Teaching unions ‘got it wrong’ over reopening schools and must stop ‘war dance’, says former Labour education secretary

, Mr Johnson said: "The teachers got it wrong. Sometimes trade union leaders have a tin ear for what the public thinks.

"I have the greatest respect for the union leaders involved...but they got this wrong and they read it wrong.

"Having danced their war dance, and had their meeting with the Secretary of State, they now need to find an elegant way to say they’re reassured".

His comments echoed those of Lord Blunkett, who earlier this month accused of teachers "working against the interests of children" by refusing to go back to school.

It comes as a new poll, conducted by the National Association of Head Teachers, found that nine out of ten members intended to open their schools on Monday.

Most school leaders said they will take a flexible approach using rotas and a smaller number of year groups.

On Saturday, NAHT general secretary Paul Whiteman said school leaders had worked "tirelessly" in recent weeks to put in place safety arrangements for pupils, staff and parents.

Schools, colleges and nurseries closed more than nine weeks ago due to the Covid-19 outbreak, remaining open only for vulnerable youngsters and the children of key workers.

However an education union today urged the government to "draw back" from reopening schools on Monday.

National Education Union joint general secretaries Kevin Courtney and Dr Mary Bousted spoke out after four members of the Government's Sage scientific advisory committee expressed concerns about the pace of easing of lockdown.

Some 8,000 infections, and 400 deaths, a day are still occurring.

In a statement, they said: "This public break by four prominent members of the Government's Sage committee changes everything.

"No-one can now confidently assert that it is safe to open schools more widely from Monday.

"All four of these independent members of Sage agree that there must a lower number of cases and an efficient system of contact tracing working before there is a relaxation of lockdown measures. Both these measures are included in the NEU's five tests.

"Opening schools more widely runs the risk of increasing the R rate and therefore the level of risk to staff and to parents.