COVID-19 | Schools Week

Partial school closures guidance: What you need to know

The Department for Education has finally updated its main Covid guidance document to include details of how leaders should handle this year’s partial school closures. Many of the instructions on how to keep schools Covid-secure are similar to or the same as they were before, but there are some other important instructions. Here’s what we […]

Gavin Williamson update on spring partial closures: What did we learn?

The education secretary has given more information about the government’s contingency plans for schools, after it was announced that mainstream settings will move to remote education for most pupils. Here’s what we learned. 1. Teacher assessment to replace exams, but no algorithm The government had already announced that GCSE and A-level exams would not […]

Government to increase remote education expectation and demand video lessons

The government will increase the number of hours of remote education schools have to provide and introduce an expectation that at least some provision is delivered via video lessons. A new legal duty for schools to provide remote education for absent pupils came into force last October, and will be used by the government to […]

750k laptops target by next week doesn’t include new devices (as PM promised)

The government has set a target of delivering an extra 140,000 laptops by the end of next week – however the commitment does not include any new devices. Boris Johnson’s pledge to provide extra tech for remote education during spring partial school closures is based on a commitment from last year, it has emerged. The […]

SATs scrapped in 2021, Williamson confirms

SATs will be cancelled this year following the decision to partially close schools, the education secretary has said. Gavin Williamson said in the Commons today that the government recognised the primary tests “will be an additional burden on schools and it’s important we area very much focused on welcoming children back to the classroom at […]

Schools failing to meet remote ed expectations should be reported to Ofsted, says Williamson

Parents who feel their child’s school isn’t providing “suitable” remote education should report them to Ofsted, the education secretary has said. Gavin Williamson said today that the government’s “legally-binding requirements” would be “enforced by Ofsted”, and that the watchdog would inspect schools “of any grade” where it has “serious concerns” about the quality of remote […]

Government to relaunch national free school meals voucher scheme

Pupils eligible for free school meals will once again be offered supermarket vouchers via a national scheme again this year if their school cannot provide food parcels or meals to them at home. Gavin Williamson, the education secretary, said today that following the decision to partially close mainstream schools, extra funding would be provided to […]

Teacher assessment grades to replace GCSE and A-level exams in 2021

GCSE and A-level students will receive teacher assessed grades in 2021 following the partial closure of schools – but the grades won’t be adjusted by an algorithm. Gavin Williamson, the education secretary, confirmed in the House of Commons today that GCSE, AS and A-level grades will not go ahead this year, and that the government […]

UCAS extends 2021 application deadline by two weeks

Students will be given an extra two weeks to complete university and college applications following the announcement of partial school closures. The Universities and Colleges Admission Service has announced an extension of its equal consideration deadline to January 29 at 6pm in recognition of the “significant demands” on the time of teachers and careers advisers. […]