‘Catch-up’ education programme needs rethink
Education inequalities and learning gaps have been exacerbated by the pandemic to such an extent that they are unlikely to be solved by a quick “catch-up” initiative, the LGA has warned.
Education and schools
Schools closed and exams dropped
The LGA has praised the work of school leaders and councils in switching overnight to remote learning for pupils, after the latest lockdown was announced on 4 January.
School exams delayed
Most GCSES, AS and A levels will be held three weeks later next year to help address the disruption caused by the pandemic, the Department for Education has announced.
Schools should be ‘top priority’
Education should be “prioritised over other sectors” if the country goes into lockdown again, Children’s Commissioner for England Anne Longfield has said in a new briefing paper.
Local flexibility needed on school openings
Councils should be given the power to close schools or nurseries where testing indicates new clusters of COVID-19, the LGA has said