Yesterday’s Education Secretary refusal to give assurances that schools will remain open through the winter made fears of school closings worsen.
Nadhim Zahawi said the Government would ‘do everything in our power to protect education’ – but stopped short of promising schools would stay open despite rising cases of the new variant.
On BBC1’s The Andrew Marr, he was asked if it would be possible to guarantee that schools will not close. He dodged this question.
In defiance of Whitehall guidance, many schools closed earlier than expected for Christmas. It is believed that other local authorities may be considering the same moves to reduce Omicron-related cases.
The decision comes at a time when a chief in public health has called for an extension to the school holiday, as a firebreak’ from Covid.
Nadhim Zahawi (pictured) said the Government would ‘do everything in our power to protect education’ – but stopped short of promising schools would stay open despite rising cases of the new variant
Blackburn with Darwen director of public-health, Professor Dominic Harrison said an extra week on either side of the 2-week break would help reduce transmission and protect schools during the New Year.
He said that a firebreak would be the most effective way to control Omicron, after the Centre for Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases (CMMID) had determined the strain has a “very significant effect” on schools.
A senior leader from the National Education Union, whose members were unhappy about being exposed to Covid-infected pupils, echoed his proposal.
Campaigners yesterday urged local councils not to close schools. Molly Kingsley of UsForThem parent group said that schools are essential for children. It is a crime to close them.
“Just like it is impossible to shut down power plants, hospitals and essential retail stores, so it should be impossible to close schools.
Professor Dominic Harrison (pictured), director of public health for Blackburn with Darwen, said adding a week either side of the two-week break could reduce transmission to ‘vulnerable family members’ and protect schools in the New Year
Munira Wilson (Lib Dem Education spokesperson) said about Mr Zahawi’s remarks that: “This failure to give a solid guarantee pretty much says everything about the Government and its priorities. The Government’s failure to address Covid has repeatedly let our children down.
Sybil Andrews Academy in Bury St Edmonds (Suffolk) are among the schools closing for Christmas. The pupils have moved to online education and are not yet certain if they will be returning in person in January.
The two schools identified the Omicron variant in 2 cases.
Stuart Keeble is the director of health services for Suffolk. He stated that “We all must live with caution until we fully understand Omicron’s impact.”