Pupils will be hit for the rest of their lives

Scientists warn against keeping schools shut – but call for track and trace

SCHOOL closures could cause a lifelong ‘shock’ to children’s prospects, Government scientists warned yesterday – but unions fighting plans to reopen refused to budge.

The Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies (Sage) believes the classroom shutdown could affect ‘ educational and work outcomes for the rest of their lives’, papers released yesterday show.

The claim is contained within a series of documents detailing Sage’s advice to the Government, published in a bid to convince teaching unions to drop their opposition to reopening schools on June 1.

But the documents show Sage believes track and trace must be in place before schools do reopen, heaping pressure on No 10. In one paper, the scientists state: ‘A cohort of children have experienced a shock to their education which will persist and affect their educational and work outcomes for the rest of their lives.’

They also suggest that the lockdown may lead to an increase in ‘adverse childhood experiences’ – such as domestic violence or child neglect – and is likely to ‘exacerbate social inequalities’.

The papers were released as researchers at University College London found children were half as likely as adults to catch Covid-19, with lead scientists saying the results pointed ‘strongly towards a return to school’.

Boris Johnson wants primaries in England in Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 to go back to class from a week on Monday, with others to follow in a ‘phased’ restart.

Sage also suggested that younger teachers’ attendance could be prioritised in order to decrease the likelihood of infection for staff in more vulnerable groups.

Chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance yesterday said reopening was likely to push the virus’ reproduction ‘R-rate’ up. He said: ‘The risk for children is much lower ... but not zero risk.’

Sage also believes there is still some risk if reopenings are mishandled. One recent paper notes that if the virus ‘reproduction number is only just below 1, then even a small change could lead to a return to exponential growth’.

Resistance to the reopening, led by the hardline National Education Union and some councils, has left parents in the dark.

Last night Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the

NEU, accused the Government of a ‘cavalier attitude towards the nation’s children’.

Their refusal to get behind the proposals could cause chaotic reopenings of schools at different times – or even a humiliating climbdown by the Government.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer yesterday said he knew the importance of keeping children in education because his son and daughter have both attended school in the lockdown, since his wife Victoria is a key worker in the NHS.

In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, Sir Keir said he wanted more children back at school as soon as possible but added: ‘Of course, it’s got to be safe.’

A Department for Education spokesman said: ‘This cautious, phased approach ... has been, and will continue to be, informed by the best possible scientific and medical advice.’