The summer term is winding up - but not much winding down is happening. We have had new updates to Covid guidance and announcements about changes to social distancing rules.
On top of the usual end-of-term events, teachers and leaders are writing new crisis outbreak plans, and rethinking their existing bubble system.
It wouldn’t be a surprise if you missed some of the big education news and features this week. But fear not: we have the top 10 articles you need to read here:
News
Options are under discussion to turn online school Oak National Academy into a government arm’s-length body, while an initial two-term extension to its funding will tide it over until the spring. Its current funding package is due to run out at the end of this academic year.
Students sitting the International Baccalaureate saw a rise in average scores this year, despite the pandemic. The IB gave candidates a dual route of either exam or non-exam assessments this year, with an average score for the May 2021 session of 33.02 points, up from 31.34 in May 2020.
On Monday, the government published outcomes of its teacher training review, including some controversial recommendations, such as how providers should go through a “rigorous” process of reaccreditation. We’ve looked into the proposals to answer all your questions about what this means for schools.
On Tuesday, the government confirmed that schools will be free to ditch bubbles, face masks and contact tracing measures from step four of its Covid recovery roadmap. We’ve summarised what schools need to know, including how keeping bubbles will be a matter of choice.
Our Tes survey reveals how most teachers had at least some students who lacked sufficient evidence to attain a GCSE or A-level grade this year. Teachers spoke of “heartbreaking” stories of how some students had missed out because of bereavement, mental illness or the impacts of poverty during the pandemic.
Features
All schools need to be ready with an outbreak plan - but what should it contain? We ask leaders for their advice.
A bad timetable can ruin your year. But do you just have to like it or lump it? Not always, says this teacher.
New guidance for EYFS might be causing you stress, but it needn’t. Here is a guide to implementing the new changes.
It’s impossible to rid your school of phones overnight. Instead, you need a plan and strategy, says one leader.
Senior leadership team learning walks can make teaching staff feel “checked up on”. But this teacher says that, done well, they can be a positive experience.
