Agenda item

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

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

• On 14 June 2021, it was announced that the current protective measures would continue until at least 19 July. This would coincide with the end of the academic year.
• Recent Public Health England (PHE) data suggested that approximately one in 250 schools had live cases but that this was increasing. Test kits were due to be delivered from 29 June, and information on delivery schedules and refreshed guidance was available on the school or college document sharing platform. Several of the academies were currently experiencing increasing numbers of pupils and teachers absent due to testing positive or being required to self-isolate.
• As a result, the Government had published an updated contingency framework for schools and education settings. This set out the additional control measures that may be implemented if there were local COVID-19 outbreaks, including the temporary reintroduction of face coverings and increased testing.
• PHE had recently published a report on the impact of COVID-19 on London’s children and young people. This found that lockdown measures had significant impacts on young people, including mental health, obesity, parental conflict and anxiety, poverty, safeguarding concerns, and social isolation vulnerability and risk. These findings were mirrored in the findings of the City Family of Schools, as reported at the previous Board meetings. Members were once again thanked for the additional support to address mental health and wellbeing of pupils at these schools.
• On 8 June guidance was released related to appeals to the assessment and awarding process for 2021. All students would have the right to appeal but these applications must be submitted by 16 August 2021.

RESOLVED, that the update be received.