The government has refused to disclose the number of schools with Covid cases, shortly after MPs were told the total could be as high as 158.
The Department for Education (DfE) would not comment on the total put to Parliament, nor say when or whether it would produce its own figure.
Speaking in the Commons yesterday, Labour MP Matt Western said the number of schools with Covid cases was 158.
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He said: “Just in the last week after the start of term, we have had 46 cases in schools across the UK and 86 cases in Scotland. A total of 158 schools already have cases.
“In a Suffolk school - I think it is in the health secretary’s constituency - five teachers have tested positive, and the school has had to close.
“Is the secretary of state confident that the government have this under control?”
Education secretary Gavin Williamson responded: “Very much so. I draw [Mr Western’s] attention to the joint letter by the chief medical officers of England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland in which they pointed out that children are best served by being in school, but he is right to highlight the risks and challenges of children returning to school.”
The DfE suggested yesterday that reports 60 schools had been affected by Covid outbreaks were correct.
But it has now said it does not recognise that number, adding that it will not be providing rolling daily updates at this stage.
The picture is further confused by the fact that Public Health England (PHE) has produced its own set of data, which shows there have been just 28 “acute respiratory infection incidents” in educational settings in England over the past four weeks.
The DfE told Tes that it will be releasing attendance figures - which have previously included the proportion of open schools - from next week but could not confirm if this would contain any further details of schools closed due to Covid.
A DfE spokesperson said: “The very small number of schools that are asking some or all of their pupils to remain at home are following our clear published process following a positive case being confirmed in a school.
“If a positive case is confirmed, swift action will be taken to ask those who have been in close contact with them to self-isolate, and Public Health England’s local health protection teams are standing ready to support and advise schools in this situation. Children who are self-isolating will continue to receive remote education from home.
“We will continue to work with schools to ensure all appropriate steps are taken to keep pupils and staff safe.”
