Schools chaos as second council REFUSES to restart classes next month but academies says they WILL

The bitter row over Government plans to reopen schools exploded into fresh coronavirus chaos today as a second council said it would defy Government orders to restart classes.  Hartlepool in County Durham, joined Liverpool in saying it would ignore the plan to let some primary school pupils back to the school from June 1. Education … Read more

BMA says teachers’ unions are ‘absolutely right’ to claim it is unsafe for schools to open on June 1

BMA says teachers’ unions are ‘absolutely right’ to claim it is unsafe for schools to open on June 1 while Children’s Commissioner leads calls to get pupils back as soon as possible Anne Longfield called on union leaders to work with ministers to get pupils back Former Labour education secretary has also criticised trade union … Read more

Children’s Commissioner says let’s get schools open

Children’s Commissioner says let’s get schools open as she leads a chorus of influential voices urging teachers’ unions to co-operate with plans to reopen schools for the sake of pupils Anne Longfield called on union leaders to work with ministers to get pupils back Former Labour education secretary has also criticised trade union intransigence A … Read more

Social distancing CAN be done in schools, insists government minister Brandon Lewis

Safe social distancing can be done in schools, a top minister insisted today as the Government set itself up for a major row with education unions. Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis said it was vital pupils were back in classrooms within weeks, both to allow key workers to keep working to save lives from coronavirus … Read more

Time to get back to class: Row between teachers and unions explodes…

The row between teachers and unions over when and how to reopen our schools exploded last night. In an extraordinary intervention, former education secretary David Blunkett accused the unions of ‘working against the interests of children’ by continuing to frustrate teachers who are desperate to get back into the classroom. And current Education Secretary Gavin … Read more

Lord Blunkett blasts teaching unions for ‘working against the interests of children’

Lord Blunkett blasts teaching unions for ‘working against the interests of children’ by blocking June reopening plan in blistering row with teachers’ leader Government aiming for the phased reopening of primary schools from June 1    But National Education Union has told members not to engage with Government Union chiefs cited safety fears and want guarantees … Read more

Universities will not be allowed to cram in extra students to plug funding gaps but will get £2.6bn

Universities to get £2.6billion government support package as they are told not squeeze in extra students amid coronavirus cash crisis This will give the Government temporary controls over student numbers  Nearly one in five prospective students have changed their mind about university this autumn because of coronavirus  Universities will be unable to take extra students … Read more

ANDREW PIERCE: Spare us your winks and get a grip, Becky! 

ANDREW PIERCE: Spare us your winks and get a grip, Becky! By Andrew Pierce for the Daily Mail Published: 01:53 BST, 27 April 2020 | Updated: 01:55 BST, 27 April 2020 Sir Keir Starmer managed to find a place in his Shadow Cabinet for onetime ‘Continuity Corbyn’ candidate Rebecca Long-Bailey — whom he trounced in … Read more

Teacher unions set out list of pre-conditions before teachers go back to school coronavirus lockdown

Union bosses have set out a list of five conditions they claim must be observed to protect teachers if schools are to re-open amid the coronavirus pandemic. Dr Patrick Roach, general secretary of the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) warned that staff concerns must be ‘fully addressed’ before teachers would be … Read more