Alison Phillips’ Diary: Why kids must return to school, and the need for diversity in the newsroom

Leading paediatricians have warned that not sending kids back is risking the life chances of a generation.

BOVINGDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 19: Prime Minister Boris Johnson joins a socially distanced lesson during a visit to Bovingdon Primary School on June 19, 2020 near Hemel Hempstead. The Government have announced a GBP 1 billion plan to help pupils catch up with their education before September after spending months out of school during the coronavirus lockdown. (Photo by Steve Parsons - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

The Mirror has launched a campaign to get the UK’s kids back to school full time from September. The Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson, has failed to devise a clear plan, show leadership to teachers or inspire confidence in parents and children. Instead, there have been more about-turns than a concentric circle in a GCSE maths paper.

Meanwhile, 1,500 leading paediatricians warn that not sending kids back is risking the life chances of a generation and deepening structural and health inequalities, children are suffering mental health decline and the educational gap between the poorer kids and those from private schools being Zoom-tutored from dawn is widening by the moment.