Schools to open in 'phased' way - but summer holidays will go ahead, Williamson says
SCHOOLS across England are set to reopen in a "phased" manner once the coronavirus pandemic is under control, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson confirmed as he announced summer holidays will go ahead.
School closures: Williamson says reopening in UK to be ‘phased’
Schools will reopen in "phases" to ensure pupils and staff have the right amount of protection needed to avoid catching the coronavirus, Mr Williamson confirmed. Schools across England and Wales have been shut down since before the country entered a lockdown six weeks ago, sparking concerns about students being unable to continue their education online. Mr Williamson insisted the Government is working on a system to ensure pupils are able to head back to school but said they want to make sure they are protected.
LET’S GET CAPTAIN TOM MOORE A KNIGHTHOOD - SIGN THE PETITION HERE
Taking questions from the Education Committee, Mr Williamson said: "This is obviously something we’re giving a great amount of thought, giving a lot of consideration.
"Just a few weeks ago I commissioned SAGE to establish a sub-group to look at the particular issues of opening schools, making sure that when schools are open it’s done in the best possible way, under the best scientific and medical advice.
"We expect SAGE to be reporting back and the information we’ll get will be part of what informs our decision. I do expect schools to be reopened in a phased manner."
Asked whether schools could be reopened during the summer to allow students to catch up with their work, the Education Secretary insisted the summer holidays will go ahead as planned.
JUST IN: 'Come to Greece this summer' Britons urged to go on holiday to escape UK coronavirus hell
At this difficult time for frontline doctors and nurses, sign up here to show your support now to our brave NHS Heroes.
The Tory frontbencher added: "I also intend to give schools as much notice as possible in order to prepare.
"We’re not planning to run schools through the summer but as I was talking about, we’re looking at a set of intervention to help children catch up with their work."
He added: "We are working very closely with the whole sector in terms of when it’s going to be the best time to bring schools fully back into operation.
"We have set out five clear tests as to what is incredibly important and what will inform the reopening of the schools.
"We want to make sure the schools proper notice but we don’t have a date as to when schools are going to be opening."
READ MORE: Merkel panic: Germany may need to bring back lockdown as infection rate spikes by a THIRD
Coronavirus: Negative test not a 'guarantee' says expert
The plans would fall in line with the approach the devolved administrations have already said they will adopt at the end of the lockdown to have students return to school.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said her Government is considering having smaller classes to ensure social distancing measures can be in place at school time.
Ms Sturgeon said: “Classrooms may have to be redesigned to allow social distancing, so maybe not all children can go back to, and be at, school at the same time.
“Do we have to take classes and divide them into two, where half of the class is there one week and the other half another week?"
DON'T MISS
Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds announce birth of 'healthy baby boy' at London hospital
Aldi introduces new payment rules for shopping in store - how it works [EXPLAINER]
EU shamed over failure to enforce OWN laws as airlines refuse to refund customers [VIDEO]
But despite Government’s attempts to prevent education from being majorly disrupted, former Ofsted Chief Inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw warned pupils could have to repeat the academic year or risk falling behind.
Mr Whilshaw said: "The Government's going to have to get into a negotiation with the teacher professional associations to look at this, to say we missed a huge amount of school.
"There are going to be adverse consequences to this, particularly for disadvantaged children.
"We're considering bringing in schools over weekend periods, holiday periods or extending the school a day.
"That means staff will have to be paid to come in during those periods."