Highlights of week ending 7 May 2021
Ofqual has confirmed that students who receive a teacher assessed grade this summer in GCSE, AS or A-Level will be able to sit exams in the same subject in the autumn with no adaptations to exam papers to account for learning loss. The qualifications offered to any pupil that sits exams in the autumn will be determined by performance in an exam with no teacher assessment involved in the calculation.
According to the latest Department for Education survey data, the number of pupils who were absent because of potential contact with COVID in schools has almost doubled in a week. Education unions, scientists and public health experts have written to the Education Secretary claiming that current rates of vaccination and not yet high enough to fully mitigate the impact of transmission of COVID-19 among children on community infection rates
A consultation by the OfS and the DfE which suggested halving the amount of money spent on “high cost” HE education arts subjects including music, dance, drama and performing arts has received backlash. Artists and musicians say that the proposals would neglect the “cultural national health” if the “catastrophic” 50% cuts to funding materialise.