Freddie Whittaker

‘Ladder-up not levelling-up’: DfE urged to rethink student loan grade threshold plan

Ministers are considering blocking pupils without certain grades from getting student finance

Face masks in classrooms ditched from tomorrow

DfE to ‘shortly’ remove guidance on use in communal areas too, PM says

DfE says over 550 ex-teachers answer Covid call to arms

But no figures on how many have actually rejoined the classroom

New DfE guidance: Rota system planned for local lockdowns

FE providers may be asked to switch to a rota system for attendance if they are in an area with a local lockdown. The Department for Education has published new last-minute operational guidance for sixth form colleges, FE colleges, independent training providers, adult community learning providers and special post-16 institutions ahead of the autumn term. […]

Ofqual to face grilling by MPs over exams fiasco

Leaders from exams regulator Ofqual will appear in front of MPs next week to answer questions about this year’s exam results fiasco – but outgoing boss Sally Collier will not be with them. Gavin Williamson, the education secretary, will also “likely” face questions about the government’s handling of the crisis when he appears in front […]

Colleges and schools cry foul over missing vocational results

Colleges and schools across England are still awaiting the results of some vocational qualifications, despite a promise from government that all grades would be issued by today. Some learners have been told they may have to wait until next week to receive grades for BTECs and other vocational qualifications. The Department for Education has refused […]

Minister hints at potential further delay to vocational results

Exam boards are set to work “through the weekend and into next week” to process vocational qualification results, a minister has said, suggesting not all will be issued by tomorrow’s deadline. In a message to providers sent out tonight, skills minister Gillian Keegan acknowledged there was a chance some students would not receive their results […]

Coronavirus: Colleges to receive just 10 home testing kits each

Colleges will receive just 10 coronavirus home testing kits each, and should only use them in “exceptional circumstances”, the government has said. Gavin Williamson, the education secretary, announced in July that educational settings would receive a “small number” of kits to send home with learners or staff who develop coronavirus symptoms, but would otherwise struggle […]

DfE top boss Jonathan Slater to leave

The Department for Education’s permanent secretary Jonathan Slater is to be replaced, the government has announced. The Financial Times reported earlier today that Slater, the top civil servant at the department will leave the post amid the fallout over exams and rules over masks in schools. Now the DfE and Cabinet Office have confirmed he […]