“They have agonised about what to do” – The schools that say they won’t open on Monday as Covid cases soar

Schools across Greater Manchester have announced that they will not be opening to pupils on Monday (January 4).

The Manchester Evening News has been contacted about nine school closures across the region so far, but many more are expected to announce that they will remain closed.

In Oldham, St. Mary’s C.E. High Crompton Primary School, Knowsley Junior School and Holy Trinity C of E School will not open.

While in Manchester Mount Carmel R.C, in Blakley; Oswald Road Primary, in Chorlton; St Peter’s Catholic Primary School, in Wythenshawe and Birchfields Primary, in Fallowfield, will all remain closed tomorrow.

In Trafford, Pictor Academy, in Altrincham and Longford Park School, in Stretford, will both be closed on Monday for an “emergency training day”.

It comes as pressure builds on the government to close schools nationwide.

Unions have advised members that they have the ‘legal right’ not to turn up for work due to health and safety concerns in light of rising coronavirus cases.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has insisted that ‘schools are safe’ and said he wants all primary schools to open tomorrow as planned – apart from those in London and the South East where the number of cases is soaring.

But Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said it was ‘inevitable’ that more schools will close and urged the government to come up with a plan on children’s learning and for working parents.

Headteachers at each of the schools to announce closure say teaching staff have been advised by unions not to attend work on health and safety grounds.

As a result, these schools will not be able to open ‘safely’ as there will not be enough staff.

One headteacher praised her staff who she says have all “agonised about what to do”.

Announcing the closure of Knowsley Junior School, in Springhead, Oldham, on Monday, headteacher Mrs Payne said: “This has been a terribly difficult decision to make, and I am personally sorry that it has come so late in the day, as I know how this will impact upon you and your children.

In a letter to parents she wrote: “As ever, the governors have our whole school community to keep safe in these troubling times and currently, we do not have enough staff members available to open safely.”

She said teachers have received advice from unions but have not had any further advice from Oldham Council and have “had to make their own decisions in isolation”.

“My heart goes out to them, as they are all tremendously professional and have agonised about what to do: they have been pulled in so many different directions.”

St. Mary’s C.E. High Crompton Primary School, in Shaw, Oldham, also confirmed it will not open on Monday (January 4) due to “the lack of available staff and the resultant health and safety issues that this creates”.

The school will be accommodating the vulnerable children and those of key workers from Tuesday, January 5 and offering remote learning from that date.

“The school closure is due to the majority of our teachers following their Union advice around returning to work under Section 44 of the Health and Safety Act,” a letter to parents reads.

“The Unions have advised all their members in the United Kingdom that it is not safe to return to work if a school is in a Tier 4 area.

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“Of the 7 classes in school, 5 class teachers have informed me that they are unavailable for full-class teaching due to significant concerns of health and safety under a range of legislation.

“This is enshrined in employment law and it is for people with far more knowledge of these matters than me to evaluate.

“It is impossible for me to arrange supply cover for these staff at this short notice and therefore, I have to conclude that school cannot operate safely.”

The school reports that the ‘vast majority’ of support staff and lunchtime staff have also raised concerns.

“I have risk assessed the return of all pupils and decided that it is not safe to do so due to the lack of staff to ensure the well-being and safety of our children.”

The ‘majority’ of teaching staff at Holy Trinity C of E School, in Dobcross, are not expected to return to school on Monday morning (January 4) as advised by their union.

In a letter to parents, headteacher Elizabeth Travis said: “I have risk assessed the return of all pupils and decided that it is not safe to do so due to the lack of staff to ensure the well-being and safety of our children.

“The school will therefore only be open to Key Worker children and Vulnerable children only.”

St Peter’s Catholic Primary School, in Wythenshawe, announced closure on Monday on its  website.

A letter from the head, Mrs Quinn, reads: “I am extremely sorry to tell you all this with such little notice to plan and prepare for your children.

“Unison, who represent support staff, together with the biggest teaching union, the National Education Union, have advised their members not to attend school to teach classes of children if, within the relevant legislation, those members consider it unsafe to do so. As a consequence, the Governors, in consultation with myself have made the decision that school will not be and cannot be made to be a safe working environment for all children to attend school.

“School will not be open to all children until at the earliest, Monday 11th January and unfortunately this may be for longer. I will be in contact regularly with further updates as they arise and very much hope that we will be able to welcome all children back to school as soon as possible.”

Birchfields Primary School, in Fallowfield, will also be closed on Monday and Tuesday, according to its website.

Children of critical workers will be able attend school from Wednesday January 6, it states.

Mount Carmel R.C. Primary School, in Blakley, will not open on Monday either “in the absence of a clear approach from government” and limited numbers of staff.

The school is due to reopen on Tuesday to “blended learning”.

“We will review this decision weekly until it is safe to open once more to everyone, a decision taken based on scientific evidence,” headteacher Jacqui Potts wrote in a letter to parents.

Meanwhile, Green Party Mayoral candidate Melanie Horrocks tweeted that Oswald Road Primary School, in Chorlton, won’t open.

She wrote: “Hearing that Oswald Road school in Manchester are going to be closed to all but key worker & EHCP children after inset & home learning days. Presume this is following @NEUnion members following advice.

“Solidarity with their staff as they act to protect themselves & their kids.”

Pictor Academy, in Altrincham and Longford Park School in Stretford will both be closed on Monday for an “emergency training day”.

In a letter seen by the M.E.N, Beverley Owens, chief executive officer of The Sovereign Trust – which runs both schools – apologised for the short notice.

“School leaders and teachers will use tomorrow to make plans and inform parents for as many children as is safely possible to return to school on Tuesday 5 January,” she wrote.

If you have information about school closures please email emma.gill@reachplc.com