Gavin Williamson insists government has schools return 'under control' despite coronavirus cases

The Education Secretary launched the defence of the reopening as he also suggested longer school days and Saturday classes could be used to help pupils catch up with teaching they missed during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Schools in England and Wales began reopening to all year groups last week for the first time since March and the remainder are due to open this week, including the majority in Yorkshire.

A number of schools across the UK have been hit with coronavirus cases since pupils returned to class.

One secondary school in Suffolk closed its doors just days after reopening, while whole classes at two schools in Wales have been told to self-isolate for two weeks following confirmed cases of Covid-19.

Coronavirus cases have also been confirmed at three schools in the area around Middlesbrough. St Benedict’s RC Primary School in Redcar, St Aidan’s CE Primary School in Hartlepool, and Outwood Academy Ormesby in Middlesbrough have all seen positive cases - but they will remain open.

Speaking in the Commons, Labour MP Matt Western (Warwick and Leamington) said: “Just in the last week, a few days ago at the start of term, we’ve had 46 cases in schools across the UK.

“In Scotland, there were 86 cases, a total of 158 schools already have cases. In a Suffolk school, five teachers, I think it’s in (Health Secretary Matt Hancock’s) own constituency, five teachers and the school has had to close. Is (Mr Williamson) confident the Government really has this under control?”

Mr Williamson responded: “Very much so and if I draw (Mr Western’s) attention to the joint letter by the chief medical officers of England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, what they were pointing out is that children are best served by being in school.”

He also told MPs that schools will only ever be closed as an “absolute last resort”.

Mr Williamson, a Scarborough-born former North Yorkshire county councillor, said: “On July 2, we outlined our expectations and what is required for schools in terms of delivery of continuity of education.

“That’s why we’ve made an investment of a further 150,000 laptops that will be provided for those communities that are in a position where they’re not going to be able to be providing face-to-face teaching within schools.

“But to be absolutely clear - schools will only ever be closed as an absolute last resort because we all understand in this House, on both sides of this House, how important it is for children to be benefiting from being in school with their teachers and learning in the school environment.”

On catch-up support, Mr Williamson said schools will assess the individual needs of their children - adding there is “clear guidance” about what works in the classroom.

He told MPs: “That might mean extending the school day for some, that might mean Saturday classes for others.

“There are so many different interventions that can really deliver significant results in terms of helping youngsters catch up on the learning that they have lost.”

A number of areas of Yorkshire saw pupils return yesterday for the first time since lockdown. At Trinity Sixth Form Academy in Halifax, some students wore face coverings and each class room has hand sanitizer and wipes.