... as one council caves in to legal threats on closures

GREENWICH Council is to keep its schools open after caving in to Government legal threats.

The London borough agreed to withdraw its advice to local schools to switch to online learning for the last few days of term amid rising virus rates in the capital.

But Education Secretary Gavin Williamson reacted with a ‘Temporary Continuity Direction’, warning the Labour-run authority to keep schools open or face legal action.

Council leader Danny Thorpe said: ‘With Covid19 cases rising rapidly in the borough, I cannot agree that this is the correct choice.

‘However, I also cannot justify the use of public funds to fight the decision in the courts. I have no choice but to ask our schools to keep their doors open to all.’

After the Government action, Labour-run Islington Council also withdrew similar advice to its schools to move all learning online, but advised them to classify Thursday and Friday this week as inset days instead.

It was not clear if Waltham Forest Council would also back down after the confrontation.

Mr Williamson defended his move by stressing the importance of keeping children in school. But unions reacted with fury to his ‘bully-boy tactics’.

Geoff Barton, head of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: ‘Schools at the very least deserved some flexibility over their end-of-term arrangements in the best interests of their pupils and staff but instead have been met with legal threats. That will not be easily forgotten.’

The row came as the Government steadfastly refused to consider a plea from London mayor Sadiq Khan’s to close secondary schools and colleges early and reopen them later in January.