Coronavirus action plan: What parents and teachers need to know

Official advice was not to close schools but to isolate individual pupils or teachers suspected to have contracted the virus

Children's exams face being thrown into chaos if the coronavirus outbreak forces the Government to close schools.

There are fears that any closures could coincide with the start of the GCSE and A-level exam season in May.

The Government’s 28-page coronavirus action plan stated that, if the virus becomes established in the UK, "action that would be considered could include population distancing strategies such as school closures … to slow the spread of the disease throughout the population”.

It added: "The UK governments' education departments' planning assumptions include the possibility of having to close educational settings in order to reduce the spread of infection."

Ministers emphasised closures would be a last resort, but parents and teachers expressed anxiety on social media about the prospect of pupils' education being interrupted.

Martin Clee, a science teacher from Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, added on Twitter: "If Covid-19 goes big and mass school closures happened, say towards the end of May/beginning of June, what happens to exam season?"

At least 10 schools are currently closed for deep cleaning following the return of either staff or pupils from one of the countries where the virus has taken hold. Around 19 more have only just reopened.

Official advice was not to close schools but to isolate individual pupils or teachers suspected to have contracted the virus before calling Public Health England.

But there have been complaints about conflicting advice. Parents said they have been left confused by some schools sending pupils home to self-isolate while others shut altogether.

The latest to shut was Hilbre High School in West Kirby, Wirral, which closed temporarily on Tuesday after a parent of a pupil tested positive for the virus. A deep-clean of the school will take place before it reopens.

Some pupils at the school had recently returned from a skiing holiday to northern Italy, but headteacher Mark Bellamy said the case was not linked to the trip. In a letter to parents, he wrote: “Last week, I chose to keep the school open following advice from the Government and Public Health England.

"Today, as I believe this confirmed case directly impacts on my students and staff, I am closing the school."

Whitehall sources said efforts were currently being focused on replacing teachers who had fallen ill by allowing colleagues from other schools to take their place or enabling children to travel to other schools.

The Government could also relax class sizes beyond the maximum of 30 allowed in primary schools, allowing schools where one or more teacher is sick to send children elsewhere.

Ministers are anxious to avoid widespread closures not only because it would disrupt children’s education but because it would place a wider strain on the workforce, with working parents forced to stay at home to look after their children.

Government influenza pandemic preparedness strategies warned that school closures would place a significant pressure on health workers, handicapping their ability to come into work at a time when they are most needed.

Teaching unions also expressed concerns over the prospect of an increase in class sizes, warning it could even make the risk of infection worse.

Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: "A cramped classroom will not keep pupils safe, potentially doing more harm than good, and arguably work directly against the 'social distancing' recommended in the action plan. It will not provide peace of mind for parents."

License this content