Islington primary schools move to online learning next week to help tackle coronavirus

Islington faces a public health emergency because coronavirus is spreading fast through our communities, bringing a serious risk of ill health and death.

To help stop the deadly virus spreading, Islington Council supports a move to online learning for primary schools. Tonight the Government has announced this will happen from Monday, reversing an earlier Government decision that primary schools in Islington would have to open next week.

Islington primary schools will now move to online learning from the week of 4th January until Monday 18th January, when the situation will be reviewed.

Schools will remain open to vulnerable pupils and children of key workers.

Cllr Richard Watts, leader of Islington Council, said: “Coronavirus is spreading fast in Islington and across London, and the more the virus spreads in our communities, the more serious illness and death we will see.

“It’s absolutely right that Islington primary schools will move to online learning from next week, to help tackle the spread of this very dangerous disease.  We will do everything we can to support Islington’s schools, head teachers, teachers, teaching assistants and support staff as they make new arrangements over the weekend.

“However it’s unacceptable that the Government has waited until Friday night on New Year’s Day, with just a weekend before pupils were due to go back, to make a decision that should have been made weeks ago, as the public health situation became clear.

“The Government has taken the right decision only after previously threatening schools with legal action if they did not reopen in January, after Islington and other councils advised last month that this had to be done, following public health advice.  The Government has left schools and parents with very little time to prepare and make arrangements.

“Usually school is absolutely the best place for all pupils to be.  However we are in dangerous times, with a deadly disease surging through our communities. Online learning is the best option for primary schools for now.  It’s vital we all keep doing everything we can to urgently tackle the surging coronavirus cases, to keep everyone in our community safe at this dangerous time.”

The Government had already announced secondary school and college students in exam years will return to school in the week of Monday 11th January, a week later than planned. Secondary school and college students not in exam years will return to school in the week of Monday 18th January, a week later than planned.