SCHOOLS MAYHEM
Schools closures: All primary & secondary schools to stay SHUT for a month in new lockdown
PRIMARY and secondary schools will close immediately and stay shut for a month in the new lockdown, Boris Johnson announced tonight.
The PM revealed the tougher new national restrictions in an address to the nation tonight, with classrooms expected to shut until mid-February half term.
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Millions of parents today faced chaos and confusion as primary schools across the country stayed shut in defiance of Government orders to open if possible.
But Boris tonight announced schools would have to close.
Colleges, primary and secondary schools will remain open for vulnerable children and the children of critical workers.
All other children will have to learn remotely until February half term.
It comes as...
- Boris Johnson tonight ordered the nation to stay at home until the middle of February
- Brits should work from home and only leave the house when necessary
- The Covid alert is now at Level 5
- Margaret Ferrier has been charged after travelling from London
- Takeaway pints will be banned under the new lockdown rules
In the bleak statement, Mr Johnson said exams would also have to be changed.
He said: "In the circumstances, we do not think it is possible for all exams in the summer to go ahead as planned.
"We will accordingly be working with Ofqual to consult rapidly to put in place alternative arrangements that will allow students to progress fairly."
It comes after new data revealed schools have triggered three times more Covid outbreaks than hospitals since October.
Reports revealed that 26 per cent of investigated Covid cases were linked to nursery schools, primaries, secondaries and universities over the 12 weeks to the end of December, according to Public Health England.
The PM had yesterday urged parents to send kids back to school as he has “no doubt” they are safe.
Questions have been raised over the government's choice to keep the hospitality sector closed, despite it only being responsible for 5 percent of Covid spreading, compared with 26 per cent from academic establishments.
It comes as Labour leader Keir Starmer demanded all schools shut as part of a new national shutdown in "the spirit of March" with the virus raging "out of control".
He said: "The more we delay, the worse it will get. The longer we delay, the longer schools will be closed for.
"I’m afraid the closure of schools is now inevitable and therefore that needs to be part of... the national plan for further restrictions."
Britain's biggest teaching union, the National Education Union (NEU), had told teachers in 6,000 primary schools that it was unsafe to go to work today.
Council leaders in Wolverhampton, Norfolk, Slough, Manchester, County Durham, Lancashire, Birmingham and Gateshead had said they would support head teachers who did not think it is safe for the school to open.
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And schools in Surrey, Gloucestershire, Newcastle, Norfolk, Liverpool, County Durham, West Sussex, Sheffield, Wolverhampton, Leeds and Lancashire all sent last-minute letters advising parents of closures.
One letter to parents from Anlaby school in Hull, read: "When we have made arrangements we will let you know exactly what is happening as soon as we can.
"It may be wise to start thinking about alternative arrangements for child care and how your children will engage in online learning if we have to close."
Dr Yvonne Doyle, medical director for Public Health England (PHE), said today's figures were a "bitter warning".
She said: "The continuous rise in cases and deaths should be a bitter warning for us all.
"We must not forget the basics – the lives of our friends and family depend on it."
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Education unions have said staff are at "serious risk" of infection by returning to schools and called on the Prime Minister to meet to discuss safety.
In a joint statement, signed by GMB, NAHT, NASUWT, NEU, Unison and Unite, they said the Government's "chaotic handling" of the opening of schools "has caused confusion for teachers, school staff and parents alike".
It insisted a return of all pupils to classrooms while infection rates are high poses a "serious risk" to staff and "could fuel the pandemic".
The statement added: "Unions have called for a pause in the reopening of schools for anyone other than vulnerable children and children of key workers, and a move to remote learning for all while Covid-secure working arrangements are reviewed."
This morning Mr Johnson said "the risk to teachers is no greater than it is to anyone else" adding that the reasons for wanting to keep schools open "are very, very powerful".
He said: "It's very important to understand that back in March, one of the things I look back on with the greatest misgivings was the closure of primary schools because it's so important for young people to get an education.
"That's why closing primary schools is, for all of us, a last resort. That's why we are looking at everything else we can possibly do to avoid that.
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"I would stress schools are safe and the risk to kids is very, very small."
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Echoing the PM's message, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said it is "clear that the proportion of teachers who catch coronavirus is no higher than the rest of the population," urging people to follow public health advice.
He told Sky News: "There is clear public health advice behind the position that we have taken and that is what people should follow because, of course, education is very important as well, especially for people's long-term health.
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Schools in England prepare for mass coronavirus testing with installation of Covid-19 safety measures