Schools to open as planned in Jan, says Michael Gove.

[DonLewis]

Breaking news.

I can't help but think this is madness.

I agree. Most of us will be in tier 4 but hundreds of kids mixing all day as well as parents at pick up times.

If Michael Gove says they are going to open they will most likely shut.

he kept saying 'we hope' so I'm not banking on it

On BBC just now? He said he hoped they would open to year 11 and 13 and key workers/ vulnerable children plus all years in primary, didn't he? When questioned he couldn't guarantee there wouldn't be further announcements.

Parents and teachers need to get plans in place. I'm 100% sure there will be a last minute announcement.

I've just read that he said primary will open but only years 11 and 13 other than that.

We should have an update by the weekend to say actually they're not now then......

He didn't say that? I can't say 100% what I heard but there was definitely as long as its safe inference there. Are you Laura Kuenssberg?

@Againstmachine

If Michael Gove says they are going to open they will most likely shut.

This /\/\

There's plenty of time for a u-turn.

As an infant school teacher and parent this is causing me a lot of anxiety. I want my class to return next week but I also want us all to be safe.

Ah, I wasn't watching, just read a news story (that I'm trying to link to!) and they made it seem pretty definite.

No, he said primaries will open as usual but secondaries are to revert to online learning for a week (bet it will be longer), apart from years 11, 13, vulnerable pupils and children of key workers.

How can he even say this when the meeting to discuss hasnt been held yet

That's nit what he said at all

He’s been on a few outlets and it’s slightly different each time - seeing people quote him on here

News still saying yes to return but will see

That was the announced plan though, a phased return for secondaries for the first week. And he's said that's what they'll do.

Is there an education meeting today or did I imagine that?

Absolutely ridiculous. I'm going to keep my year 2 daughter home due to me being CEV to the virus. Open the schools will just fuel it.

Surely we've already learnt that give just makes it up as he goes along.

Selfishly I do hope primaries stay open. I just can't work otherwise.

This is so frustrating, why the hell are they keeping primary school kids in? Let's pretend for a minute that the rapid tests aren't woefully inaccurate, how many 6 year olds will willingly take a swab on their tonsils without a massive fuss? Mass testing won't work in primaries so they're carrying on sticking their fingers in their ears and whistling, with no extra mitigation measures to stop the spread of this new more contagious strain!!

I'm lucky to have the choice so I will be removing my child from school. But other clinically vulnerable parents don't have that choice, this is absurd. I'm not saying close the schools forever, but for the love of God get the bloody science together and let's see what we're actually dealing with before subjecting children to a mass scientific gamble.

I was only half awake but I thought there was no firm commitment and that there were discussions ongoing

That was the original plan, before the new stuff and surge in cases. The DfE are meeting today....It’s not breaking news. That is the current plan since mid December.

Ive seen a report this morning that says the South African strain is now spreading more rapidly than the new English one.

That's the one that affects young people more. It's not safe to keep schools open including primary schools.

I am much more worried about universities going back. If there is one group likely to spread the virus everywhere it is university students.

Thank god, I guess there’s still time for a u turn on 3rd Jab about 10pm though 🙄.