Guidance
The latest news, analysis and best-practice advice when it comes to official education guidance coming from the government, inspectorates and governing bodies
Tuesday
14th Dec 2021
DfE’s plan for 12- to 15-year-olds’ second Covid jab
The Department for Education contacted secondary schools today about the roll-out of second doses for 12- to 15-year-olds
Heads’ ‘shock’ over ‘expensive’ DfE air purifiers
School leaders criticise government’s ‘lethargic’ response to air filtration devices
What Ofsted’s view on deep dives means for schools
Michael Tidd reads between the lines of Ofsted’s latest inspection blog to find some comfort for schools about what inspectors want when delving into a school’s curriculum
21 schools have Ofsted deferral requests rejected
But new data suggests watchdog is increasingly willing to defer school inspections
Monday
13th Dec 2021
Daily Covid tests: What schools need to know
Covid contacts as young as 5 will be expected to take a week of lateral flow tests in new national approach
School leaders ‘in dark’ on Omicron contact testing plan
School leaders say lateral flow test plan for children as young as five feels ‘rushed’
Omicron: Heads warn of school closures
Teaching union calls for staggered school start in January amid fears new Covid variant will cause ‘chaos’ in schools
Why the government’s EBacc targets will be missed
The DfE’s goal is for three-quarters of GCSE students to be taking the EBacc by 2022 – but the number of entrants is in decline
Wednesday
8th Dec 2021
Covid Plan B: Lack of school measures ‘disappointing’
Prime minister Boris Johnson says pupils should stay in schools and nativities should go ahead amid Omicron spread
DfE sets target to increase teacher quality by 2024
The DfE has also set a target to reduce the number of new teachers who leave the profession