Impact on deprived pupils weighs heavily on exams decision – Swinney
The impact of coronavirus-related disruption on school pupils in deprived areas “weighs heavily” on the decisions around holding Higher exams in 2021, John Swinney has said.
Education
Government is risking teachers’ health by keeping schools open after Christmas break, says north-east union
Ministers are failing to protect teachers from Covid-19 by keeping schools open after the Christmas break, a north-east trade union has warned.
More than 92% of Aberdeenshire pupils in school as figures show region is above national average
Pupil attendance in Aberdeenshire is above the national average with more than 92% of students in school, according to the latest figures.
Mass testing in schools ‘could help judge impact of coronavirus on attainment’
The impact of coronavirus on pupils’ attainment and health could be assessed through mass testing at schools around Scotland, a Labour Holyrood election candidate has suggested.
North-east school to remain open after Covid-19 case detected
An Aberdeenshire school will remain open after a coronavirus case was detected.
Exams still planned to go ahead but Sturgeon hints final decision may come early
Nicola Sturgeon has resisted calls for Higher and Advanced Higher exams to be cancelled, but acknowledged there is a “strong argument” for a decision on whether they will go ahead to be made sooner than planned.
Cabinet ministers clash over whether Eton should admit girls
Eton “works very well” without admitting girls, Jacob Rees-Mogg said after the Education Secretary suggested the school should welcome female pupils.
No extension to Christmas school holidays
The Scottish Government has ruled out an extension to the school Christmas holidays.
School holidays: No extension to festive break for pupils and teachers
No change will be made to the school holidays, Education Secretary John Swinney has announced.
Gavin Williamson says GCSE and A-level exams will ‘absolutely’ not be cancelled
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has given an “absolutely” cast-iron guarantee that exams in England will not be cancelled this academic year.
Eton should admit girls, says Education Secretary Gavin Williamson
Girls should be allowed to attend Eton College, the Education Secretary has said.
Majority of students concerned about return to university in January – poll
The majority of university students are concerned about the return to campus in January, a survey has suggested.
Students to receive more generous grades and advance notice of topics in exams
Students taking GCSE and A-level exams next year will be awarded more generous grades to compensate for disruption to their schooling during the coronavirus pandemic, the Education Secretary has announced.
Christmas school holidays ruling expected this week, Sturgeon tells MSPs
Scottish ministers hope to decide this week if the Christmas school holidays will be extended as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, Nicola Sturgeon has said.
Relax isolation rules for young to save their education, experts urge
Scientists have urged the Government to relax isolation rules for families with young children to prevent them missing “significant quantities of schooling” this winter.
Device rollout to digitally-excluded pupils has been a shambles – Labour
The rollout of tablets and laptops to digitally-excluded pupils by the Scottish Government has been branded a “shambles” by Scottish Labour.
Higher and Advanced Higher exams decision to be made before February deadline
A decision on the holding of Higher and Advanced Higher exams will be made before the February deadline, the Education Secretary has said.
Universities in plea for ‘reliable’ funding in Scottish budget
Next year’s Scottish budget needs to deliver a “reliable, sustainable funding settlement” for universities to help with the country’s recovery from Covid-19, a representative body for the sector has said.
Scrap Higher and Advanced Higher exams in 2021, say majority of parents in poll
A majority of Scottish parents believe exams for Higher and Advanced Higher should be cancelled next year.
Christmas school holidays: Decision coming on extended break
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman has said a decision on giving children a Christmas holiday extension will be made as soon as possible, after a leaked document revealed the proposal is under consideration.
Schools facing staffing pressures due to Covid-19 can claim financial support
Schools and colleges facing significant staffing and funding pressures due to the pandemic will be able to claim financial support from the Government.
Union ballots for industrial action over ‘cost-cutting’ loss of lecturer roles
A teaching union is to ballot for industrial action over concerns college lecturers are being replaced by “lower qualified and lower paid instructors”.
Aberdeen schools to offer extra support to pupils at risk of exclusion
Aberdeen City Council has approved a new policy aiming to further reduce the number of students excluded from its schools.
Students could win financial compensation for lost teaching time during lockdown
Students could be awarded financial compensation for lost teaching time during the first Covid-19 lockdown after the higher education complaints watchdog told an institution to pay up.
Aberdeenshire school forced to close for another week as teachers self-isolate
The Gordon Schools in Huntly has announced it will be shut for up to another week with a number of teachers currently self-isolating.
Another north-east school confirms case of coronavirus
Meldrum Academy has recorded a case of coronavirus within the school.
North-east secondary school shut to pupils on Monday
A north-east secondary school will be closed to all pupils tomorrow.
Young people leaving education in Aberdeen now are ‘worse off than those pre-lockdown’
The report stated there was widespread agreement that those who leave education over the next few years "will be more negatively impacted than their peers who left school pre-lockdown."
William praises Diana Award ambassadors for work to tackle online bullying
The Duke of Cambridge has praised the efforts of young people battling online bullying with a charity promoting the legacy of his mother Diana, Princess of Wales.
First Class picture specials: All the schools featured on Friday
Our photographers have been out and about taking pictures of new primary one classes.