COVID-19 | Schools Week

TV star and celeb GP hired for ‘back-to-school’ promo

Ministers have come under fire for paying a television presenter up to an estimated £15,000 for social media posts promoting the government’s back-to-school campaign. Kirsty Gallacher used her Twitter and Instagram accounts to “reassure parents on the changes and safety measures in place at schools”. There’s a point where you wonder whether the government is […]

Covid-19: Ofsted rebukes school that did not contact pupils ‘frequently enough’

Ofsted has accused one of the largest special schools in the country of failing to contact its pupils often enough during partial closures – leaving children “at risk of harm”. The watchdog said safeguarding arrangements at Severndale Specialist Academy in Shrewsbury were “not effective” after an emergency inspection in July. The “no formal designation” inspection […]

1 in 10 pupils has not returned to school, Boris Johnson admits

More than 1 in 10 pupils have not returned to school yet, the prime minister has revealed. Boris Johnson told today’s Downing Street press briefing that “something like 89 per cent of pupils are back in school”, indicating that around 11 per cent are not. Most schools across England have now fully reopened to schools, […]

DfE seeks retired educational psychologists to support returning pupils

The government wants retired educational psychologists to return to work to help support children returning to school. The Department for Education is inviting former educational psychologists who “may be interested in temporarily returning to the profession”, and those still practicing who have additional capacity for temporary support to express interest. It follows warnings from psychologists […]

Schools given days to confirm autumn A-level resit venues

Schools requiring alternative venues for autumn A-level resits have less than two weeks to secure them and inform exam boards, the government has confirmed. In updated guidance issued this week, the Department for Education told schools and colleges to notify the Joint Council for Qualification’s centre inspection service by September 18 if they intend to […]

Ofqual to face grilling by MPs over exams fiasco

Leaders from exams regulator Ofqual will appear in front of MPs next week to answer questions about this year’s A-levels and GCSEs fiasco – but outgoing boss Sally Collier will not be with them. Gavin Williamson, the education secretary, will also “likely” face questions about the government’s handling of the crisis when he appears in […]

Government to U-turn on masks in schools

Staff and older pupils will be expected to wear face coverings in schools in England from September following a government U-turn, Schools Week understands. Ministers are expected to announce the change later today following growing pressure in the wake of a similar decision in Scotland and changes to World Health Organisation guidelines. It means staff […]

Pressure mounts on government over face coverings in schools

The government is under growing pressure to review its guidance on the use of face coverings in schools, as one of England’s largest academy trusts announced it had ordered visors and masks for staff and some pupils. Oasis Community Learning, which runs 52 academies across England, will provide face coverings for all staff and visitors […]

PHE school Covid outbreaks analysis: 8 things we learned

There were 30 outbreaks of Covid-19 in schools and other educational settings in June 2020, a new study by Public Health England has found. The research, published yesterday, is based on “enhanced national surveillance” amid the wider reopening of schools from June 1. However, PHE has warned there are “important limitations” to its findings, given […]