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All of London’s primary schools are scheduled to close for the start of the new term after the government gave in to protests and legal pressure from local authorities in the capital.
The U-turn comes after the government initially appointed 50 education authorities in the south of England, including many in and around London, where primary schools would be closed to most pupils for the first two weeks. of the quarter.
But the list omitted several areas of London where Covid-19 transmission rates remain high, including the Haringey district, whose leaders said they were prepared to challenge the government and support any schools that decided to close to protect already staff. the students.
The protests by local authority leaders came to a head with a letter to Education Secretary Gavin Williamson from nine London authorities, including Islington, Lambeth and the City of London, calling for the closure of their primary schools and suggesting that they were prepared to take legal action.
The action sparked an emergency Cabinet Office meeting on New Years Day, which approved the overhaul and added the remaining 10 London education authorities to the government’s contingency areas.
Richard Watts, Islington Council Leader, said: “I am very relieved to hear this news. There was enormous concern from parents and schools that they couldn’t understand why some counties were excluded. “
“We welcome the government belatedly listening to local areas. We will work with our schools to make sure they offer high quality online learning and can welcome students as soon as Public Health deems it sensible. “
But the decision leaves questions about government decision-making and represents a humiliating setback for Williamson in his tenure as Secretary of Education.
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Teacher Directors, said: “Just when we need decisive leadership, the government is at six and seven.
“There is no clear justification for why some schools are closing and others are not and why elementary and special schools are treated differently than secondary schools.
“The government does not seem to be following science or the advice of education professionals on the best way to preserve the quality of education for young people. The government cannot hope to win the public’s trust with such a confusing and last minute approach. “
The Department of Education and No. 10 were contacted for comment.
Various local authorities were preparing legal challenges to keep elementary schools closed to the majority of students next week despite not being on the list of 50 “contingency areas” named by the government.
“We ask in the strongest possible terms that your recommendation be urgently reviewed and that our elementary schools be added to the list of those that are advised to move learning online, except for vulnerable children and those of key workers. , until January 18, so together we can help stop the spread of the coronavirus and save lives.
“Leading counsel warns us that omissions from the list are illegal for various reasons and may be challenged in court,” states the letter from the nine London authorities to Williamson, signed by nine authority leaders.
Principals of London primary schools report that they have faced a staff shortage since the Christmas holidays due to the spread of Covid-19 and its more infectious variant B117.
Meanwhile, the government faces a new rebellion from high school leaders in England over their demand that student testing be mandatory from 11 January.
School leaders and teacher unions have been meeting over the New Year period to discuss a joint response to the lawsuit, with many principals arguing that the testing regime is neither practical nor feasible.
