Schools reopening UK: Boris Johnson's hopes 'pure fantasy' – teachers union bashes plans

Boris Johnson has come under renewed pressure after education bosses said relaxing the two-metre social distancing coronavirus rule will still not allow all pupils in England to return to the classroom for the Autumn term as there is not enough space in classrooms. The Prime Minister told MPs that school education will begin in September with "full attendance" as he announced the public will be expected to observe a distance of "one metre plus" from July 4.

But the chief of a school leaders' union said it was "pure fantasy" to suggest all children will be able to be accommodated in the autumn, adding that the one-metre plus rule is not "a magic bullet".

And the National Education Union (NEU) said "more teachers and more spaces" will be needed if a one-metre social distancing restriction remains in place in September.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: "There has been a lot of conjecture that relaxing the two-metre social distancing rule to one metre will allow all children to return to school in September.

"This is pure fantasy. It may be possible to accommodate more pupils in classrooms with a one-metre (plus) separation, but not all pupils. There just isn't enough space in many classrooms to do this.

"It isn't a magic bullet, and nor is the Education Secretary's suggestion on Friday of doubling the size of social bubbles to 30, in order to facilitate a full return to schools.

"We need a proper strategy to bring children back into schools and colleges based in reality and on public health guidance."

Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the NEU, said: "The NEU is of course in favour of all children being back in school, but even with a one-metre rule that will need more teachers and more spaces.

"It is not clear whether in less than three months the science will permit classes of 30. If social distancing of one metre remains in place, that will still be difficult for schools."

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It comes after Mr Johnson announced a major easing of lockdown restrictions on Tuesday, telling the Commons: "Primary and secondary education will recommence in September with full attendance and those children who can already go to school should do so because it is safe."

His plea came as figures showed the number of pupils returning to school in England increased last week as more than three in four primary schools reopened their doors to more children.

Approximately 78 percent of education settings that normally have children in nursery, Reception, Year 1 or Year 6 were open to at least one of these year groups on June 18.

This is up from June 11 when over two in three (67 percent) primary schools opened more widely to pupils.

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Around 92 percent of settings were open in some capacity on June 18 - the same as the previous week, according to the Department for Education (DfE) statistics.

Approximately 1,160,000 children attended an education setting on June 18, representing 12.2 percent of pupils who normally attend, up from 9.1 percent on June 11.

Attendance continues to be highest among Year 6 pupils, with around a third (34 percent) of all Year 6 children in attendance on June 18, up from 26 percent on June 11.

Attendance was around a quarter (26 percent) in Year 1, up from a fifth the previous week, and 29% in reception, up from 22 percent on June 11, the figures show.

The analysis from the DfE estimates that 60 percent of settings normally open to Years 10 and 12 welcomed back more students from at least one of those year groups on June 18 - the first week that the Government said schools and colleges could offer some "face-to-face" support to those year groups.

Government guidance says secondary schools and colleges should have no more than a quarter of their Year 10 and 12 cohort in attendance at any one time to reduce the risk of transmission.

Approximately 10 percent of Year 10 and Year 12 students were in attendance on June 18, excluding students in further education (FE) colleges and special post-16 institutions, the analysis shows.

Last week, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said class size limits could be expanded to allow every child to return to school.

Under Government guidance, primary school class sizes should be limited to 15 to minimise the number of people they come into contact with.

But Mr Williamson told the daily Downing Street briefing on Friday that these so-called "bubbles" could be expanded to include the whole class.

Mr Williamson said: "We expect these numbers to continue to rise - particularly now primary schools have the flexibility to invite back more children, if they can do so within the existing guidance - and would encourage families to take up the opportunity of a school place if they are able to."

Schools, colleges and nurseries closed more than 13 weeks ago due to the COVID-19 outbreak, remaining open only for vulnerable youngsters and the children of key workers.