• Secondary schools swell to accommodate baby bulge as pressure on primaries fades

    The number of pupils in England’s secondary schools has grown for the fifth year in a row, as a baby bulge seen in the early-2000s continues to make its way from primary. New data published by the government today shows the number of secondary school pupils rose to 3.41 million in January, up 81,300 on…

    10.12 Jun. 25th, 2020 | News

  • Pressure mounts on ministers as study shows fifth of pupils do no schoolwork at home

    Children not in school during the lockdown have been spending an average of 2.5 hours a day doing schoolwork, new research suggests. According to the UCL Institute of Education, which conducted the study, the figure is around half that suggested by previous research, “implying that learning losses are much greater than previously thought”. One fifth…

    10.20 Jun. 15th, 2020 | News

  • Schools told they can't claim back costs of preventative cleaning

    The government’s exceptional costs reimbursement scheme must be extended to cover preventative measures as school reopen in the coronavirus outbreak, headteachers’ unions have said. Leaders of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) and the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) told Schools Week the scope of the scheme drawn up by the Department…

    15.00 Jun. 12th, 2020 | News

  • Pressure on government grows for September schools plan

    The government is under increasing pressure to produce a proper coronavirus plan for schools, particularly the renewed pledge to get all pupils back in school by September. The fall-out follows the government dropping its “ambition” this week to get all primary pupils back to school before the summer. Critics from across the political spectrum have…

    5.00 Jun. 12th, 2020 | News

  • Schools need to know 2021 exam plans before summer, says Ofqual chief

    Schools need to know what’s happening with next year’s exams “before the summer break ideally”, the head of the qualifications regulator has acknowledged. Sally Collier, the chief regulator of Ofqual, told the Parliamentary education committee this morning that a consultation process on plans for next year will start “in the coming weeks”. “Schools and teachers,…

    11.12 Jun. 10th, 2020 | News

  • Coronavirus: Just 52% of primary schools reopened to more pupils last week, DfE data shows

    Just over half of of primary schools reopened to more pupils last week, official government figures show. Attendance data from around 18,500 educational settings shows just 52 per cent of schools that normally educate nursery, reception or years 1 or 6 pupils welcomed back at least one of those year groups last Thursday, June 4.…

    12.48 Jun. 9th, 2020 | News

  • Coronavirus: 50% oppose back-to-school plans as trust in government slumps

    The government’s plan for the wider reopening of schools from today is opposed by half of Britons, a new survey shows. It comes as headteachers estimate between 40 to 70 per cent of eligible pupils have returned to school today, while education secretary Gavin Williamson told schools there is “no reason” why they shouldn’t take…

    17.36 Jun. 1st, 2020 | News

  • Coronavirus: Schools expected to deliver food parcels when more pupils return

    Schools will be expected to make food parcels available for delivery or collection instead of using the national voucher scheme when more pupils go back from Monday.  Prime minister Boris Johnson has confirmed schools can begin a phased reopening from Monday as the government’s five tests on the coronavirus outbreak were being met. In updated…

    10.36 May. 29th, 2020 | News

  • £300m for councils to help contain local coronavirus outbreaks in schools

    A new £300m funding package has been made available to local authorities to help contain coronavirus outbreaks, including in schools.  It comes as the Department for Education is set to confirm tomorrow if schools can begin a phased reopening on June 1, with scientists saying a test and trace initiative is key for those plans.…

    17.30 May. 27th, 2020 | News

  • Coronavirus: Reopening on June 1 'may not be possible for all schools' admits Johnson

    Reopening schools to pupils in reception, year 1 and year 6 “may not be possible for all schools”, Boris Johnson has admitted. The prime minister also announced that the government does not expect secondary schools to start providing face-to-face support for year 10 and 12 pupils until June 15, two weeks later than ministers initially…

    23.22 May. 24th, 2020 | News

  • Coronavirus: Scientists told ministers a rota system could help curb transmission in schools

    The government told schools not to use rota systems for the return of pupils despite scientific advice that it was “likely to be the most effective strategy” for bringing them back, official documents show. Advice to the government, published today by the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), shows that advisers reported on April…

    14.04 May. 22nd, 2020 | News