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Coronavirus: The councils opposed to schools reopening next month

The prime minister wants reception, year one and year six pupils to resume lessons from 1 June, as the coronavirus lockdown eases.

Friday 22 May 2020 15:06, UK

Children are seen on their way into school (file pic)
Image: Some children could head back to school in June. File pic
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More than two-dozen councils in England have said they will support schools that decide not to reopen on 1 June.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson wants all pupils in reception, year one and year six to start lessons again from the beginning of next month, as the coronavirus lockdown eases.

Mr Johnson has now promised a "world-beating" track and trace system to stop a second COVID-19 peak will be in place before schools in England start to reopen.

Boris Johnson
Image: Boris Johnson has said schools should reopen on 1 June

But a number of councils have so far said they are either opposed to or cautious about schools opening their doors to students and staff in keeping with that early June deadline.

The 27 councils - nearly all Labour-run - have said they are speaking directly with their local schools about how to manage the return of pupils, warning that safety must be the priority.

Councils that have opposed the reopening of schools, or said they are cautious and talking to schools to ensure they open only when safe to, are:

  • Barking and Dagenham
  • Birmingham
  • Bradford
  • Brighton and Hove
  • Bristol
  • Bury
  • Calderdale
  • Gateshead
  • Hartlepool
  • Knowsley
  • Leeds
  • Liverpool
  • Newcastle
  • Manchester
  • Oldham
  • Redbridge
  • Rochdale
  • Salford
  • Sefton
  • Slough
  • Solihull
  • Southampton
  • Stockport
  • Teesside
  • Wakefield
  • Wigan
  • Wirrall

Darren Rodwell, leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, said he will "look to my own local authority not to fine any parent for their child's non-attendance at school until we reach a period of normality".

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"At the same time, teachers and head teachers should should not be penalised if they feel they cannot work or feel their schools are not ready to open," he added.

Mr Rodwell's stance is shared by other councils, including those in Birmingham, Slough and Manchester.

Manchester City Council released a statement in which it described the date set by the government as "arbitrary", and added that it would help schools return to teaching with safety as a priority.

A classroom is seen, which has been rearranged with seating separated by 2m to provide an environment safe from Coronavirus for pupils and teachers at Marsden Infant and Nursery School in Marsden, near Huddersfield, northern England on May 18, 2020, ahead of the Government's proposed recommencing of education for Reception and Year 1 classes. - Marsden Infant and Nursery School is reducing class sizes to accommodate greater distancing between pupils as well as minimising any shared contact of stationery and learning materials. (Photo by OLI SCARFF / AFP) (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
Image: A classroom with rearranged seating, separated by two metres, to provide a safe environment

Birmingham City Council says it will "only support Birmingham schools opening to more pupils when it is safe to".

In Slough, the council has said that some schools will not be opening until at least 8 June - and urged parents not to send their children in until contacted directly by the school.

Politicians in Wirral and Bury have also said children should not be forced to go back to the classroom.

Wirral Council's deputy leader Janette Williamson told Sky News it's "not safe" yet and still a "life or death" situation, adding that the council is taking a "more cautionary approach".

Earlier this week, England's deputy chief medical officer Professor Jonathan Van-Tam tried to dampen down fears about schools reopening by explaining that children are not "high output transmitters" of the virus.

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