Sixteen councils say schools will stay shut

MORE than a quarter of a million children could be prevented from going back to school by local councils refusing to open classrooms on June 1.

Sixteen English councils have said they will support local head teachers who decide to keep their schools shut, while a further 10 have directly advised schools not to open.

The Government has asked primary schools to open for reception classes and Years One and Six on June 1, arguing the risk of transmission of coronavirus between pupils is low.

Dr David Nabarro, of the World Health Organisation, said it was safe for children to return to classes. Analysis by this newspaper shows as many as a quarter of a million students in more than 2,500 schools could be prevented from going back to school through council opposition to the Government’s request.

Many that refused to order schools to open were in Labour-controlled northern cities, including Manchester, Leeds and Sunderland.

Hartlepool, Rochdale and Calderdale all advised schools not to open, while Sefton and Stockport councils set later opening dates.

Bradford and Wakefield councils, which oversee some of the worst Ofsted-rated schools in the country, both said schools were free to remain closed.

Tamoor Tariq, Bury council’s lead member for education, said schools in the area would not open. He said:

“While high levels of Covid-19 infection in the North West remain, and guidance around practical arrangements for social distancing within educational environments, testing and tracing, and supply of PPE is unclear, the borough will not be reopening schools on June 1.”

James Daly and Christian Wakeford, Bury’s local Conservative MPS, said the council had no power to keep schools closed and accused Mr Tariq of “political grandstanding”, saying his opinion did not appear to be “based on any scientific or clinical advice”.

In a letter to local heads, they stated: “We believe that any statement should be made in an open and transparent manner, based upon the best evidence available to local leaders and we would urge Mr Tariq and the council to publish this advice before making a decision/recommendation of this nature.”

The Local Government Association, representing most local authorities in England, said councils should be able to see the latest figures on local rates of infection before schools were permitted to reopen.

Last night Robert Halfon, the Conservative

chairman of the education select committee, said students were “potentially having their life chances destroyed” by having to stay at home.

“I understand there is worry about risk, which is minimal according to the WHO, the Children’s Commissioner and many studies in 22 EU countries who have said that it is safe to send children back to school,” he said. “But what about the risk to hundreds of thousands of vulnerable children who are not be- ing educated, who are potentially having their life chances destroyed?”

The news came as the head of an academy chain of seven schools in York said they would close for one day a week for deep cleaning after June 1.

A Department for Education spokesman said: “We want children back in schools as soon as possible because being with their teachers and friends is so important for their education and their well-being.

“Plans for a cautious, phased return of some year groups from 1 June, at the earliest, are based on the best scientific and medical advice. The welfare of children and staff has been at the heart of all decision-making.”