Schools WILL reopen next month vows Boris

CORONAVIRUS: BACK TO CLASS

- Macer Hall

BORIS Johnson yesterday vowed to press ahead with his plan to reopen schools despite opposition from teaching union leaders and many local councils.

The Prime Minister promised the phased reopening of primary schools would begin on June 1 and announced that secondary schools will follow a fortnight later.

Speaking at the daily Downing Street coronavirus press conference, Mr Johnson said: “The education of children is crucial for their welfare, for their long-term future and for social justice.

“In line with the approach being taken in many other countries, we want to start getting our children back into the classroom in a way that is as manageable and as safe as possible.

“We said we would begin with early years’ settings and reception, Year one, and Year six in primary schools.

“Today, I can announce it is our intention to go ahead with that as planned on June 1.

“We then intend, from June 15, for secondary schools to provide some contact for Year 10 and Year 12 students to help them to prepare for exams next year, with up to a quarter of these students in at any point.”

Mr Johnson added: “By opening schools to more pupils in this limited way we are taking a deliberately cautious approach and this comes after a constructive period of consultation with school teachers and unions.”

“The Department for Education will engage with teaching unions, local authorities and school leaders giving them an opportunity to ask questions and probe the evidence behind our plans.