Highlights of the week ending 4 December 2020
Gavin Williamson made his long-awaited announcement of the arrangements for exams in England in summer 2021. In an interview on Radio 4’s Today programme, he was unequivocal in his message that exams would take place. To support students and to make exams as fair as possible, a package of exceptional measures has been announced. Although welcomed by many, there are those who questioning whether it goes far enough in addressing lost teaching and learning.
Details were also shared on primary assessment with Year 6 SATs going ahead (but results not published) and KS1 tests being suspended.
Ofsted released its annual report, focusing on vulnerable children and highlighting problems with apprenticeship and SEND delivery. The inspectorate also detailed plans for inspections next year, with no graded visits before next summer.
On the university front, ministers announced plans for students returning after the winter break and the OfS annual review urged institutions to radically improve digital teaching and learning.
Another busy week also included an update on the Lifetime Skills Guarantee, and the next phase of Skills Bootcamps.
Finally, the latest in our series of Policy Blogs is by Rod Bristow (President, Pearson UK) on our recently published report, Making Waves: A better future for assessment.
Read the blog - It’s time we set teachers free