SCHOOL'S OUT
Secondary schools could stay shut past September as experts fear spreading coronavirus, Matt Hancock admits
SCHOOLS could stay shut after the summer holidays to keep the coronavirus infection rate down, Matt Hancock admitted yesterday.
The Health Secretary signalled pupils might be stuck at home for months to come, with secondary schools reopening in September "at the earliest”.
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Speaking at the Downing Street press conference yesterday, Mr Hancock said that some schools may not be able to open for the beginning of the next academic year.
He said: “Our current working plan is secondary schools won’t be open until September at the earliest.
“I very much hope that they can because the impact on children’s education is so significant.”
Pupils in reception, year one and year six went back into the classroom on June 1, and kids in year 10 and year 12 are expected return to school on Monday - although the Government has said remote learning “should remain their predominant mode of education.”
The Health Secretary said yesterday: “What we have to do – not only in schools, but right across the board – is work out how we can get the other things that matter going.
“Like schools, like hospitality, like retail. And get them going safely and carefully, in a way that doesn’t lead to the spread of the virus, and that is going to require ingenuity.”
Ministers are refusing to guarantee a reopening date for schools in case the infection rate increases, according to .
'WINDING BACK' TARGET
Anne-Marie O’Leary, editor of parenting website Netmums, said parents needed more clarity on when kids would be returning to the classroom.
She said: “The inability to plan is the biggest burden on parents right now. The fact they don't know what schools are going to look like in September means that parents can't plan what their work life needs to look like.
The fact they don't know what schools are going to look like in September means that parents can't plan what their work life needs to look like.
Anne-Marie O'Leary, Netmums editor
She added: "Keeping teens away from their friends is almost removing their lifeline. And if parents go back to work, as they are encouraged to, there is a mental health burden for children stuck at home on their own."
It comes as the Government is set to water down its pledge to give primary school kids a month back at school.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson is expected to say later today that he accepts not all schools will hit the target.
The Government wanted to have all primary pupils back in the classroom by June 21 for four weeks of teaching before the summer break, but the pledge is now “under review”.
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A government source said the Department for Education was expected to “wind back a bit” on getting under-11s back.
They said: “Some schools don’t have enough space – we have always said we will listen to schools so we are likely to step back a bit on that.
“Some schools are bigger so are able to split kinds up. But we understand not all will be able to do this.”
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