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5 Jan, 25 tweets, 13 min read
How we got here, a thread (1/25)
Before Christmas, owing to rising infection rates, Greenwich advised their schools to shut before the end of term – several councils later advised the same. (2/25)
tes.com/news/coronavir…
.@educationgovuk threatened these schools with legal action if they did, resulting in schools re-opening their doors for the last few days of term. (3/25)
tes.com/news/coronavir…
The General Secretary of the ASCL, @RealGeoffBarton, accused the @educationgovuk of using "bully boy tactics" to stick to a "robotic mantra to keep schools open whatever the cost" but added "the costs could be incredibly high." (4/25)
tes.com/news/there-wil…
During this time, @KevinStannard1 warned that we could be heading for another exams U-turn (*spoiler alert*: he was correct). (5/25) tes.com/news/gcse-a-le…
On 16 December, our reporters @tweetsbyames and @JohnGRoberts started to hear that there could be a delayed return in Janurary. (6/25)
tes.com/news/coronavir…
There was also a whole outcry and U-turn around having school staff carry out Covid tests around the same time… (7/25)
tes.com/news/covid-tur…
Schools were being put in an impossible position over lack of clarity about how and when the spring term would start, public accounts committee chair @Meg_HillierMP told top @educationgovuk official. (8/25)
tes.com/news/coronavir…
Revealed in a scoop by us that most secondary school pupils would be learning online in the first week back next year. Only exam groups back in person. This is the same week @educationgovuk took legal action to stop some London schools moving online(9/25)
tes.com/news/coronavir…
In order to get the @educationgovuk testing in place for January, @MattHancock wanted headteachers to work over Christmas to make sure it was ready. (10/25)
tes.com/news/coronavir…
The new variant of the virus was uncovered, which turned out to be more infectious – and experts warned it might lead to more cases among schoolchildren. (11/25)
tes.com/news/new-covid…
During this period (WE ARE NOT EVEN AT CHRISTMAS YET) @GavinWilliamson and the government claimed that schools didn’t drive up the number of Covid infections. (12/25)
tes.com/news/coronavir…
A crunch meeting between the prime minister and the DfE on 23 December about reopening schools was postponed until after Christmas. (13/25)
tes.com/news/coronavir…
The government also accidentally banned the education of children around this time as well… (14/25)
tes.com/news/coronavir…
In an exclusive from us, we revealed the government’s plans of school reopening after mounting pressure for a delayed start owing to Covid infection rates rising countrywide. (15/25)
tes.com/news/exclusive…
.@gavinwilliamson gave a speech to the Commons confirming everything we had reported on schools reopening. (16/25)
tes.com/news/full-new-…
Some primary schools were to remain shut, raising questions over why some councils were chosen above others (17/25)
tes.com/news/revealed-…
'Schools are safe,' insists @BorisJohnson. 🤷‍♀️ (18/25)
tes.com/news/schools-a…
On New Year’s Eve, education secretary @GavinWilliamson said he is "absolutely confident" that there will be no further delay to school return plans in January (19/25)
tes.com/news/williamso…
School leaders started to demand @educationgovuk’s reasoning around certain primaries being closed and not others (20/25)
tes.com/news/covid-cal…
U-turn incoming! This raised questions about why all primary schools in London were closed but some in other Tier 4 areas across England were still scheduled to open (21/25)
tes.com/news/school-cl…
The government insists the U-turn wasn’t about safety concerns… (22/25)
tes.com/news/london-u-…
The unions then got involved, forming an alliance to protest @gavinwilliamson’s plan @NEUnion @NASUWT @NAHTnews @unisontheunion @GMB_union & @unitetheunion (23/25)
tes.com/news/teachers-…
This all leads to last night’s announcement. @BorisJohnson announced – at the end of a day when thousands had returned to school – that schools should close their buildings for all but vulnerable children and children of key workers (24/25) tes.com/news/all-schoo…
There is likely a lot more coming in the next few days, so keep an eye out on our profile @tes and our website (25/25)
tes.com/news

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More from @tes

Tes Profile picture
4 Jan
Prime minister @BorisJohnson now speaking – expecting an announcement on #schoolsreopening
"We need to do more, together, to bring this new variant under control" – Boris Johnson confirms that there will be a national lockdown
"Primary schools, secondary schools and colleges must move to remote education from tomorrow" – @BorisJohnson says "alternative arrangements" will be made with Ofqual for the exam season
Read 12 tweets
Tes Profile picture
3 Jan
Should pupils be sent to school tomorrow morning, Boris Johnson is asked by Andrew Marr on @BBCOne: “Yes, absolutely they should, in the areas where schools are open,” he replies.
PM goes on to say any decision will not be political but entirely driven by public health considerations.
PM says “There is no doubt in my mind that schools are safe” but that situation will be “kept under constant review”.
Read 5 tweets
Tes Profile picture
30 Dec 20
Education secretary @GavinWilliamson now delivering a statement in the Commons on plans for bringing children back to school. Stay tuned for live updates.
The government's response is proportionate to the risk at hand, @GavinWilliamson says.
.@GavinWilliamson says in a small number of areas where infection rates are highest, only vulnerable pupils and children of key workers will attend primary school face-to-face. This is NOT all Tier 4 areas. The overwhelming majority of primaries will open as planned on Monday.
Read 22 tweets
Tes Profile picture
5 Nov 19
Today we are bringing you live updates from the @UCET_UK annual conference in Stratford-upon-Avon. First up is keynote speaker @MaryBoustedNEU, joint general secretary of @NEUnion
@UCET_UK @MaryBoustedNEU @NEUnion Bousted begins by saying: "Teachers are the most valuable resource in any education system."
@UCET_UK @MaryBoustedNEU @NEUnion Reflecting on The OECD Teaching and Learning International Survey, she tells the conference that, when teachers in England are asked why they want to join the profession, their response is often rooted in a "strong social mission".
Read 26 tweets
Tes Profile picture
4 Oct 19
Baroness Hale tells Association of State Girls’ Schools, ‘let’s hear it for the girly swots’ as she opens their leadership conference.
And she says her number one piece of advice to young women is: ‘Don’t let the bastards get you down!’
Speaking about her father, the headmaster of a boys’ grammar school, she says he thought ‘single sex education should be compulsory for girls and banned for boys.’
Read 4 tweets
Tes Profile picture
21 May 19
The @commonsed is holding its final hearing on SEND today with Ministers Nick @NickGibbUK and @nadhimzahawi taking questions. #edselctte
Strong opening question from committee chairman @halfon4harlowMP : Everyone we have spoken to says the SEND system is not working. Do you agree? #edselctte
Mr Zahawi says the reforms in place are the right ones "but we are now in the implementation phase." #edselctte
Read 34 tweets

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