Wikipedia clearly states that the education secretary went to a school in the state sector, unlike the majority of his colleagues in the Cabinet, and, it seems, in the Department of Education too, but it`s hard to believe after reading the guidance he has given schools for their reopening in September (Star, 03/07/20). No wonder the National Education Union describes the new measures as "Impractical" and "more based on hope than science".
Staggering the start of the school day, as well as the lunch and break times, means "mind-boggling" problems for timetabling teachers so that they can teach pupils in different year group "bubbles". A morning`s work for a subject teacher in a secondary school might consist of let`s say a year 7 lesson, year 11, then year 8, followed by year 13. If each "bubble" starts school at a different time, and has breaks and lunch when others are being taught, timetabling would be nigh-on impossible. Feeding a thousand at lunchtime in groups of a hundred plus might take four hours or more!
As for the need for pupils "to avoid public transport", the Education Department has clearly forgotten how its policies of underfunding, and therefore understaffing, comprehensive schools in underprivileged areas have led many parents to send their children across cities to so-called "better" schools.
Online lessons will still have to be used, and this is where private schools should be forced to contribute, or lose their charitable status, which enables them to avoid paying 80% of their business rates. They should make available all of the lessons they provided during the lockdown, whilst Williamson should face the sack if the laptops and internet access he promised haven`t arrived at schools for the most disadvantaged pupils!
Calling for the government to have "a credible Plan B in place" is sensible, but schools might be better advised to create Plan Cs for themselves!
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