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27 April 2026

Tag: coronavirus

School attendance rates fall again as more pupils self-isolate

School attendance rates fell again last week as more pupils were forced to self-isolate due to potential Covid contact in school. Data published by the Department for Education shows 87,600 secondary school pupils were self-isolating due to a potential contact in school last Thursday, up from 58,400 the week before. At primary level, 83,600 pupils […]

Free school meals: 300k more pupils became eligible in first 7 months of Covid

The number of children eligible for free school meals surged in the first seven months of the Covid-19 pandemic, official figures show. Census data published by the Department for Education shows an additional 302,397 pupils became eligible for free school meals between the first nationwide lockdown in March and the October school census. During the […]

£200m summer schools funding details: the 5 things you need to know

Secondary schools will receive £59.70 per place per day to run summer schools this year, but only for a maximum of two weeks of activities, new guidance states. The money will also have to cover all costs associated with running the activities, including additional staff costs, free meals for eligible children and transport, and schools […]

Headteacher vacancies fall despite Covid exodus fears

Fears of a Covid-fuelled mass exodus of headteachers this summer may be wide of the mark, although new figures suggest more leaders left their jobs earlier in the pandemic. The government was warned about a “post-Covid exodus” of headteachers after a poll last year found nearly half were less than likely to remain in the […]

DfE officials grilled over Covid-19 response, 7 things we learned

Senior officials from the Department for Education were grilled by MPs this morning about the government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic. DfE permanent secretary Susan Acland-Hood, Covid response director Mike Pettifer and director general for early years and school groups, appeared in front of the public accounts committee. Here’s what we learned.   1. DfE […]

Kate Green reveals Labour’s education recovery priorities

A Labour government elected tomorrow would focus on addressing educational inequalities and look at the “content of what’s happening in schools” to check it is preparing pupils for a “unpredictable but exciting future”, Kate Green has said. The shadow education secretary addressed ASCL’s virtual annual conference this afternoon, and revealed she would look to “design […]

Five-fold increase in secondary pupils isolating due to in-school Covid contact

The number of secondary pupils self-isolating because of a potential contact with a Covid case in school increased more than five-fold last week as settings welcomed back more older pupils. Data published by the Department for Education shows 58,400 secondary school pupils were self-isolating due to a potential contact in school last Thursday, up from […]