What's New

We reported recently that Ofqual had completed a public consultation into how it should enable students to receive their qualification grades, given the problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic (see “Ofqual confirms qualification arrangements”).

The Department for Education (DfE) and the Standards and Testing Agency (STA) have produced updated guidance to support teachers to prepare annual reports for parents.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has updated its technical guidance on allergens following changes to food allergen labelling laws which come into effect from October 2021.

Having previously said that the free school meals scheme would finish at the end of the summer term, the Government has changed its mind following a campaign by footballer Marcus Rashford among others.

HM Chief Inspector Amanda Spielman has described it as an unprecedented conviction sending out a strong message after a school, prohibited from admitting more students, was found in breach of its operating conditions and fined at Luton Magistrates' Court.

HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) guidance on how to claim for wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) has been updated to include details on how the scheme will change from 1 July.

The Government has launched a new voluntary Covid-19 study to assess and monitor the prevalence of Covid-19 among pre-school, primary and secondary school pupils and teachers in England.

When Health Secretary Matt Hancock said at the first of this week’s Downing Street COVID-19 briefings that secondary schools in England may not fully reopen until September at the earliest, it was clear that the Government was being forced into a change of plan.

UNISON has written to Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick asking for proper risk assessments for what it calls the hidden local government workers who are seeing their health put at risk as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

The UK’s Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has announced that face coverings will be compulsory on public transport in England as of Monday 15 June 2020 in order to slow the spread of the Covid-19 virus.