Children’s education is more important than a classroom stand off

A levelled up Britain needs its children getting back to school. Everyone understands that needs to be done safely, but it’s vital that those most disadvantaged by the school shutdown are prioritised first.

Children eligible for Free School Meals are a group that we know are likely to have an attainment gap with their peers getting a more advantaged start. They mustn't fall back any further. 

Special needs children need to be in school for the extra support they’re entitled to and need. Many of their parents are those who’ve understandably found it the most challenging to have their children at home, out of school and away from their friends and the experts who provide vital support.

And young people with the least time left in our education system should also be a priority. With exams on the horizon, they need to be able to catch up. 

The government and unions should get round the table and sort this out now because children’s education is more important than a classroom stand off. 

We all understand that restarting our education system can’t happen overnight and even when it does, it will be a phased approach, and potentially on a regional basis. But let’s have a clear approach to help those who’ve been affected the most by the schools shutdown.

If the problem is not enough space, let’s find a workable solution. Businesses have played a vital role supporting the NHS. There’s plenty of unused office space and meeting rooms that could work as classrooms, so let’s ask whether they can lend that space to schools whilst a wider plan can be put in place in time for September. Some businesses, like Drax Power, have also supported home learning for local schools by providing laptops with internet access to make sure that young people without the technology they need to study at home, still can. Plenty more businesses could help in that way too.

Opening up community centres and libraries could be vital quiet spaces for older students at secondary school and sixth form to be able to get back to their studying.

There are lots of solutions out there if we look for them. 

But we can’t let coronavirus widen education gaps.

We’ve had a national effort to support our NHS, it’s now time for a national effort to support our schools.

Rt Hon Justine Greening

Founder, Social Mobility Pledge

Former Secretary of State for Education, Minister for Women and Equalities, Secretary of State for International Development, Secretary of State for Transport, Economic Secretary to the Treasury