Headteachers in England have expressed relief at the government’s decision to “bow to the inevitable” and close schools. Concerns will now focus on efforts to avoid a repeat of the exams fiasco last summer and the quality of remote education which has been hampered by the digital divide among students. Welsh education minister Kirsty Williams also announced that all schools and colleges would move to online learning until 18 January. Staff who could have been preparing for remote learning have instead focused on trying to get primary schools open for the start of term, in line with government demands. Despite the government narrative of keeping schools open, in the end about half the entire pupil population in England remained at home on Monday, as secondary schools stayed closed to the majority of pupils.

Source: The Guardian January 04, 2021 21:24 UTC