Schools 'should be kept open where possible' say Black Country leaders

The Government has been warned it may need to consider closing schools in the new year to try and halt the spread of coronavirus, amid rising concern over the new variant. But Boris Johnson has stressed his desire to keep children in school wherever possible.

Primary school children and those in Years 11 and 13 are due to return next week, and the rest the following week. Michael Gove said ahead of a Department of Education meeting yesterday that the Government was sticking to that plan, but added the situation was under constant review.

Pat McFadden, Labour MP for Wolverhampton South East, said: "It is right to make it a priority for education to continue where possible.

"The more that children are off school the more their education will suffer and the more inequality will be exacerbated. Online learning is not an equal alternative.

"Ultimately it may come to a point where they are not able to (keep schools open) but the priority should be to try."

Mike Hardacre, education boss at Wolverhampton Council, argued schools needed to be given more notice of what is happening so they can make preparations.

Councillor Hardacre said: "Wolverhampton local authority and its schools have worked extremely hard to try and ensure maximum safety and health of all of its children with the guidelines that have been agreed with the co-operation of the public health department.

"This has been extremely successful and one of the reasons is because we have rather more notice than three days.

"It would be helpful if the Government was clearer about its message earlier so that the local authority and schools can do what they need to do without having to rush it."

Councillor Hardacre admitted the new coronavirus strain was a concern when it came to schools.

He added: "It would seem the new strain is rather more infectious and rather more likely to hit children of upper secondary school age. It is imperative in these circumstances the Government rolls out the Covid-19 vaccination as quickly as possible, not only to vulnerable groups but teachers and those who will be most at risk in schools.

"I hope they are capable of doing that but experience makes me ask questions."

Conservative Walsall Council leader Mike Bird said: "At the end of the day if the schools are not opening the knock-on effect will be people can't go to work.

"The Government made a mistake at the beginning of this when they said children appear to be immune it it. That appears not to be the case. They can carry the virus and take it back home."