social distancing is not […]

Special school ‘ineffective’ during pandemic, says Ofsted

A special school judged to be ineffective in providing education during the pandemic has been criticised by Ofsted for setting “time-filling activities rather than education”. Inspectors also warned that safeguarding failures such as damaged electrical sockets and missing fire extinguishers meant pupils were “not safe” at Unified Academy in Surrey, part of Orchard Hill College […]

Attendance: Isolation due to potential in-school Covid contact almost doubles

The number of pupils absent because of potential contact with a Covid case in school has almost doubled in a week, new attendance data suggests. Attendance survey data from the Department for Education shows 46,900 pupils were off last Thursday because of potential contact in-school, up from 25,200 on Thursday April 22. The number of […]

Keep face masks in the classroom for another month, urge unions and scientists

Lifting the recommendation that face coverings be worn in secondary classrooms this month will have “consequences” for the health of children and parents, a group of unions and scientists has warned. Teaching unions the NEU and NASUWT and support staff unions Unite, Unison and the GMB have sent an open letter to education secretary Gavin […]

Williamson plans behaviour survey and urges ‘sensible debate’ over exclusions

Schools will take part in a new survey on student behaviour every term, the education secretary has announced. Gavin Williamson outlined the proposals as part of a wider drive for “strong behaviour and discipline policy,” including the behaviour hubs project and a crackdown on mobile phone use in schools. The minister also called for “proper […]

MATs move to centralise in wake of Covid pressures, study finds

Many multi-academy trusts have moved to centralise HR, finance, health and safety and other policies in the wake of the pandemic, a new study suggests. While only 15 trusts of mixed sizes in the Midlands took part in the research, it points to a potentially significant development for the sector if replicated more widely. Trusts […]