North East school leaders respond to tutoring ‘catch up’ plans

In response to the government announcement of £1 billion towards Covid ‘catch-up’, we sent out a survey to ask our the school leaders in our network about the tutoring programme that forms part of this fund. The survey received over 100 responses, representing schools and trusts in every Local Authority in the North East. Findings …

Cramlington Village Primary plans full return before summer

Children, parents and staff at a Northumberland school have been excited to hear the news of plans to reopen fully, and welcome back all pupils for a month before the summer break.  Cramlington Village Primary School (CVPS) principal Debbie Wylie is consulting with staff, governors and parents with a view to re-opening the school fully …

Post Covid-19: Looking to the longterm

The ongoing situation and school closures as result of Covid-19 have a number of different implications for the education sector. We want to dig deeper into these issues, with help from the experts. This week, Fiona Spellman, CEO of SHINE Trust, looks at the long term issues that Covid-19 has exposed. Covid-19 has shone a harsh …

The Cost of Learning in Lockdown

The ongoing situation and school closures as result of Covid-19 have a number of different implications for the education sector. We want to dig deeper into these issues, with help from the experts. This week, Dave Bradley, England Development Manager (UK Cost of the School Day), Child Poverty Action Group, explores the cost of learning …

Government U Turns on summer FSM plans

The Government had originally released statements saying that FSM would not be funded over the summer holiday period. Despite the Department for Education repeatedly stating that they would not fund Free School Meals over the summer, the high profile campaign by footballer Marcus Rashford succeeded in changing the government’s mind this week. For many school …

Education Select Committee Questions Union Leaders

Union leaders were grilled by the Education Select Committee on Wednesday. Representatives from NASUWT, ASCL, UNISON, and NEU were questioned about the role they had played during the wider opening of schools. Former teacher, Jonathan Gullis accused the NEU in particular of running a political campaign to stop schools from re-opening before the summer, by …

Government to fund private tutors for schools in ‘catch up’ plan

After Boris Johnson promised a ‘massive catch up operation’ last week, it has emerged that the Government will invest £1 billion into schools, aimed at a year long programme of private tutoring in efforts to make up for the learning loss from Covid-19. The programme is reported to begin in September, with funding available from …

Lack of information on key issues causes enormous concern for North East school leaders

Government ambiguity around key issues such as the return of schools in September, proposed summer ‘catch up’ provision and opening, assessment and inspection mean that school leaders are finding it impossible to plan for the remainder of this and next academic year.  School leaders from across the region have voiced significant concerns that they have …

Preparation is Vital for Barley Fields Primary School

Barley Fields Primary School have shared their story of how they have adapted their school days to fit their key worker families and their plans for the future as schools are set to reopen.  The Stockton primary school has over 600 pupils who they have been supporting either remotely during lockdown or in school for …

Teachers do not feel safe to go back to school

The ongoing situation and school closures as result of Covid-19 have a number of different implications for the education sector. We want to dig deeper into these issues, with help from the experts. This week, Dr Beng Huat See, Associate Professor (Research) in the School of Education at Durham University, explores the data on the wider …