There is clear evidence showing that defibrillators drastically increase the chance of survival from a cardiac arrest. That’s why we plan to provide all state funded schools with defibrillators by the end of next year. Here’s what you need to know. What have you announced? We have announced that state-funded schools across England will receive defibrillators. The defibrillators will make sure there is a life-saving device in every school and boost their numbers in communities across the country. Why is this happening now? Last year, we committed to looking at how every school site could have ..read more

  It is crucial that all students and staff are safe at school. This is especially important in relation to fire safety, where schools, local authorities, and the Department for Education work towards the same goals of ensuring schools are a safe environment. Fires in schools are very rare and fewer than 1 in 1,000 school buildings are damaged by fire each year, but how does fire safety in schools work? All schools are legally required to have a fire safety plan called a Fire Safety Risk Assessment (FSRA) Every school’s FSRA will be different, but there are some things they should all ha ..read more

Sexual abuse in any form is unacceptable. Following the concerning reports provided to the Everyone’s Invited website, detailing incidents of sexual assault in schools and colleges, the Government is taking immediate steps to support to those affected and ensure all schools are safe places. That is why we are working with the NSPCC to launch a dedicated helpline for victims of sexual abuse to provide support and guidance. The dedicated NSPCC Helpline - Report Abuse in Education – launched today (Thursday 1 April) and can be contacted by phone on 0800 136 663, or by emailing  help@nspcc.o ..read more

The country’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty, has said that it is “absolutely universally accepted that there are huge advantages for children to be in school”. Speaking to the nation during yesterday’s live press conference from Downing Street, during which the Prime Minister set out that young people will return to primary schools, secondary schools, colleges, specialist settings and universities from 8 March, Prof. Whitty made clear that the benefits from pupils going back to school vastly outweigh the “incredibly low” risks they face from Covid. .@CMO_England Professor Ch ..read more

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has written an open letter to parents, carers and guardians following the news that all primary schools, secondary secondary schools, special and alternative provision schools, colleges and further education settings will be opening to all pupils from 8 March as part of the Government's plans to lift the restrictions imposed on society due to COVID-19. In it he thanks parents, carers and guardians for their  sacrifices since the start of the pandemic and discusses why it is so important pupils return, the safety measures that will make it possible, an ..read more

In Parliament yesterday Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that schools will not return after February half term and that we hope it will be safe to commence the reopening of schools from Monday 8 March If we achieve our target of vaccinating everyone in the four most vulnerable groups with their first dose by 15 February. When will schools return? Schools are open to vulnerable pupils and children of key workers while other pupils learn from home. We will not be fully re-opening schools and colleges to more pupils straight after half term. As the Prime Minister said, we understand how fr ..read more

Schools and colleges will open to more pupils as soon as possible as this is best for pupils’ education and wellbeing. But the decision to reopen schools to more than just vulnerable pupils and children of critical workers is dependent on pressures on the NHS. The decision to restrict attendance in schools and colleges was taken because of the wider public health picture - not because they are unsafe. This took into consideration community infection rates, the safety of members of the public most at risk, and ..read more

This week the Prime Minister reiterated the importance of children being in school and restated his commitment to ensuring learning continues in classrooms across the country. Speaking at a press conference on Monday, 23 November, the Prime Minister said that keeping children in schools continues to be “at the heart of what we do.” Paediatrician Dr Andrew Pollard added the Royal College of Paediatrics Group and Child Health remains of the view that schools are the best places for our young people to be. Prime Minister @BorisJohnson: "We believe education is of huge importance, we want to ke ..read more

On Saturday the Prime Minister announced that, from today, the country will enter a new period of national restrictions until at least 2 December. Unlike the last national lockdown in the spring, this time schools, nurseries and other education settings will remain open to all pupils, not just vulnerable pupils and children of key workers. From today, national restrictions are in force in England. Click below for all you need to know. https://t.co/shgzOurdZC pic.twitter.com/teu59b57Vd — UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) November 5, 2020 The Prime Minister said: My priority, our priori ..read more

Today’s Education in the media blog looks at misleading claims departmental guidance for schools has been updated more than it has and incorrect suggestions that a celebrity fitness expert is due to lead a review of the PE curriculum. Guidance for schools On Sunday the Independent reported on claims made by National Education Union joint general secretary Mary Bousted who suggested the Department’s guidance to schools on how to open to more pupils have been updated 41 times since it was posted on 12 May. This is untrue. The guidance in question has been updated just once since it was publishe ..read more