school closures | Schools Week

Ministers favour priority for exam year groups if full March 8 school reopening not possible

The government wants to see exam year groups prioritised for return if a full school reopening on March 8 is not possible, Schools Week understands. Ministers are hoping that scientific advice will support the return of all year groups, sources familiar with discussions have said. However, if there are still concerns, the government is understood […]

Johnson hopes to begin reopening schools from March 8 if vaccine target met

The government hopes to begin reopening schools from March 8 if its target for the first phase of vaccinations is met, Boris Johnson has said. The prime minister told the House of Commons this afternoon that it would “not be possible” to reopen schools immediately after February half term. But if the government’s target of […]

Reopening schools: Announcements coming ‘in next few days’ as minister remains tight-lipped

The government will make announcements on reopening schools “in the next few days”, the schools minister has said. However, Nick Gibb gave no indication of whether the upcoming announcements would include a firm date for schools to reopen, or details of any phased approach the government may take. We want to give two weeks’ notice […]

DfE to stop publishing Covid case data for school staff working from home

The government will stop publishing data on the number of school staff working from home because they have a suspected or confirmed case of Covid or are self-isolating. The Department for Education has announced today that from next week, it will only publish information on the reasons for staff absence if they cannot work remotely […]

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. […]

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. […]

Schools to get two weeks’ notice of reopening, plus 4 more findings from Williamson’s media rounds

The education secretary did the morning media rounds this morning, facing questions about the safety of schools, when settings might reopen and calls for his resignation. Here’s what we learned from Gavin Williamson this morning. 1. Two weeks’ notice of reopening… Williamson told Sky News this morning the government wanted to give schools “as […]

Covid-19: Nine things we learned from scientists at education committee

Government scientific and medical advisers were questioned by MPs today about the science behind school closures and the government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Parliamentary education committee held a hearing with government deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries, Department for Education chief scientific adviser Osama Rahman, his deputy Dr Dougal Hargreaves and Professor […]

When will schools reopen? How ministers responded to that key question this week

After announcing the current partial schools closures will last until at least February half-term, politicians are now increasingly being quizzed about how and when they expect schools to reopen fully. Prime minister Boris Johnson suggested this week it was still too early to tell if any rules can be relaxed by the middle of next […]