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Secondary school re-opening ‘WILL be delayed by at least an extra week’ with Army on standby to test thousands
BORIS Johnson is poised to delay the return to school of Years 11 and 13 — but allow primaries to go back as normal from Monday.
The PM was warned yesterday that reopening schools would require tougher lockdown rules forced on the rest of the country.
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Professor Neil Ferguson, the architect of the first Covid lockdown, said that even shutting them and universities may not be enough to regain control over the new virus strain.
Mr Johnson will make a final decision today, but it is thought he has reached a compromise in which all secondary school years — including the crucial exam Years 11 and 13 — will be held back by a week.
Year 11 pupils are taking GCSEs next year and those in Year 13 are taking A-levels. It had been planned for those two years to start as normal on January 4 and for others to have a staggered return.
But the PM was still expected to say that all primaries must return from that date.
Some scientists were yesterday calling for a complete shutdown of schools and universities.
But Dr Mike Tildesley, of the Sage advisory group, said: “We must avoid falling into the situation where schools are closed for next term.
'DANGEROUS NEW PHASE'
"Just because there is a rise in cases in that age group doesn’t mean they’re being infected in schools.”
However, Prof Ferguson said: “Nobody wants to keep schools shut. But if that’s the only alternative to having exponentially growing numbers of hospitalisations, that may be required, at least for a period.
“My real concern is, even if universities and schools do have staggered returns or even stay closed, how easy it would be to maintain control of the virus is unclear now.”
And Prof Andrew Hayward, of University College London, warned the reopening of schools would see a need for “increased, strict restrictions” in other areas of society “to pay for that”.
He added: “We are entering a very dangerous new phase of the pandemic and we’re going to need decisive, early, national action to prevent a catastrophe in January and February.”
Last night the Independent Sage group of medics and scientists — set up to challenge the Government’s official scientific advisory committee — called for an immediate national lockdown, including school closures.
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They said any delay will cause “tens of thousands” of avoidable deaths and the NHS to be “brought to its knees”.
Covid cases soared to another record high of 53,135 yesterday, with a further 414 deaths.
Mr Johnson was locked in crunch meetings to decide which areas will be plunged into the highest Tier 4 level of restrictions.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock will announce the decision today, but millions of people in the Midlands, Cumbria and Lancashire are expected to join the 24 million already living under the toughest measures.
The changes are likely to come into effect tomorrow to stop people meeting to celebrate New Year’s Eve.
Health bosses warned that yesterday’s surge in cases was of “extreme concern” as it came amid scenes of ambulances queueing to get into A&E departments in Essex and London.
'DIFFICULT DECISIONS'
The number of Covid patients in London hospitals is now higher than at the peak of the first wave.
Some hospitals in the capital requested intensive care patients to be sent to Yorkshire.
Critical care in the South East was running at more than 100 per cent capacity.
Last night the NHS Providers group urged the PM to increase the number of Tier 4 areas.
Deputy CEO Saffron Cordery said: “We urgently need to get ahead of the outbreak. It will require difficult decisions, moving millions more people to the highest level.
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF VULNERABLE KIDS MISS SCHOOL
TENS of thousands of sick childrenhave missed out on all education formost of this year because of the closure of schools during the pandemic.
A leading charity warned last night many children with long-term conditions such as cancer have not received any lessons since the virus struck in March.
No official figures exist, but campaigners estimate that many thousands have been affected.
Joshua Pelled, of charity Bright Futures UK which helps children whose education is threatened by serious illness, said: ‘Tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of children are
estimated to be missing schooling.
“Schools and hospitals were already overworked and overwhelmed and not able to handle the needs of these children but this has been exacerbated by the virus.
“These children with long term conditions have been left out in the cold having to struggle by themselves. There is a huge fallout from Covid. It’s a dire situation”.
He added these children were often forgotten “by the Government, the school, their
local authorities”.
Mr Pelled’s charity – which he set up after he received little education while he battled
cancer as a child – had its busiest month in October.
Mr Pelled added: ‘Children are having to choose between their education and being
healthy at the moment.’
The Department for Education said pupils who have been advised not to attend school
could receive a laptop or tablet to help their learning.
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“Trust leaders know the impact of these rules on people’s livelihoods and well-being, and on the economy. But the cost of shying away from these tough calls would be much greater.”
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Some senior Tories yesterday slammed the PM’s delay in announcing when schools will re-open.
MP Robert Halfon, who chairs the Commons Education Select Committee, said: “Whatever the risk, we have to weigh up the risks of children’s academic attainment, their mental health, their well-being.”
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Michael Gove says Government reviewing staggered school return plan in next 48 hours
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