Prime minister Boris Johnson gave the wrong information to MPs in the House of Commons today in saying that he would give an update on Monday about school reopening plans, Tes understands.
Mr Johnson was asked at Prime Minister’s Questions this afternoon whether he “could confirm that all students will be back in school no later than the 8 March and whether he would commit to starting any phased return straight after half-term?”
He replied: “I’ll be setting out as much as we can say on Monday.”
However, after speaking to the Number 10 press office, Tes understands there will be no update on school reopenings.
This Monday is only expected to be the date when the government will begin to look in earnest at the data on infection rates, ahead of unveiling its road map for opening schools the following week on 22 February.
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Boris Johnson: We hope to reopen schools from 8 March
Julian Sturdy, Conservative MP for York Outer, had posed the question to the prime minister, who appeared cautious about 8 March being the date for school reopenings.
Boris Johnson: ‘We’ll do everything we can to get kids back on 8 March’
Mr Johnson said: “I can certainly confirm that we’re going to do everything we can, and that’s the settled will of most people in this House, to get our kids back on 8 March if we possibly can.
“I’ll be setting out for my honourable friend as much as we can say on Monday and then in the week of the 22nd we’ll be setting out a road map and setting out the way forward for schools, but we’ve got to make sure we keep this virus under control, Mr Speaker. It is coming down but we can’t take our foot off its throat.”
Meanwhile, it is also understood that the government has so far not ruled out any particular safety measures for reopening schools, including the use of rotas when pupils return and pupils wearing face masks in classrooms.
The government is considering all options while liaising with schools, parents and teachers.
