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
Jesper Larsen, a headteacher in Copenhagen, Denmark, said Danish schools were able to go back to class a month ago because the country’s society respects government guidelines While British schools will not begin to reopen after lockdown until the beginning of June at the earliest, at my school here in Denmark virtually all the children … Read more
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 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
Opposition to reopening schools is ‘middle class’ and harms disadvantaged children who miss school, says academy chief Oasis Charitable Trust founder Steve Chalke said opposition was ‘middle class’ Suggested disadvantaged children would be at greater risk if reopening delayed Teacher unions have threatened to sue school chiefs if teachers are ‘put at risk’ By Lydia … Read more
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
School is back in for thousands of children around the world as they return to classrooms after months in lockdowns – where their first lesson has been in social distancing amid the lingering threat of coronavirus. Pupils in Finland, who returned on Thursday, were pictured giving each-other air hugs as a greeting while students in … Read more
Draconian stay-at-home orders and shutting all non-essential businesses had little effect on fighting coronavirus in Europe, according to a study. But the same scientists discovered closing schools and banning all mass gatherings did work in halting outbreaks across the continent. University of East Anglia researchers now say relaxing the stay-at-home policy and letting some businesses … Read more
Blanket reopening of schools next month would be ‘far too risky’, says Dominic Raab as he warns over second wave of the coronavirus Foreign secretary Dominic Raab said reopening schools would risk another peak He outlined the government’s phased approach to opening UK schools again It came after Nicola Sturgeon said Scottish schools wouldn’t open anytime … Read more
Europe today prepared for a further cautious easing of coronavirus restrictions following signs the pandemic may be slowing, with hard-hit Italy set to follow Spain in allowing people outside. Spaniards flocked to the streets on Saturday to jog, cycle and rollerskate for the first time after 48 days of confinement as Italy is due start gradually … Read more