COVID-19 | Schools Week

Give us a ‘routemap’ to reopening schools, says education committee chair

The chair of the education select committee is calling on ministers to create a “routemap” to reopening schools, amid speculation that they may not reopen fully until after Easter. The Times reported yesterday that education secretary Gavin Williamson is expected this week to rule out reopening schools to all pupils until after February half term. […]

Remote education: Laptops roll-out vital, but pupils need pens and paper too

Schools are turning minibuses into mobile stationery vans to deliver basic equipment such as pens and paper to poorer pupils during lockdown. Hundreds of families have accessed the services as school leaders move to extend their pandemic provision and “replicate normal school at home”. Research from The Sutton Trust into learning during lockdown found 31 […]

Extra uni or college year could ‘solve lost learning’ says social mobility commissioner

An extra year at university or college could solve pupils’ lost learning, a social mobility champion has suggested. Sammy Wright, the social mobility commissioner for schools and higher education, said calculating grades under this year’s plans to replace exams without looking at learning loss and catch-up “leaves young people at risk of catastrophic unfairness”. Writing […]

DfE’s Covid catch-up scheme set for expansion

The government is aiming to nearly double the number of children who will next year receive tuition under its flagship catch-up scheme. In a presentation to organisations interested in running the scheme’s £130 million second phase, the Department for Education said it was aiming to provide 15 hours subsidised tutoring to about 450,000 disadvantaged pupils, […]

Fact check: Are school staff at greater risk from Covid-19?

There have been conflicting statements this week on whether teachers are more likely to catch Covid-19. Dr Jenny Harries, the government’s deputy chief medical officer, told MPs there was “no evidenced increased risk” for education staff, but admitted there was still “uncertainty” about the role schools played in transmission of the virus. However, a National […]

A new fiasco in the making? The flaws with Ofqual’s 2021 exams plan

The government has finally published its consultation revealing the plan to replace exams this year. In some quarters it has done little to quell the fear that we’re heading for another fiasco – but this time, with teachers left to cop the blame. Schools Week investigates … Move over mutant algorithm, we have a […]

Give us freedoms on reopening schools, leaders tell ministers

Leaders have urged the government to hand them back freedoms to make decisions on reopening schools – with staggered returns and rota systems being touted again. Ministers have refused to give a firm date for when schools will reopen, although education secretary Gavin Williamson said this week he hoped pupils would start returning before Easter. […]

‘Ridiculous’: Boards slammed for raising exam fees at a time of crisis

Schools will pay millions of pounds more in exam fees this year after prices were increased – despite exams not going ahead and teachers being expected to mark any assessments that might be set. However, boards have said fees had to be published now so that schools could set budgets. They pledged to return any […]

DfE extends emergency school admission appeals flexibilities until September

Flexibilities in the way school admission appeals are handled have been extended until the end of September. The school admission appeals code was amended last April by emergency legislation to give admission authorities, local authorities and appeal panels “some additional flexibility when dealing with appeals” during the Covid-19 outbreak. The temporary changes were due to […]