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The pre-recess buzz continued this week, with a variety of announcements and publications. Schools Minister Nick Gibb has been busy, telling MPs about the awarding of qualifications this year, and the plans for next summer. He also gave a speech to the SMF on raising school standards.
This week was a particularly busy one across the sector, with the expected influx of pre-recess announcements featuring reforms to Level 3 qualifications, further measures for skills provision, and proposals regarding exam arrangement for 2022.
Gavin Williamson confirmed this week that the Government would be lifting “swathes of [COVID-19 related] restrictions” across education settings as part of step 4 from 19 July. This includes ‘bubbles’ ending, social distancing no longer being necessary, and schools will not need to stagger start and finish times.
Ministers are looking to burst school bubbles as early as 19 July, as recent attendance figures show over 375,000 are missing out on classroom time due to Covid-related absences. Labour’s Kate Green tabled an urgent question on the matter in the House, where the Education Secretary indicated he was keen to see the restriction lifted soon.
The parliamentary week began with Education Oral Questions in the House. One notable outcome was that the Education Secretary said the Government were keen to introduce their proposed system post-qualification admissions, even without the need for legislation.
