Special ‘catch-up summer camps’ could be set up in the school holidays

Special ‘catch-up summer camps’ could be set up in the school holidays as Education Secretary Gavin Williamson hints at other ‘initiatives’ Pupils could be sent on special ‘summer camps’  to receive missed tuition Education Secretary hints of ‘initiatives’ to be rolled out during the summer  Gavin Williamson outlined his plans for a phased school reopening from … Read more

Children MUST get back to school, insists Gavin Williamson, brushing off concerns over pupil safety

Gavin Williamson piled pressure on teaching unions and local politicians today as he warned of the dire ‘consequences if children did not start returning to school. The Education Secretary made a blunt appeal to the emotions of parents tonight as he insisted planning can begin to reopen classrooms from as early as next month. Outlining … Read more

Schools chaos as second council REFUSES to restart classes next month but academies says they WILL

The bitter row over Government plans to reopen schools exploded into fresh coronavirus chaos today as a second council said it would defy Government orders to restart classes.  Hartlepool in County Durham, joined Liverpool in saying it would ignore the plan to let some primary school pupils back to the school from June 1. Education … Read more

Schools chaos as second council REFUSES to restart classes next month but academies says they WILL

The bitter row over Government plans to reopen schools exploded into fresh coronavirus chaos today as a second council said it would defy Government orders to restart classes.  Hartlepool in County Durham, joined Liverpool in saying it would ignore the plan to let some primary school pupils back to the school from June 1. Education … Read more

BMA says teachers’ unions are ‘absolutely right’ to claim it is unsafe for schools to open on June 1

The British Medical Association has said teachers’ unions are ‘absolutely right’ to say it is unsafe for schools to open on June 1 – as The Children’s Commissioner led a chorus of influential voices urging unions to co-operate with plans. The UK’s largest doctors’ union warned the number of coronavirus cases was still too high … Read more

Children’s Commissioner says let’s get schools open

Children’s Commissioner says let’s get schools open as she leads a chorus of influential voices urging teachers’ unions to co-operate with plans to reopen schools for the sake of pupils Anne Longfield called on union leaders to work with ministers to get pupils back Former Labour education secretary has also criticised trade union intransigence A … Read more

Social distancing CAN be done in schools, insists government minister Brandon Lewis

Liverpool today became the first English city to refuse to return children to school next month as the Government faced a growing row over its plan to restart lessons. The Merseyside port’s council confirmed that from June 1 only the children of key workers and those deemed vulnerable would be allowed to attend – as … Read more

Social distancing CAN be done in schools, insists government minister Brandon Lewis

Safe social distancing can be done in schools, a top minister insisted today as the Government set itself up for a major row with education unions. Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis said it was vital pupils were back in classrooms within weeks, both to allow key workers to keep working to save lives from coronavirus … Read more

Time to get back to class: Row between teachers and unions explodes…

The row between teachers and unions over when and how to reopen our schools exploded last night. In an extraordinary intervention, former education secretary David Blunkett accused the unions of ‘working against the interests of children’ by continuing to frustrate teachers who are desperate to get back into the classroom. And current Education Secretary Gavin … Read more

Time to get back to class: Row between teachers and unions explodes…

The row between teachers and unions over when and how to reopen our schools exploded last night. In an extraordinary intervention, former education secretary David Blunkett accused the unions of ‘working against the interests of children’ by continuing to frustrate teachers who are desperate to get back into the classroom. And current Education Secretary Gavin … Read more