The long road back to the classroom

March 18 Boris Johnson announces that schools in the UK will close from March 20. Only schools looking after children of key workers and vulnerable children will remain open.

April 19 Gavin Williamson, the Education Secretary, says there are “no plans” to open schools over the summer following rumours they could reopen on May 11. He said five “tests” must first be met, including a fall in infections and the daily death rate.

April 29 Mr Williamson reveals that a Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) sub-group will examine how schools could be reopened in a safe way.

June 15 Students in Years 10 and 12 in England are offered face-toface contact with teachers for the first time. However, some secondary schools remain closed.

June 17 Teachers’ unions deny suggestions by Conservative MPs that they have been “actively obstructive” over the reopening of schools in England. Tory MP Jonathan Gullis, who is a former teacher, accuses the NEU of running a “political campaign … to basically make sure schools did not open”.

April 7 Scientists question whether closing schools will stem the spread of Covid-19. Prof Russell Viner, from University College London, says the impact is “likely to be small”. Prof Neil Ferguson, from Imperial College London, claims the research fails to take into account the impact of school closures alongside other measures.

May 2 The Sunday Telegraph reveals that primary schools are due to reopen on June 1 as part of Mr Johnson’s blueprint for gradually “unlocking” Britain.

June 9 Mr Williamson announces an about-turn as plans to fully reopen primary schools before the end of term are abandoned. Kevin Courtney, the joint general secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), which led the opposition to reopening, described the decision as a “win for science and for every NEU member”.

July 3 Mr Williamson warns councils, parents and teaching unions not to block the return to school, insisting that children must have full-time education in England from September.

August 19 Mr Williamson is warned that failure to have schools reopen smoothly after the summer holidays will mean the end of his tenure as Education Secretary. The warning followed the A-level and GCSE results fiasco which saw thousands of pupils’ marks downgraded.