Criteria for closing primary schools

[Fortyfiver]

Can anyone point me in the direction of the criteria the Government has used to decide in which council areas the primary schools are to close?

My DC go to school in a London Borough which is remaining open (Greenwich).

I am conflicted - on the one hand I am happy that they can continue to go to school as home learning was not easy (which I think is the experience most of us had last time!) but on the other hand are my DC being used by the government for some kind or revenge/ power play?
Greenwich unilaterally decided to close before Christmas and the government threatened them with legal action - now they are on the list of open boroughs

The class WhatsApp is going crazy with all sorts of wild ideas - I just wondered whether there is some official information I could look at?

Thank you

My reception aged child won't be going back even though we live in Lewisham which is open. If it isn't safe for him to attend school in Bromley or Southwark, then it isn't in Lewisham and I don't care what Williamson and his cronies say.

I’m in an open borough but if people want to keep dc at home it helps and if that’s what they’d like to do then go for it

If it is based upon 5 to 9 years old then from when? Loads of Greenwich parents in the end did nothing send their children in for the last week of school?

We don't have clear criteria for any of the tier decisions either, do we?
Herefordshire was put from tier 2 down to 1 just before Christmas which seemed pointless- it's now gone up to 2 and today tier 3. I even wondered if it was some sort of experiment ...show the rates skyrocketing and use it as some sort of cautionary tale. Maybe they have left some boroughs out so they can point to skyrocketing infections over the next couple of weeks and justify far wider closures? Even if it were an ethical experiment it would be a very flawed one though with people constantly living/working/schooling/using hospitals across boroughs.

@Lairyfightzzzz

My reception aged child won't be going back even though we live in Lewisham which is open. If it isn't safe for him to attend school in Bromley or Southwark, then it isn't in Lewisham and I don't care what Williamson and his cronies say.

I mean this is what it comes down to, isn't it? Not hidden algorithms or whatever they are thinking.

They are closing schools to halt the spread and keep people safe. If it's necessary in Southwark and Bromley and Croydon, it's necessary in Lambeth and Lewisham and Greenwich. Whatever differences exist in the numbers are not so enormous that you can say it's safe to go to school in Lewisham but not Southwark just next door.

We’re in Hackney which is opening.

We have higher levels in the primary age group compared to some areas with closed primary schools. We also have general population levels higher than some areas with clothed primary schools. Lastly our numbers in secondary age children are also higher than some areas with primary closures.

I’m fairly certain the only logical explanation for choosing certain areas is the use of a map, blindfold and several darts.

I’m in an open borough but if people want to keep dc at home it helps and if that’s what they’d like to do then go for it

But they'll deregister our children. I dont want my son to lose his school place.

Could they be considering the number of vulnerable children at the schools in these areas, and deciding the risk of covid is less than risk of children out of school?

Lairy personally if I felt strongly I’d use SI for a couple of weeks to give you some breathing room. See what’s happening with other boroughs. Talk to other parents who feel the same.

@Lairyfightzzzz

I’m in an open borough but if people want to keep dc at home it helps and if that’s what they’d like to do then go for it

But they'll deregister our children. I dont want my son to lose his school place.

I'm worried about this too, but presumably that doesn't happen straight away? If you have unauthorised absence don't they give warnings and fines before deregistering your child?

Our absences have been kindly authorised by the head teacher so far due to exceptional circumstances (vulnerable family members) but I don't know how long she can extend that kindness as I know there will be pressure on her from higher up.

@MotorwayDiva

Could they be considering the number of vulnerable children at the schools in these areas, and deciding the risk of covid is less than risk of children out of school?

Well setting aside that this government doesn't care about vulnerable children (remember the school meals fiasco?) there is no way there are more vulnerable children in Lewisham and Greenwich than in Tower Hamlets, Barking, etc.

There are certainly areas of high deprivation in both boroughs but not unusually so for London.

@MotorwayDiva

Could they be considering the number of vulnerable children at the schools in these areas, and deciding the risk of covid is less than risk of children out of school?

I doubt Islington has a higher proportion of vulnerable children than other closed areas.

Well, that U turn didn't take long, did it?