With a growing number of Covid cases, many schools are now facing the possibility of having to close their doors for Christmas.
Many thousands of students across the country have switched to distance learning because of increasing number of positive tests by staff and pupils for the virus.
Oxford Academy is currently in the middle of what it calls a ‘circuit breaker’ for years seven, eight and nine with pupils being taught at home.
Although the school claimed it did everything possible to provide staff coverage, it reached a point when absences were excessive.
Oxford Academy is currently in the middle of what it calls a ‘circuit breaker’ for years seven, eight and nine with pupils being taught at home
Meanwhile, St Mary’s Church of England Primary, Hereford, and Darwen Aldridge Enterprise Studio in Lancashire are also shut for at least five days.
Great Kimble Church of England School, Buckinghamshire closed two days ago due to staff absences. Seven additional schools were closed partially for part of the week.
Outwood Academy Acklam Middlesbrough’s year 9 students were given a remote teaching opportunity for three days to address Covid-related staff shortages. However, at Ifield Community College Crawley West Sussex each student spent one day in the classroom learning remotely.
Guidance from the Department for Education (DfE) says schools should only send large groups of children home in ‘extreme cases’ and as a ‘last resort’.
Fear is growing that school closings could be forced by rising student numbers.
Robin Walker, Schools Minister for Education, advised head teachers that they not transfer nativity play online. It was an action already being taken by many schools and recommended to some councils.
One head teacher in the London borough of Kingston said in a letter to families on Friday: ‘We had to close the school a week early before Christmas last year due to the sheer number of positive cases. I truly hope not to be in that position again this year.’
The DfE had last week instructed secondary school teachers to test all students on-site after returning from the Christmas break.
Meanwhile, public health chiefs at Surrey County Council have issued a circular in which they ‘strongly recommend that face coverings should be worn in communal areas (excluding classrooms)’ in all schools.
Julie McCulloch, director of policy at the Association of School and College Leaders, said: ‘There is clearly a possibility that these ongoing problems will affect some schools in the run-up to Christmas and that a number may have to move to remote education at the end of term.
‘If this does happen, we would not want to see a repeat of last year when the Government issued threats to schools which were considering a move to online.’
Robin Walker, Schools Minister was asking head teachers not to transfer nativity scenes online as a precautionary measure. Some councils had recommended this move by some councils.
Some campaigners have also asked for schools to do all they can to remain fully open to avoid disrupting children’s education and give them the opportunity to enjoy festive activities.
Molly Kingsley, founder of parent group UsForThem, said: ‘Kids have missed out on so much face-to-face time this year. To close schools at a time when adults are about to be enjoying Christmas parties and mixing seems especially unfair.’