Coronavirus UK: Boris Johnson faces new Tory rebellion over schools

Boris Johnson faces new Tory rebellion over schools: PM resists mounting pressure to reopen classrooms across England as research shows Oxford jab cuts Covid transmission by two-thirds

  • Conservative MPs want to accelerate reopening of schools in England
  • Scotland is reopening primary schools after half-term on February 22
  • This is raising concerns that English pupils risk falling further behind
  • Prime Minister insists schools can’t reopen before March 8 at earliest

Boris Johnson was last night resisting mounting pressure to accelerate the reopening of schools across England.

Tory MPs called for the move after new research showed that as well as saving lives, the Oxford vaccine will cut transmission of the virus by two-thirds.

There was also concern that with Scotland reopening primary schools after half-term on February 22, English pupils risk falling further behind.

The Prime Minister last night insisted that schools cannot reopen before March 8 at the earliest. 

He said he shared the ‘urgency’ of those wanting children back in the classroom, but warned that an earlier return could spark another upsurge in the virus.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson (pictured at the Downing Street briefing yesterday) is resisting mounting pressure to accelerate the reopening of schools across England

Mr Johnson said: ‘To people who understandably want to go faster – I share that anxiety and urgency. That is why we fought to keep schools open. 

‘What we don’t want to do now that we are making progress with the vaccine rollout and we have got a timetable for the way ahead, we don’t want to be forced into reverse.

‘We think this is the prudent and cautious approach. I think it is much better to stick to that.’

But Robert Halfon, Tory chairman of the Commons education committee, urged ministers to ‘think again’ about the decision to set March 8 as the earliest possible date for a return to the classroom.

Young pupils arrive at Manor Park School and Nursery in Knutsford, Cheshire, last month

Young pupils arrive at Manor Park School and Nursery in Knutsford, Cheshire, last month

Mr Halfon pointed out that a Public Health England study last week found there was a ‘strong case’ for the return of primary schools, where outbreaks have been low.

‘If the health experts say it’s safe and Scotland can do it, why can’t we?’ he said. ‘We have got the four horsemen of the education apocalypse coming down the track – attainment, mental health, safeguarding and loss of future prospects and wages.

‘We need to think again because the damage is growing by the day.’ 

Mark Harper, chairman of the Covid Recovery Group of Conservative MPs, said the encouraging news on vaccines meant it was time for ministers to start addressing ‘the harms caused by the measures we’re putting in place to control Covid, as well as the harms caused by Covid itself’.

Oscar Mumby, 10, and Harriet Mumby, 8, are helped with their online schoolwork by their mother Jo Mumby in Cuckfield, West Sussex, last week as schools continue to be closed

Oscar Mumby, 10, and Harriet Mumby, 8, are helped with their online schoolwork by their mother Jo Mumby in Cuckfield, West Sussex, last week as schools continue to be closed

Mr Harper said Scotland’s decision to press ahead with the reopening of schools meant ‘there needs to be a very good reason for keeping English schools shut for so much longer’.

He added: ‘Every hour of classroom learning lost is a tragedy for the nation’s children and the schools shutdown is having a huge impact on children’s health and welfare.’

Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said: ‘The Government needs to be flexible about schools going back. If the evidence supports it, then we should be getting children back to school earlier than expected.’

Ministers are nervous about the public reaction later this month if children in Scotland and Wales are allowed back to the classroom while those in England are forced to endure more weeks of home learning.

A Downing Street source denied the Government was dragging its feet, saying the case rate in England was double that in Scotland. ‘Opening schools is our top priority, but it is still too early,’ the source said.

Chief medical officer Chris Whitty also warned about rushing the return to school. 

He said there was ‘no doubt’ that schools were safe, with the risk to children ‘incredibly low’, but he warned that allowing them to return too soon risked sparking another surge in the virus.

The Government has appointed a ‘catch-up’ tsar to oversee a huge programme designed to help children make up for their lost education.

Education expert Sir Kevan Collins will lead a taskforce devising catch-up plans, which are expected to include summer schools and an expansion of one-to-one tuition to help those who have fallen behind.