Betrayal of pupils

This is no way to run schools

THE DICHOTOMY between the Government and Yorkshire schools does not bode well for the future of young people who have been left at the mercy of Covid at such a critical time.

First, the Government insists A- level and GCSE results next year will assess the performance of pupils. Schools – and, significantly, the devolved nations – disagree and another U- turn by Education Secretary Gavin Williamson is anticipated.

Next, the Department for Education maintains that extra money is being made available to schools for unanticipated costs such as extra supply teachers – and more stringent cleaning. Schools say they are still to receive it.

Meanwhile Ministers say pupils in need of a laptop to study at home can be allocated a machine within 48 hours. The evidence in Leeds, and elsewhere, suggests otherwise as entrepreneur David Richards launches his Laptops for Kids campaign.

And so it goes on. This is no way to run an education policy and the testimony of headteachers confirms what many have long suspected – Mr Williamson has a woefully inadequate grasp of the challenges facing schools.

Instead of alienating heads who now devote most of their days to logistics, rather than teaching, Mr Williamson should be supporting them and providing the clarity that they need over not just exams but the material that the Government expects them to teach to their students.

After all, it’s only the goodwill and commitment of headteachers, and their staff, that is keeping most schools open at present – it has very little to do with the hapless Mr Williamson.