Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to help ensure there is an agreement between (a) his Department, (b) schools and (c) parents on the (i) delivery of lessons in person or virtually, (ii) amount of teacher pupil contact and (iii) marking of and feedback on schoolwork.

The Department will do whatever it can to make sure no child – whatever their background or location – falls behind as a result of COVID-19. That is why we want to support schools and parents to ensure children and young people’s education can continue, though ultimately it is up to each school to determine how to deliver education to its pupils.

The Department has worked with schools to produce case studies guidance on remote education practice: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/remote-education-practice-for-schools-during-coronavirus-covid-19, which provides an opportunity for schools to learn from each other's practice. This guidance stresses the importance of ensuring regular teacher contact with pupils, and contains examples of approaches to marking and feedback.

Schools and colleges should use best endeavours to support pupils attending school as well as those remaining at home, making use of the available remote education support: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus/education-and-childcare. We expect schools and teachers to use their professional judgement, and knowledge of their pupils’ educational needs and home circumstances, to plan appropriate content that enables education to continue. Schools should strive to set work that pupils and their parents will be able to access across as wide a range of subjects as possible.

Expectations for next academic year will be published before the end of term.