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12 April 2026

Author: Freddie Whittaker

DfE confirms U-turn over masks in colleges

Learners and staff at colleges in high-transmission areas will be required to wear face coverings following a U-turn by the government. The Department for Education has tonight confirmed that it will revise its guidance on the use of face coverings in schools to state that in areas of national government intervention, face coverings “should be worn […]

Sally Collier to be replaced by Dame Glenys Stacey as Ofqual chief regulator

The chief regulator of Ofqual Sally Collier is to leave following the exams fiasco that has engulfed England in recent weeks and be replaced by her predecessor, FE Week has learned. Dame Glenys Stacey, who served in the role from 2011 to 2016, will take up the role again in an acting capacity until December, […]

Government to U-turn on masks in colleges

Staff and students will be expected to wear face coverings in colleges in England from September following a government U-turn, FE Week understands. Ministers are expected to announce the change later today following growing pressure in the wake of a similar decision in Scotland and changes to World Health Organisation guidelines. It means staff and […]

Government will pay exam appeal fees, says Williamson

The government will cover fees for failed appeals against exam grades following a huge backlash over A-level results. The Department for Education, in a press release published today, said that state-funded schools and colleges will be able to claim back unsuccessful appeals at the same time as claiming back fees for autumn exams. Successful appeals […]

Ofqual publishes criteria for ‘valid’ mock exam appeals

Mock exams must meet eight separate criteria to be classed as ‘valid’ and used as part of an appeal for downgraded pupils – but graded non-examination assessments can also be used, Ofqual has confirmed. Ofqual has revealed the criteria that mock exam grades must meet for schools to be able to use them as part […]

Ofsted director seconded to government Covid response team

A senior Ofsted director has been seconded to a government team planning for the return of students to schools and colleges. Sean Harford, the watchdog’s national director of education, moved temporarily to the Cabinet Office this week to work on the government’s response to the pandemic. He will be there until the end of the […]

Exams 2020: Ofqual confirms final appeals process for GCSEs and A-levels

Schools and colleges will be able to appeal against GCSE and A-level results if they feel data used to standardise grades was not a “reliable basis” for predicting 2020 results, Ofqual has confirmed. The exams regulator has set out the full arrangements for appeals this year, confirming that centres will be able to appeal if […]