Distancing may be scrapped for schools’ return
SOCIAL distancing rules could be scrapped in schools to enable all pupils to return to the classroom full-time in September.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson is finalising proposals to double the 15-child limit on class sizes in primary schools and ditch requirements for teachers to enforce the new “one metreplus” measure.
Instead, schools will be asked to focus on limiting the extent to which children mix outside their class or year group and on implementing strict hygiene regimes.
Currently, primary school children who have returned are confined to “bubbles” of
15 and are not allowed to interact with children outside their group.
Secondary schools will be able to take a more flexible approach to forming bubbles, which could include an entire year group.
The new plans, which are due to be announced next week, will allow ministers to bypass opposition from teaching unions.
At a private meeting with the 1922 Committee of Tory MPs, Mr Williamson reportedly hit out at the National Education Union, which ministers accuse of blocking an earlier return.
A source said: “It’s clear that Gavin has had enough of the leadership of some of the teaching unions. He’s tried playing nicely with them and they have strung him along, so he’s going to try a different approach.”
Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said: “Leaks of proposals for school reopening this September are really not helpful.”