Calm schools will deliver in spite of chaos in Government

SOME 97% of schools expect to open in full to all pupils this week. The rest will follow shortly after.

Despite the delays, U-turns and chaos across UK governments, school leaders and their teams have stuck to their task, calmly, professionally and with good grace under fire.

Parents can have confidence that schools will be ready. School leaders have delivered, as they have done right through this pandemic.

For me, the pandemic has shown up how poor large institutions such as governments and regulators are at the flexibility that is needed when a crisis comes along.

While a few out-of-touch commentators have claimed to be championing children’s best interests, the professionals are the ones showing the real care and attention for young people.

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That is why, for instance, we have said that the Government is wrong to recommend that schools fine parents who are still too concerned to bring their children back. It is better for schools and families to work together. Fines won’t help at all.

Make no mistake, the return to school is a complex operation. The best laid plans will be sternly tested when they come into contact with the real world in the coming weeks.

Schools have done what they can. If the R-rate increases, it would be entirely wrong to lay any blame for that at the door of school leaders.

Civil servants have been blamed for recent failings and removed from their positions, this must not happen to educators. School leaders and their teams, who have worked hard so far, will not stand for any blame-shifting if problems arise.

Fortunately, they have not been distracted. They have demonstrated that at school level, the focus really is on children.