School closures are not a return to “dark days of lockdown”, says Gillian Keegan
Education Minister Gillian Keegan told parents that closing classrooms over fears of crumbling lightweight concrete was “not a return to the dark days of school closures”.
More than 100 schools and colleges have been ordered by the Education Ministry to close all or part of buildings due to the presence of reinforced aerated concrete (RAAC) following the collapse of a beam last week.
Schools Minister Nick Gibb admitted more classrooms could close as schools prepare to return for the start of the new school year.
The education secretary wrote in The Sun on Sunday that there was “no choice” but to impose closures after a “handful of cases” where Raac had failed.
She said: “We all have to make difficult decisions in life, and good government is about getting them right.” That means examining evidence and acting, even when the trade-offs are significant.
“That was the situation I found myself in when I was presented with new evidence indicating that concrete forming part of certain school buildings was no longer safe.
“I want to reassure families that this is not a return to the dark days of school closures.”
She continued: “I understand the concern this has caused among parents, particularly those whose children are directly affected, so soon after the disruption caused by the pandemic.”
“But this is not a school closure due to the pandemic and certainly not a return to extended home schooling.”
A minority may need to relocate some or all of their children, with a short period of off-site learning or, as a last resort, remote learning
She said in the minority of 52 schools and colleges that required work, homeschooling was only required for “days, not weeks.”
She also reassured parents that the “vast majority” of schools were not affected by issues with Raac.
“A minority may need to relocate some or all of their children, with a short period of off-site learning or, as a last resort, remote learning,” she said.
“We are supporting each of these schools with a caseworker and resources for emergency measures such as temporary classrooms to maintain face-to-face teaching.
“There have been calls to name the schools affected – and we will do that. But only if parents were informed and schools were given time to react.
“This is right because parents should hear from their school first and schools in turn have time to focus – supported by teams working around the clock.”
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/gillian-keegan-nick-gibb-department-for-education-the-sun-leicester-b1104476.html School closures are not a return to “dark days of lockdown”, says Gillian Keegan
