Schools and students deserve better than this – The Yorkshire Post says

However this could change very quickly if home working and furlough – the new economic norms – become superseded by business closures and redundancies.

And the tide of public opinion could also ebb the other way if insufficient political agenda is given to those students and pupils still in limbo at the start of the normally critical summer term. They have just as much to lose from the current crisis than those fearing for their jobs and livelihoods – it is their education on the line.

Though it is too early to indicate when schools can return, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson should be showing more leadership. Quick to credit those who have embraced home learning, and those who have set up a new tranche of e-lessons, he still needs to recognise that this further risks disadvantaging students from poorer backgrounds who can’t count on supportive parents – or even a laptop and basic broadband.

As the Northern Powerhouse Partnership has now made clear, Ministers need to be drawing up measures now to ensure pupils of all ages and abilities can catch up with their lessons, learning and exams as soon as practically possible.

If teachers, parents and pupils had a better idea of Mr Williamson’s thinking and intentions, it might help to reassure them that the Government is taking their concerns seriously.

But, first, it means the Minister answering the question posed by Justine Greening, one of his predecessors, in this newspaper at the weekend: “Will Generation C come to define those years when young people fell through an opportunity gap widened by coronavirus? Or will it be the first generation to truly have equality of opportunity?” Over to you, Secretary of State.

Editor’s note: first and foremost - and rarely have I written down these words with more sincerity - I hope this finds you well.

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