On 22 December, while millions were frantically rethinking their Christmas plans following the introduction of new tier four restrictions, the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) told the prime minister that schools would have to close in order to bring the latest surge in Covid infections under control. Against both the scientists’ advice and pressure from the Department of Health, Boris Johnson insisted no action was necessary.
Over the Christmas period, it became apparent to anyone who could read a graph that education settings would, indeed, have to close. Yet Johnson, and the hapless Gavin Williamson, continued to insist schools were safe and would remain open. They then allowed English schools to open for one day, enabling millions of children to mingle and transmit their holiday virus, before at last accepting reality and moving all but vulnerable pupils and the children of key workers to remote learning for at least the whole of this half term – creating last-minute chaos and confusion for teachers, parents and pupils themselves.
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