Education ministers including the Secretary of State took departmental questions from MPs on Monday. Questions were asked on a range of issues, but focussed on the continuing impact and disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Shadow Secretary of State for Education, Kate Green, asked if figures were available on how many pupils have been sent home from school for covid-related reasons. She noted that many students had been sent home multiple times, in some cases missing up to a third of their time in school. While the Secretary of State Gavin Williamson said that DfE did monitor these numbers, disappointingly he could not provide any detail at present.
Chair of the Education Select Committee, Robert Halfon, also referenced the large number of children absent from school, citing numbers from The Sunday Times of 600,000 absent due to covid-related reasons. With this in mind, he asked what measures were the DfE taking to ensure ‘an absolute level playing field for those left behind during the coronavirus outbreak’, to ensure as fair a chance as possible in exams. Gavin Williamson said that exams are the best and fairest way to ensure all children can get the best possible grades. He referenced the catch-up funds already available, and said further measures will be announced to provide fairness in the exam system.
Further questions on exams in 2021 were put to Minister of State for School Standards, Nick Gibb, who repeated what Gavin Williamson had said. Fairness in exams this academic year has formed a major part of Schools North East’s policy work in response to the pandemic. Following consultation with partner schools, we have written previously to Gavin Williamson about the need for fairness in exams in 2021, as well as the impact on staff workload and wellbeing the uncertainty on assessments is having. It is disappointing that contingency plans are still yet to be announced.
As well as exams, MPs asked about remote learning and fair provision of IT to those who need it most. Gavin Williamson pointed towards the legal duty schools now have to provide remote education, and Nick Gibb referenced the provision the government was providing on laptops and tablets. He said that ‘since September, over 100,000 devices have been delivered to schools, building on over 220,000 delivered in the summer term. Where children lack access to the internet at home, we have also delivered over 50,000 routers.’ While this provision is welcome, it is unfortunately all too often not enough. The expectation for schools to provide remote education can only be fulfilled if schools are properly supported in this effort. This is especially a concern when there are many other Covid-related expenditures, which schools still lack a guarantee that these costs will be reimbursed.
The support the government has provided so far is crucial, and it is encouraging that many of the concerns schools have are being considered. However, there are still many uncertainties remaining, and announcements have lacked the clarity to allow school staff to work effectively. Schools North East will continue to lobby the DfE on the range of challenges schools face, such as exams, Ofsted inspections, finances, and staff wellbeing.
