‘The department need to get a grip of the situation urgently’

THE M.E.N. contacted all 10 boroughs in Greater Manchester to hear their position on primary schools reopening.

We were unable to get a comment from Stockport, Trafford and Wigan. Here is what leaders of the other seven councils said:

Manchester

Executive member for children and schools, Coun Garry Bridges, said: “Our starting point is that the best place for children is to be in school. Throughout the pandemic our schools have responded brilliantly to that.”

He added: “The government have handled this situation appallingly with confusing and contradictory advice followed by repeated last-minute U-turns and it is no surprise that the secretary of state has lost the confidence of schools. The department need to get a grip of the situation urgently to enable our schools to stay open.”

Rochdale

Council leader Allen Brett said: “I do believe that children should go to school but they’ve got to be safe, and the teachers have to be safe. At the end of the day it’s the headteachers’ decision whether they should remain open.” Sean Fielding, leader of Oldham council, said: “I would like to see the authority given to educational leaders to flex start dates depending on local circumstances. Headteachers, directors of public health, directors of children’s services, these are the people that have the greatest knowledge on deciding if schools should be open. The power should be in our own hands rather than Whitehall..”

Salford

On Saturday, Coun John Merry, deputy city mayor in Salford, said he and council colleagues were ‘reviewing the data’. “We have every sympathy with the teaching unions and the chaos that’s been caused,” he said. “We have to bear in mind the damage to children’s education caused by school closures. We have to weigh this up against the welfare of staff, teachers and children with keeping them open.”

Bolton

David Greenhalgh, leader of Bolton council, said: “We are in support of primaries reopening in Bolton. The schools have been open while our rates have been over 500 (per 100,000 people) over the last month. It’s clearly evidence-based that the closure disproportionately and negatively impacts on those families and children from lower incomes and deprived areas.”

Bury

Council leader Eamonn O’Brien said: “It’s quite a difficult situation for many of our schools. I think it’s been made worse by the government’s approach and the last minute nature of decision making. It’s causing a great deal of stress.

“Our schools are working hard to reopen and to do it safely to make sure children get the best possible education. The government’s approach is too centralised - what they would be better doing is working with school leaders, trade unions and local authorities... to get the best possible decision for each school.”

Tameside

The council said in a statement: “In view of the current rates of infection in the borough, the effectiveness of the track and trace model in our schools and the risk posed to the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children by not being in school, we are not advising the wholesale closure of primary schools (today).”