The ISC has today received communication from the DfE which has changed the previously issued guidance on Year 10 and 12 numbers. From ISC:
Last night, some Heads received the ASCL newsletter with information from the Department for Education on interpreting what is meant by “schools are able to have a quarter of the year 10 and year 12 cohort (for schools with sixth forms) in school at any one time” within the guidance for the wider opening of secondary schools from 15 June.
The interpretation provided by the DfE to ASCL is that:
- We need to continue to control the numbers attending school to reduce the risk of increasing transmission. This is why schools are advised to have a quarter of the Year 10 and Year 12 cohort in school at any one time. This applies collectively across Year 10 and Year 12 and school leaders have the flexibility to determine what works best in their particular circumstances. However, if they only have one year group, they should only have a quarter of
those pupils in at any one time. Schools have the flexibility to implement whatever system works best for them, providing that attendance each day is no more than a quarter of the cohort.
- Schools can only have a quarter of the Year 10 and Year 12 cohort in school at any one time regardless of the cohort size. We know that secondary pupils are more likely to use public transport and to mix socially outside of school, so limiting numbers in this way is an important part of our approach to reducing the risk of transmission.
The ISC has checked with the DfE, which has confirmed that the information provided to ASCL - that it means 25% of the combined total of Year 10 and Year 12 - is correct.
The DfE had previously said it was
25% of each year group and officials have apologised for the confusion this caused. Similarly, the ISC had passed this information on in good faith and we appreciate the change will be very frustrating for schools who are busy planning for 15 June.
ASCL has produced the following Q&A for clarity and the DfE has again confirmed this is correct:
Secondary schools: How much flexibility is there to interpret the instruction that no more than a quarter of Year 10 and 12 students should be on site at any one time to suit their own contexts?
We received some information from the DfE on this question on 4 June. The key points are as follows:
- The ‘no more than a quarter on site at any one time’ rule applies to Year 10 and 12 students collectively. In other words, a hypothetical school with 200 Year 10 students and 200 Year 12 students could plan to have 50 Year 10s and 50 Year 12s on site, but equally they could have 75 Year 10s and 25 Year 12s, or no Year 10s and 100 Year 12s. Schools and colleges have the flexibility to implement whatever system works best for them, providing that attendance each day is no more than a quarter of the total Year 10 and 12 cohort.
- Schools with no Year 12s can still only have 25% of their Year 10s in at any one time.
- Similarly, colleges with
no Year 10s can only have 25% of their Year 12s (or equivalent) in.
- The 25% rule applies regardless of cohort size, and regardless of whether a school or college’s risk assessment indicates that they might be able to safely have a larger percentage of pupils on site. This is because secondary and college students are more likely to use public transport and to mix socially outside of school, so limiting numbers in this way is an important part of reducing the risk of transmission.
- No pupils in other year groups should be invited back at this time, beyond the vulnerable children and children of key workers who have always be eligible to attend.
- There may be some Year 10 and 12 pupils who would
particularly benefit from more face-to-face support, such as disadvantaged pupils or pupils who have not been engaging in remote education. These pupils may attend more frequently than others, as long as the number on site does not exceed 25% of the total Year 10 and 12 cohort.
- The Government would like schools to offer some face-to-face (on site) support to as many Year 10 and 12 students as possible (other than those who are shielding). However, schools and colleges have the flexibility to implement this face-to-face support in the way that best suits their circumstances and their students, including by prioritising the physical attendance of some students over others if they believe that is the best approach for them.
- Schools and colleges need to avoid using
split-day rotas.