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By Hannah Richardson
Education and social affairs reporter
image copyrightPA media
Secondary schools in most of England will be closed for a further two weeks for most pupils, to help regain control of the coronavirus.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson told the Commons that test-year students would return a week earlier than their schoolmates on the week of January 11.
Meanwhile, schools will have more time to establish massive testing plans.
In some areas with the highest infection rates, the primaries would be temporarily closed, he added.
The areas where primary schools would remain closed are: most of London, much of Essex and Kent, Hasting and Rother in East Sussex, Milton Keynes and parts of Hertfordshire.
Williamson said temporary school closings would cut off the chains of transmission.
But teachers unions said the move didn’t go far enough, with one labeling it another “last-minute disaster.”
It comes after most of England underwent the most stringent Level 4 restrictions and follows warnings from doctors about pressure on hospitals and government scientists about the growing contagion of the new strain of coronavirus.
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Williamson said the delay in reopening high schools would allow principals to develop and establish massive testing plans for their students.
“In the face of a rapidly changing situation, I am determined to act to preserve lives and the NHS, while continuing to protect education and prioritize children.
“We are making changes at the beginning of the trimester to allow more time to launch our rapid testing program, the first of its kind, to identify students who have the virus but are not showing any symptoms.”
But Kate Green, the Labor Party’s shadow education secretary, said: “Just days before many schools should have reopened for all pupils, the secretary of state has announced that many will not return as planned.
“This delay and interruption of children’s education is a direct result of government failure. They have lost control of the virus. Now they are losing control of children’s education.”
High Covid rates
But Williamson said the testing program would help keep educational environments as safe as possible for all students.
“Because the rate of Covid infection is particularly high in this age group,” he said, “we are going to allow more time for all schools and universities to fully implement testing for their students and staff.
“This kind of massive testing will help protect not only children and youth, but it will benefit everyone in the community.
“It will break those chains of transmission that are skyrocketing infection rates.”
The affected elementary schools will reopen as soon as possible, Williamson said, adding that testing for elementary school staff would continue in January.
‘Last minute mess’
It’s a significant step, as ministers have repeatedly stated that schools would remain open, and even threatened council areas that wanted to close their schools before Christmas with legal action.
Nasuwt Teachers Union General Secretary Patrick Roach said the ad offered late clarity but didn’t go far enough.
“Stronger preventive action is needed to limit further transmission of the coronavirus in schools and universities, including allowing greater use of remote and blended learning, which would allow for effective social distancing that is vital to minimize transmission of the virus. “.
The leader of the National Association of Teachers’ Directors, Paul Whiteman, said: “This is another last minute mess that could have been avoided so easily if the government had listened to the school leaders before the holidays.”
“Instead, back then, schools that wanted to switch to remote learning were threatened with legal action. Now we have a situation where the government is instructing schools to reduce the amount of teaching time available.
“If we had had the freedom to act before the holidays, we could have been in a position to have more schools open for more students. School leaders will be puzzled, frustrated and justifiably angry tonight.”
Schools struggled to stay safe from Covid during the fall term, despite the intense efforts of teachers and staff, with large numbers of students contracting the virus and then being sent home.
All primary schools were due to reopen fully on January 4, along with the opening of secondary schools for vulnerable children and those who will sit for exams this year (Years 11 and 13).
The remaining high school students had to start the term by telecommuting from home.
Indeed, the entire process has been delayed for a week. This is two weeks after the usual start of the trimester.
Complete list of areas where elementary schools will be closed at the beginning of the quarter
London: Barking and Dagenham; Barnet; Bexley; Brent; Bromley; Croydon; Ealing; Enfield; Hammersmith and Fulham; Havering; Hillingdon; Hounslow; Kensington and Chelsea; Merton; Newham; Richmond-Upon-Thames; Southwark; Sutton; Tower Hamlets; Waltham Forest; Wandsworth and Westminster.
Essex: Brentwood; Epping Forest; Castle Point; Basildon; Rochford; Harlow; Chelmsford; Braintree; Maldon; Southend on Sea and Thurrock.
Kent: Dartford; Gravesham; Seven Oaks; Medway; Ashford; Maidstone; Tonbridge and Malling; Tunbridge Wells and Swale.
East Sussex: Hastings and Rother.
Buckinghamshire: Milton Keynes.
Hertfordshire: Watford, Broxbourne, Hertsmere and Three Rivers.
How are the other nations of the UK getting back to school?
- Scotland: Schools will begin the course on January 11 and learning will take place online until at least January 18.
- Welsh: The trimester will begin with online learning, but most students are expected to resume face-to-face lessons by January 11th. The full return to the classroom is expected to be completed on January 18.
- North Ireland: All schools will initially reopen for face-to-face teaching at the beginning of the trimester, but years 8-10 will transition to distance learning starting January 25 for at least two weeks.
Schools in every nation in the UK remain open for vulnerable children. England, Wales and Scotland have also committed to maintaining face-to-face teaching for the children of key workers.
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