Schools in England could face legal action if they try to switch to online learning in the run-up to Christmas.
New powers introduced through the Coronavirus Act allow the government to issue "directions" to headteachers to keep schools open.
If they fail to comply, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson could apply for a High Court injunction forcing them to do so.
It comes as a headteacher in Ware, Hertfordshire, was sent a "minded to direct" letter from schools minister Nick Gibb warning that the emergency powers could be used.
Presdales School had planned to switch to online learning for the final week of term to ensure staff and pupils did not have to self-isolate on Christmas Day, Schools Week reported.
The Department for Education (DfE) said directions under the act would only be used as a "last resort", while a court order would be the "final stage" if they were not followed.
A spokeswoman confirmed a letter was sent to the school, adding: "They have now changed their plans as to what they are doing this term."
The Government's policy to keep schools open flies directly in the face of public health, with Xmas gatherings being allowed. This has the very real prospect of costing lives, just to save face. What is a week? Just tag it on to the end of the summer term, when the elderly and those vulnerable have been vaccinated by then. The public are being used with disregard as cannon fodder. I hope the High Court can see sense and throw out any such applications.
I dare not comment as it could be deemed “political.” Keeping people safe is paramount but it’s really down to each of us to look after ourselves. There is guidance around Christmas, just don’t catch anything and take care. Xxxx😘
Could and is are not the same. It is primarily about public health, the responsibility is a legal matter, one for the High Court. I would rather think that the government will not risk taking it to court and lose more trust and credibility than they already have. More of a poker game, using bluff, rather than being political, no more than all the failures seen in the last 10 months that have cost lives. No matter which party is in power the same criticism would apply. I did say government not any particular political party and not one of them deserve my vote or endorsement.
I cannot listen to Gav's voice, his condescending tone and manner, treating us like little babies, is just too much to bare. I have to turn him off before a blood vessel bursts.
Personally from an infection control point of view I believe each school should be able to make safety and health decisions in their own right. Each school is different and a blanket decision could be disastrous. Basically it is like saying each person with COPD must use the same type of inhaler.
You're absolutely on the spot 2greys! The rules are nonsensical and I've said it before and I'll say it again they don't give two hoots about the kids or their education. They are and always have been used as pawns in these political manouverings to deal with this crisis. Shame on this government and Williamson needs kicking down the road like the proverbial can!
My friend's son (aged 11) has just been isolating for 14 days as a child in his class tested positive for COVID. There are other cases in the school in other bubbles. His parents have decided not to send him back to school until after Christmas as they plan to spend it with his grandfather who would otherwise be alone. They do not want to run the risk of giving the virus to him.
It makes me think that online learning for all schools until the end of this term would not be a bad thing.
That would be fine Moy but in some deprived areas, such as the one my daughter teaches in, many of the kids do not have access to ipads etc. The teachers had to give out homework to the kids houses during lockdown. It’s not a level playing field.Love cx
Access to digital learning to all that needed it is another broken promise, laptops, tablets and routers with free internet access were promised back in April.
Yes, you are quite right to make that point. There is always another side, isn't there - never a 'one size fits all'. And of course, there is the social and safety aspect of having the schools closed too. For too many children, school is the only place they get fed and for those at risk of abuse, the schools do a great job of flagging up concerns.
I hadn't woken up properly when I wrote my first reply to 2greys. There is always the bigger picture to consider. xx Moy
PS Many thanks to your daughter and all school staff who have worked their socks off this year with little appreciation. Those people who thought they all had 'paid time off' when the schools were closed have no idea how hard they were all working to keep things going for the children. x
One of my daughterinlaw's is in charge of catering at her school and she has said so many times since this started how hard the teachers are working and let's not forget the administrator, quote "she's on her knees"! Through the holidays, my girl has been working on her own doing the packed lunches for the children who needed them for various reasons. These are never mentioned. At one point she was doing two schools!
My other daughter in law is a school governor and the position and responsibility they hold now is nothing like in the past. The governors have had to make decisions that have totally weighed heavy on their shoulders. She found it very hard to bear the burden of responsibility for other people's children being made to attend school, when all she wanted to do was keep hers, our grandchildren, safe at home with her. It's one thing to run a school budget, deal with bullying policies and all the aspects that are part of normal school life, but quite another to make decisions that could potentially harm children and their families. She's a very level headed girl, well educated with a Masters degree but this factor totally overwhelmed and depressed her.
Don’t forget sorting out mother’s fighting knocking seven bells out of each other, punched and scratched faces, not exactly social distancing in the playground during lockdown in front of kids, teachers and staff and other parents!!!!!!Cx
OMG! I forgot that! What was that all about? Funnily enough when the garden centres were first allowed to open back in the summer, one of the chaps was telling us how the day before there were two women who came to blows over some tomato plants!! 😁😂 Strange times!
You’re right Moy, takes a lot of staff in all roles to make a school run smoothly. Oh long holidays - that old chestnut- if it’s so great I wonder why so many leave the profession so quickly and they could always get themselves and application form if the job’s so attractive!
The government clearly has no idea what happens in educational institutions in the final week of term, before Christmas.
Are all pupils fully engaged in academic pursuit in this final week? Definitely not!
They are far more sociable, very jolly and in the vast majority of cases not interested in their own academic welfare. What the government fail to recognise is that a large majority of teenagers, in state schooling, only become aware of their need to academically progress in the final run up to exams.
A year to a teenager is a long time. It is one of the major frustrations of a teacher. We are aware that the exam process needs to be built up over a period of time, by practice and gaining knowledge. Unfortunately, teenagers only seem to realise this at the last minute!
What does go on in the final weeks of term?
Anything to entertain teenagers and keep them from becoming too lively, although videos are a no no!
In view of the infection rate increasing in the the 11 - 18 year old age group and potentially infecting the older and more vulnerable age groups, it would appear sensible to close the schools down a week earlier than normal.
This will not stop any future Einsteins reaching their goals.
The longer the children are in school and being supervised, the longer the parents can work in the run-up to Xmas. With the older children at home and parents at work, they know a lot of these youngsters will be out mixing in each other's houses or elsewhere. Unfortunately there is truth in this but when they leave school in the afternoons nobody is going to tell me that this isn't happening anyway.
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