2,200 primary schools set to defy plans to reopen on June 1 despite doctors dropping their opposition
SOME 2,200 English primary schools are set to defy plans to reopen on June 1 — despite doctors dropping their opposition.
At least 28 councils have joined the growing revolt and warned their schools could stay shut on the date.
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Analysis by The Sun found the local authorities cover 2,269 primaries.
Ministers want kids in reception, Year 1 and Year 6 to head back first on June 1, if scientists give it the go-ahead.
If 120 kids in each of these council schools are denied the chance to return, 272,280 will be forced to stay at home.
The revolt comes despite a pledge by the PM to get a national Covid tracing operation up and running by June 1, meeting a key demand of council chiefs.
The British Medical Association, which represents doctors, dropped its hardline opposition to reopening.
In a massive softening of its position, the BMA said schools can reopen on June 1 “as long as it is safe to do so”.
It pointed out there is “growing evidence” the risk Covid-19 poses to kids is “extremely small”.
And it called for ministers and teachers to “work together to allow schools to reopen safely”.
Children’s commissioner Anne Longfield has told unions and ministers to “stop squabbling” and agree a plan to get kids back to class.
Ministers and some of Labour’s big beasts, including Alan Johnson and David Blunkett, have warned poor kids are losing out the most from the schools shutdown.
But Cllr Judith Blake, from the Local Government Association, demanded councils are allowed to keep their schools shut for longer if they want.
The Sun says
BORIS Johnson must show stronger leadership over getting kids back to school.
The softening-up of the June 1 restart date for primaries betrays a man cowed by the storm the unions whipped up.
He must remember that they are led by Corbynites engaging in a political war against the Brexit-backing Tory Government which they detest for destroying their dreams last December.
But we do agree with the unions on one thing. If the advice from Sage’s scientists is that returning to school is safe, publish it in full. Then the public, the teachers and their unions can see it.
The PM must then order schools to return, once they have finalised social distancing measures.
If the NEU wants to strike, it can ballot members.
If local councils refuse to open schools, the Government MUST sanction them. And Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour must decide whether to side with the hard-Left over working people.
Boris’s drift is worrying. This matter could barely be more urgent.
It is about the educational and mental wellbeing of our children, especially the most disadvantaged, and the ability of parents to return to work and rebuild our shattered economy.
Get a grip on it, PM.
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Fears on uni spot deferrals
By Isaac Crowson
ONE in five new students could delay going to university this autumn if colleges do not operate “as normal” despite the pandemic.
Some 120,000 could put off attending when the academic year begins, a report warns.
It would trigger a big loss in tuition fees, says the London Economics survey for the University and College Union.
Cambridge is putting all “face-to-face lectures” online during the 2020-21 academic year.
Up to six per cent of applicants usually defer places each year.
But the poll estimates an extra 17 per cent will not enrol this year if the university is not operating as usual. A quarter may switch institutions.
Dr Gavan Conlon said the such a deferral rate would have “severe financial consequences” for universities.
Hardline unions have drawn up a list of 169 health and safety demands before teachers go back to class.
Tonight Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said schools across England should return at the same time.
He told the daily Downing Street press conference: “It is best, and the Government has said this repeatedly.”
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