Schools could remain closed after Christmas unless parents get their children fully vaccinated against Covid, as Boris Johnson said children aged 12 to 15 will be offered their second jab from Monday to tackle a ‘tidal wave of Omicron’.
The Prime Minister told a Downing Street press conference this evening: ‘We know how crucial it is to keep children in school, so let’s all make sure our children and young people are vaccinated before they go back next term.’
Numerous schools in England have been closed and some are opting to go back to distant learning to combat growing fears about the Omicron virus.
However, the Government have repeatedly refused to promise that schools will reopen in January as it races to ‘boost’ millions of people in England.
Today, Education Minister Alex Burghart urged ‘as many people as possible to come forward’ to get their next vaccine dose – but could not promise that children would be taught in person. Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi has also refused to rule out closing schools in the New Year, while Health Secretary admitted ‘there are no guarantees’ classrooms would remain open in January and urged people to get their booster jabs.
Attendance figures show nearly 250,000 pupils were absent from school last week – the second highest figure this year. Around 17,000 English teachers were thought to have been at home using Covid.
Robert Halfon, Tory chairman of the Education Select Committee, warned ‘we are moving sadly towards “de facto” school closures’ and urged the Government to create an ‘army’ of volunteers to keep schools open.
Public health officials heap pressure on Downing Street to impose more restrictions to tackle Omicron, as the UK recorded 78,610 new Covid cases.
UK Health Security Agency chief executive Dr Jenny Harries warned the strain is ‘probably the most significant threat’ since the start of the pandemic as she said cases would be ‘staggering’ compared to what has gone before. And England’s chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty told the Downing Street press briefing there were ‘two epidemics on top of one another’.
Boris Johnson said children aged 12 to 15 will be offered their second jab from Monday to tackle a ‘tidal wave of Omicron’
The Prime Minister told a Downing Street press conference this evening: ‘We know how crucial it is to keep children in school, so let’s all make sure our children and young people are vaccinated before they go back next term’
Manchester Town Hall was packed with members of the public waiting to receive a Covid-19 vaccination.
Schools in London and Kent advised parents to bring home their child’s books, along with a laptop in case the student doesn’t return next month.
Geoff Barton (general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders) stated that schools in the United States were experiencing a’very low attendance’ due to the Omicron strain.
Some of these schools were forced to close as a result of low staffing, while others were warned of the potential health consequences of staying open due to high levels of infections.
Local public health departments ordered two schools to close in Bury St Edmunds (Suffolk) this week. On BBC Breakfast, Mr Barton said that the chiefmaster had been removed by the government for health reasons.
Sajid Javid (Health Secretary) stated that Monday was the last day schools can reopen.
The outrage from public campaigners as well as education unions was evident. Some said the Government should do more to ensure that no school term is disrupted.
Paul Whiteman (general secretary, NAHT school leaders’ union) said that the attendance numbers were shocking and that everyone was concerned about the future.
“No one wishes to see the same disruptions to education as we saw last winter. We are seeing evidence that schools are under more pressure.
“The government should think carefully about what mitigations are necessary to ensure that schools remain open for next school year. Nothing is realistic or possible.
“It’s essential that the government does all it can now to stop the spread of Covid schools. That should include reviewing mitigation measures that could be reintroduced whilst transmission rates are high.’
He was critical of the Government, local health authorities and public health workers for their ‘contradictory guidance’ about what schools should do in the build-up to Christmas.
Steve Chalke of Oasis Academy said his schools will be bringing back bubbles. He also mentioned that they are planning to introduce rota lessons and staggered begins.
He stated that he was prepared to offer online education. We are ready for online learning if we reach January 2, when the Prime Minister declares that all schools must be closed.
“January is the unknown.” Omicron, however, is already sweeping London and will soon sweep the nation.
Headteachers, unions, and other heads have called for the 2-week-long Christmas break to be extended into January with a staggered beginning to the 2022 term.
Dr Patrick Roach is the general secretary for NASUWT and has written Mr Zahawi asking for masks to be placed in schools for secondary students.
He added, “We ask for your cooperation to prevent a repetition of the chaos and confusion that last year negatively affected parental confidence and hindered the hard work of educators and school leaders as they prepare for 2021.”
An electronic billboard advertising the Covid-19 vaccination booster program in central London is passed by a pedestrian.
Boris Johnson is Prime Minister at the Downing Street Briefing Room a Press Conference to Update the Nation on Covid-19 Booster Vaccine Program
“We believe that an immediate announcement by the government about additional measures for colleges and schools is necessary before schools and colleges close for the Christmas break.
However, there is disagreement over what actions should be taken. A spokesperson from the ASCL told the Mail that the organization does not support the staggered return idea.
Clare Wagner from Henrietta Barnett School, Barnet, North London told The Evening Standard that testing takes ages and pupils can’t be in school until results are in. They can also not go to lessons until they have received the results so it’s important to start slowly.
The headteachers claim that the education system in Britain is chaotic. Many children are now being taught online, and not going back to class until January.
High infection rates areas such as London and the South-East, and East Midlands have seen schools send entire school year groups home because there aren’t enough teachers or supply teachers. Unions allege that up to 50% of school staff have taken sick leave, and many are absent from work since November.
The return to home schooling for thousands of children came days after an alarming report warned that almost every child in the country has fallen behind at school because of Covid lockdowns – with pupils battling ‘endemic’ loneliness, boredom and misery during the pandemic.