1m pupils in school wait after latest Tory U-turn

AROUND a million primary kids will not return to lessons as planned on Monday after the latest Tory U-turn.

Hapless Education Secretary Gavin Williamson initially claimed only primaries in a “small number of areas” where infection rates were highest would not reopen for faceto-face teaching to all pupils.

The “overwhelming majority” would return, he insisted. But a Department for Education list of areas expected to be hit included London, Essex, Kent, East Sussex, Bucks and Herts – where there are 1.05 million kids aged four to 11, according to analysis by the PA news agency.

Shadow Education Secretary Kate Green said: “Parents face yet another 11th hour U-turn because of a government failure to deliver on testing, and to control the virus. ”

In England’s secondary schools, children in Years 11 and 13 will return to classes a week later than planned, from January 11. The rest are due to return from January 18.

But Boris Johnson warned even that plan could be abandoned “depending on the spread of the disease”. Health chiefs and scientists are alarmed at the acceleration of the virus among young people.

Mr Williamson told the Commons: “We must always act swiftly when circumstances change.”

A YouGov poll found 43% of 7,999 people “strongly support” keeping schools closed for two weeks after the Christmas break.

National Association of Head Teachers general secretary Paul Whiteman said: “School leaders will be baffled, frustrated and justifiably angry.” Association of School and College Leaders general secretary Geoff Barton said the “difficult balancing act” has “clearly swung in the direction of tackling the immediate public health crisis”.

NASUWT general secretary Patrick Roach said: “Continued and unnecessary uncertainty has created huge anxiety for pupils, parents and staff which could and should have been avoided.”

School leaders will be justifiably angry

PAUL WHITEMAN NAHT GENERAL SECRETARY

‘ACT SWIFTLY’ Mr Williamson