Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has said he is “absolutely confident” there will be no further delays to school reopenings, after soaring coronavirus case rates in December forced the Government into a U-turn in pushing back the start of term for millions of pupils.
He moved to reassure teaching staff, pupils and parents the newly rescheduled staggered return dates for England will stay in place, despite concerns about safety and transmission rates among younger people.
But teachers said they remain unconvinced about the plans, and accused the Government of living in a “parallel universe”.
The Government announced on Wednesday that primary school pupils in some of the areas hardest hit by Covid-19 will not return to their desks as planned next week, with students in exam years returning to secondary schools a week later than planned, from January 11. Other secondary and college students will go back full-time on January 18.
Boris Johnson reveals huge list of areas where even primary schools must SHUT until at least January 18 to all but vulnerable children and kids of key workers - and warns some secondary school pupils could stay at home INDEFINITELY
Primary schools in dozens of areas across London, Essex, Kent will not be allowed to reopen as planned
Vulnerable children and children of key workers will be only pupils allowed to attend the schools in person
Students in years 11 and 13 who are facing exams will physically return on January 11 as previously planned
Students in the other year groups will now have to wait an extra week until January 18 to return to lessons
Scientists warn schools may have to remain closed to combat coronavirus basildonstandard.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from basildonstandard.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Reopenings of schools next week may be delayed as part of measures to tackle soaring coronavirus case numbers, scientists advising the Government have suggested.
School leaders have also warned that teachers and pupils may be put at risk if secondaries reopen, as planned, while a new ultra-transmissible strain of Covid-19 is driving a rise in hospital admissions.
Earlier this month, the Government said exam-year students would go back to school as normal after the Christmas holidays, but the majority of secondary school pupils would start the term online to allow headteachers to roll out mass testing of children and staff.