schools reopening | Schools Week

January school reopenings: Everything you need to know

The government has announced big changes to its plan for the return of pupils to schools in January. Gavin Williamson, the education secretary, said today that ministers were activating their contingency framework for schools, in response to a new strain of Coronavirus and rising case numbers. Here’s what we learned from the announcement and accompanying […]

‘No plans’ to lengthen Christmas holidays but talks going on about ‘how’ pupils will return

The government doesn’t have “any plans to lengthen” the Christmas holidays, but “conversations” are ongoing about “how” pupils will go back, the Department for Education’s top civil servant has said. Appearing in front of the Parliamentary public accounts committee, DfE permanent secretary Susan Acland-Hood was quizzed about reports that ministers are considering a delay to […]

The new school day (and it’s not as you’ve known it)

Headteachers say that Covid-driven changes to the traditional school day – such as staggered break times and longer lessons – have halted playground clashes and reduced low-level disruption. A major challenge for schools has been how to implement bubbles of pupils, aimed at reducing transmission between classrooms. To help with catch-up and minimise the movement […]

Christmas closure chaos as schools allowed to extend holidays

The government’s approach to schools closing early for Christmas was mired in confusion this week after two academy trusts were given the green light to shut a week early, just days after another trust was blocked from doing so. Schools Week revealed this week that Focus Trust cancelled plans to close its 15 schools across […]

Covid-19 winter plan: What does it mean for schools?

Education settings will be among those to trial regular Covid-19 testing as an alternative to self-isolation for those who have been in contact with confirmed Covid-19 cases, the government has said. The prime minister this afternoon launched his Covid-19 winter plan, which set out how restrictions will work from December 2, when the country comes […]

Government to ‘examine possibility’ of collecting data on bubbles and ventilation

The government could soon provide data on the use of bubbles and ventilation of school buildings and will run a new “outbreak investigation” study to check the role of schools in transmission of the virus. Chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance and UK Statistics Authority chief Professor Sir Ian Diamond have pledged to “examine the […]

Child infection rate rise began when schools reopened, but direct link ‘unproven’, says SAGE

Increases in infection levels among children and young adults began around the same time schools reopened, but a direct link between the two is “unproven and difficult to establish”, government scientists have said. A report endorsed by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, published today, found that although infection levels among young people started to […]

DfE closes covid attendance loophole 6 weeks into term

The government has closed an attendance reporting loophole six weeks into term that left officials “unable to get a grip” on the true scale of the pandemic’s disruption in schools. Thousands of absences may have been missed. Since Monday, all schools have been asked to provide data on Covid-19-related absences, using the Department for Education’s […]

£140m of tuition catch-up cash remains unspent

The government is unlikely to deliver on its promise to provide £350 million in tuition catch-up cash this year. A Schools Week investigation has established that nearly £140 million – 40 per cent – of the promised funding remains unspent. This is yet more sleight of hand from government. Again, they’ve over-promised but under-delivered It’s […]