£1 billion catch up plan announced for English schools

This week the UK government has announced a £1 billion package to help pupils catch up on teaching missed during the coronavirus lockdown. The “Covid catch-up plan” will include £350m to pay for a tutoring scheme for the most disadvantaged pupils as well as £650m to be shared across state primary and secondary schools during the next academic year. Education secretary Gavin Williamson said: “This package will make sure that every young person, no matter their age or where they live, gets the education, opportunities and outcomes they deserve, by spending it on measures proven to be effective, particularly for those who are most disadvantaged.” The national tutoring programme (NTP), which has been created by the Education Endowment Foundation aims to increase access to high-quality tuition for the most disadvantaged young people and will allow state primary and secondary schools to receive “heavily subsidised tutoring” from the programme’s approved list of partners. Whilst the new funding has been welcomed, head teachers have reacted with “frustration” that the government has failed to consult them and discuss the plans prior to the announcement.  Read more here.