ALL ISLE OF WIGHT SCHOOLS TO REMAIN CLOSED UNTIL FEBRUARY HALF TERM

Schools across the Isle of Wight will remain closed until at least February half term, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced tonight (Monday).

The decision to close schools comes as the country falls under a full national lockdown once again from tonight, becoming law from the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Children will now switch to remote learning for several weeks with schools only open for a small number of children – those classed as vulnerable or those whose parents are key workers.

Article continues below this advertisement

GCSE and A-Level examinations have also been cancelled for 2021 for the second row in a year. Read more on this at https://www.islandecho.co.uk/gcses-and-a-level-exams-cancelled-for-a-second-year/.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that there are ‘tough, tough’ weeks ahead as the country battles to vaccinate millions of people as quickly as possible. He has said that people need to keep ‘disciplined’.

Peter Shreeve, Assistant District Secretary of the National Education Union, has said:

“Lockdown 3. Tier 5. Schools closed until February half-term and then we’ll reassess. At last, a decision from the Prime Minister, that makes sense.

“However, questions remain:

Article continues below this advertisement

• Why, why, why did it take so long?
• Why did so many of our local decision-makers and elected representatives simply follow Downing St, instead of following the science and acting?
• Why was the mounting evidence of COVID-19 transmission in schools to education professionals and into pupils’ households ignored?
• Knowing that SAGE told ministers on 22 December that even a lockdown of the same severity as last spring would not be enough to reduce the R rate below 1, why did the Prime Minister yesterday (Sunday) continue to declare that schools were safe?  These are not the words of a leader who is ‘following the science’.

“No doubt, the answers will be dissected in greater detail at a later stage. When this happens, more than the virus variant will need to take responsibility.

“In the meantime, we have to move on. Fortunately, there is a more reasonable timescale to consider Covid-19 testing for secondary pupils.  But let’s not underestimate the extra unnecessary anguish staff have suffered over the last two weeks – with the Covid-19 testing handbook arriving two days before Christmas Day and rapidly increasing concerns for pupils and colleagues over rising coronavirus transmission and returning to work in crowded buildings, with no social distancing, poor ventilation and no or little PPE.

“Also, let’s not forget weary staff, who have to await guidance on the replacement of external exams, support all pupils and particularly vulnerable pupils, who may be still awaiting their laptops and internet access – a long-broken Government promise.

“Government needs to step up to the plate and support all aspects of education in this third lockdown.”

Island Echo will continue to report throughout the third lockdown, standing by our readers as we have done throughout the pandemic. We take our role as key workers seriously and will bring you all the latest updates in an accurate and proportionate way.