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The government is using its emergency powers under the Coronavirus Act to threaten legal action against principals in England who want to allow their students to learn remotely in the run-up to Christmas.
The Observer understands that any school that planned to move most of its teaching online during the last week of the term, to ensure that none of its students had to isolate themselves on Christmas Day, must remain open.
A Hertfordshire principal received an official letter last week from the Minister for Schools, Nick Gibb, warning him that the government was willing to deploy its new powers under the law to ensure that his high school remained open to all students until Friday.
The school, Presdales in Ware, planned to teach most of its students remotely during the last week of the term, while continuing to provide socially distanced face-to-face lessons for vulnerable students, children in need of additional support, and any other students. that he wanted to go to school. Only about 25 students were expected to enter, so they could all sit 2 meters apart in class.
“We have had almost 50 [positive] cases since September and a significant outbreak in the one-year-old group, ”said Director Matthew Warren. “There is no possibility, in the last week of the mandate, that we will not have any case.”
On Tuesday last week, 170 staff members and children, including half of the English department, were out of school and into isolation. Warren said he and his senior team now “feared” having to call parents, especially younger students, to tell them that their son would have to avoid all contact with anyone else on Christmas Day.
Warren had wanted to make sure his students didn’t have to endure this separation during the holiday season. “For mental health, hearts and minds, we felt it was not fair, and the parents were overwhelmingly supportive.”
Last Wednesday, the day before the school planned to close, Gibb wrote a letter to Warren, stating that he was “willing to order” the board of directors to keep the school’s doors open and that he had the power to do this. according to Coronavirus program 17. Act. The refusal to comply would have allowed the Department of Education to first lead the board of trustees and then request a court order requiring the school to provide face-to-face lessons, according to legal advice Warren received.
“We cannot defend that, it is not a good use of public funds, so we are desperate,” he said.
Paul Whiteman, the general secretary of the school leaders union NAHT, said the government’s relaxation of social mixing rules over Christmas had put schools and parents between a rock and a hard place, accusing ministers of “pretend not to realize the consequences of your decision.” .
“We ask the government to give schools the flexibility to work with parents and make arrangements that best suit their individual circumstances. Giving schools the flexibility to switch to remote learning during the last days of the quarter seems like an obvious and straightforward solution. The government’s position is creating enormous potential for a chaotic and disruptive end to this period. “
There is regional variation in the UK in the guidance given to schools. Last week in Wales, all high schools and universities were asked to close their doors and switch all lessons online starting Monday.
A spokesperson for the Department of Education said it was a national priority to keep educational environments open full-time and that it was vital that children remain in school until the end of the term. “Schools, universities, and early childhood settings across the country have worked tremendously hard to implement protective measures that are helping to reduce the risk of virus transmission and our regional teams of school commissioners continue to support local authorities and trusts. to stay open and help resolve any operational issues. “
The Observer also understands that the government is considering mass testing of primary school children, following the decision to implement mass testing of secondary school pupils in London, Kent and Essex last week. The Department of Education said it would not comment on this matter: “It has not been confirmed and therefore is speculation.”
