New ‘double bubbles’ to get all pupils back in class
THE 15-child limit on class sizes is to be more than doubled under plans to get all pupils back to school in September.
Proposals being finalised by the Education Secretary Gavin Williamson will continue the ‘bubble’ system that has allowed some primary classes to start up again already.
Currently, the bubbles of up to 15 children are taught together but not allowed to mix with other classes in the school.
Mr Williamson is now planning a ‘double bubble’ that will allow class sizes of more than 30, allowing a full return for primary schools in September.
Bubble schemes are also being planned for secondary schools, where the situation is more complex because of the need for pupils to move around the school for different subjects.
A Whitehall source said the plans, which will be published next week, would allow Boris Johnson to meet his pledge to get all children back full-time for the start of the school year in September.
The move will allow ministers to bypass opposition from teaching unions, who warn a full return will be impossible due to a need for social distancing.
Alternative proposals to requisition public buildings and bring back an army of retired teachers have been abandoned as impractical.
Ministers are now considering whether to make schooling compulsory again for pupils from September.
At a private meeting with the 1922 Committee of Tory MPs last night, the Education Secretary rounded on the National Education Union, which ministers accuse of blocking an earlier return.
Mr Williamson described the militant union, which represents more than 450,000 teachers and support staff, as the ‘No Education Union’.
A source at the meeting said: ‘It’s clear that Gavin has had enough with the leadership of some of the teaching unions who he accuses of working to stop teachers and children going back. He’s tried playing nicely with them and they have strung him along, so he’s going to try a different approach.’
Robert Halfon, Tory chairman of the Commons education committee, last night called for a ‘can-do spirit’. Mr Halfon said: ‘It is critical that we get all children back in September if we are to avoid an epidemic of educational poverty and a safeguarding crisis.
‘We need a can-do spirit from everyone involved to avoid damaging the life chances of a generation of children.’
Ministers faced a backlash this month when they abandoned plans to get all primary school classes back for a month before the end of the summer term.
Head teachers said it was simply not possible to get everyone back while the 15-child limit remained in place.
But a Whitehall source said falls in virus cases meant Public Health England was ready to dramatically increase the guidance on the size of bubbles that can be operated safely.
‘We can change the social distance rules and increase the size of the bubbles,’ the source said. ‘That is potentially a game-changer for schools.’