Agenda item

The Director of Community and Children’s Services to be heard.

The Director of Community & Children’s Services was heard relative to the COVID-19 update. The following points were noted:

• The Prime Minister stated that the date of 8 March is the earliest that it is sensible to set for schools to go back and it is the hope that all schools will go back, but this date will depend on a continued fall in the incidence of the disease. This means that the current state of lockdown operations in schools and our Further Education provision will continue.
• The lockdown has resulted in significantly less confirmed covid 19 cases amongst staff and pupils.
• In person attendance at school has been higher on average than in the other lockdown periods, including a higher proportion of disadvantaged pupils attending.
• Schools are offering a comprehensive online and remote learning offer with a combination of live, timetabled teaching and learning and remote learning packs (both online and in hard copies where this is appropriate for the families.
• Schools remain under considerable pressure as they create both high-quality in person education and equal quality online learning.
• Continued investment and deployment of laptops, tablets and dongles and/or enhanced data packages means that most if not all pupils are able to fully access online learning.
• CML is working with schools to develop innovative learning packages support (both hard copy play packs and virtual resources) to support teachers’ planning.
• Lateral Flow Testing has been paused for pupils but is continuing for staff. It is currently being rolled out for staff in primary schools as well.
• An Ofqual consultation underway regarding the shape and nature of any formal assessments and exams for GCSE and A-Levels.
• Ofsted have also announced that from 25th January they are re-starting section 8 inspections remotely. Ofsted’s longstanding powers to respond to specific concerns where needed.

The Board thanked everyone involved in ensuring the continued provision of education within the City’s Family of Schools.

RESOLVED, that the update be received.