Lockdown may not work without shutting England’s schools, top scientist warns

A SAGE expert has warned that schools may have to shut if the new lockdown doesn’t have enough of an effect.

Sir Jeremy Farrar said that while he agrees with the lockdown which will come into force in England on Thursday, the high transmission of coronavirus in schools could make it difficult to keep them open.

He told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show: “The big difference to the first lockdown is that schools remain open.

“Because we have delayed the onset of this lockdown, it does make keeping schools harder.

“We know that transmission particularly in secondary schools is high.

“Personally, I think this is definitely the lockdown to put in place now. But if that transmission particularly in secondary schools continues to rise, then that may have to be revisited in the next four weeks in order to get R below 1 and the epidemic shrinking.”

But Michael Gove insisted that schools would not shut despite Sir Jeremy’s comments.

Asked if he could guarantee schools would not close “under any circumstances”, Michael Gove told Times Radio: “Yes”.

Sir Jeremy also said children of secondary school age should wear masks because it would “reduce the chance” of the virus spreading.

“When you wear a mask you’re essentially protecting other people if you are infected and asymptomatic at the time,” he said.

“I think masks can play a role in that within the environment that are schools.”

But Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said schools “must stay open” during the lockdown but the risk must be “managed” – including mass testing.

“The harm to children of being out of school is too high,” Sir Keir added.

During a public address to the nation last night, Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed that schools and universities will remain open during England’s four-week lockdown.

Mr Johnson said: “We cannot let this virus damage our children’s futures even more than it has already and I urge parents to keep taking their children to school and I’m extremely grateful to teachers across the country for their dedication in enabling schools to remain open.”

Speaking to the BBC, Mr Gove insisted he wanted to keep schools open as “a balance has to be struck”.

“The key thing is, at certain points you, do have to say there are limits to the level of restriction we are going to impose,” he told the BBC.

“The balance we believe is right is continuing with education in the interests of children and their families.”

Before the lockdown was announced, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, Kevin Courtney urged schools to close.

The National Education Union (NEU), which represents the majority of teachers and education professionals in the UK said it would be “self-defeating” for the Government to impose such measures while “ignoring the role of schools as a major contributor to the spread of the virus”.

Mr Courtney said not including schools and colleges would likely lead to the need for even longer lockdowns in future.

“The latest figures from the ONS estimate that 1% of primary pupils and 2% of secondary pupils have the virus and that these levels have increased dramatically since wider opening in September,” he said.

“NEU analysis of ONS figures shows that virus levels are now nine times higher amongst primary pupils and an astonishing 50 times higher amongst secondary pupils.

“The National Education Union called for a two-week circuit break over half-term to include schools, which the Wales Government and the Northern Ireland assembly have done – but the Government in Westminster has ignored this call.

“More severe measures are now called for as a result, the Government should not make this mistake again.

“The Government should include all schools in proposals for an immediate national lockdown and as a minimum be preparing for school rotas at the end of that period, including by actually meeting its promise to deliver broadband and equipment to those children who do not have them.

“It is also vital that the Government ensure proper financial support for all those affected by lockdown including crucial supply teachers and other staff.”

This comes as new figures show the virus is 50 times higher among secondary school pupils.

The NEU today said 85,000 teachers and support staff have backed their call to #CloseTheSchools, which began trending on Twitter shortly after the PM’s announcement.

Anne Longfield, the Children’s Commissioner for England, welcomed the news that schools will remain open.

She tweeted: “Suggestions that schools will stay open during a forthcoming lockdown are very welcome.

“We’ve always said that schools should be the last to shut & first to open. It would be a disaster for children’s well-being and education if they were to close.”