I would like to begin this week’s article by congratulating everybody who collected their A-Level or GCSE results this week.
For the past couple of years, students have faced unprecedented disruption and challenges in relation to their education – with limited face-to-face teaching; the inconveniences of studying from home; and missing out on valuable time socialising with friends.
As a result of this disruption, the government and Ofqual decided it would not be fair for exams to go ahead this year. Instead, teachers were asked to determine grades based on what students had been taught, and by assessing multiple pieces of work to ensure that grades were accurate. Teachers know their students best, and given the circumstances, it seemed the fairest way to measure their capabilities.
In addition, the Government introduced a number of other measures to make sure that students did the best they could under such difficult circumstances. One example is the Government’s Education Recovery Plan, which helps schools deliver long-term catch-up support, so every child can reach their full potential. As part of the long-term education recovery plan, the Government will deliver six million 15-hour tutoring courses, targeted at pupils most in need, and will also provide training and development for teachers.
More than £3 billion is being invested to provide catchup support, so we can help every child who has fallen behind during this difficult time. A new £1.4 billion package of support builds on the £1 billion Covid Catchup Fund announced last year and the £700 million we are providing for an extensive catch-up programme, including a £302 million Recovery Premium to help schools bolster summer provision and support pupils most in need from September.
Sadly, some young people haven’t had access to laptops or tablets, meaning that their ability to participate in online learning was compromised. In order to eliminate the barrier created by this digital exclusion, £400 million was invented to boost remote education, including the purchase of 1.3 million laptops and tablets for students most in need.
I want to thank those who have helped and supported students as they met the challenges posed by COVID – teachers who worked tirelessly to support students get the grades they deserve, whilst also having to adapt quickly to fast changing events; and parents, who have added home-schooling to their already hectic workload.
I was also delighted to hear this week that the STEAM vaccination centre has now delivered its 200,000th vaccine dose! STEAM has been an incredibly well-run and efficient centre, so it comes as no surprise to see that such an impressive number of jabs have been given by the fantastic team there. Since the vaccination programme began, I have received so much positive feedback from residents about their experience getting vaccinated by the STEAM team. I want to say a huge thank you to all the health care staff and volunteers who have helped make the STEAM Vaccination Centre such as success.
I was also delighted to hear this week that three quarters of UK adults have now received both doses of the vaccine. Increasingly more and more people are taking up the opportunity of a vaccine and that is proving to be the game changer to allow us to return to normality.
