Boris Johnson ‘s pledge to give all children of key workers a school place during the coronavirus crisis descended into chaos and confusion today as parents helping to keep the country running were rejected from the emergency scheme.
Parents employed by the NHS , teachers or those who have a crucial role such as a supermarket delivery driver have been promised childcare so they can keep working after all schools close tomorrow with the illness killing people so far in the UK and infecting 2, 686 people.
A final list of who will be classified as a key worker will be published today as millions of parents face six months with their children at home while desperately trying to juggle their jobs.
And amid growing chaos in Britain’s schools students whose GCSE and A-Levels exams have been axed fear teachers could give them disappointing grades based on their mock results and coursework because so many traditionally ‘cram ‘ahead of final tests in May and June.
Headteachers and nursery managers across the UK are today taking a roll call of all people who believe they need a place for their child or children while they keep working over the coming months.
But schools are using their social media accounts to warn parents that couples must both be key workers to be eligible. If not, one will be expected to stay at home with the children, probably until September at the earliest. Single parents who work in the NHS or for the police, for example, will get a place.
One social worker parent tried to register their child for an emergency school place in south-west London today only to be refused because their partner does not have a public sector job.
She told MailOnline: ‘Children’s parents at our school are being told only the children with two key workers parents can send their children in – it’s absolutely outrageous.
Teenage boys walk to a bus stop in Hartley Wintney, Hampshire, as all schools close tomorrow for months but a promise to keep the children of key workers in classrooms throughout the crisis descended into chaos today
Highfield St. Matthew’s C.E. Primary School in Wigan has given the same message to their parents – and say proof both people are key workers will be needed
Who are the key workers whose children could still be sent to school during the coronavirus crisis?
The Government is yet to confirm who will be classified as a key worker whose children will be given a place in school or nursery during the coronavirus crisis.
But these are the groups likely to be included:
- All NHS staff including non-medical staff;
Teachers and nursery staff All police officers, PCSOs and majority of the civilian police staff;
- Most Ministry of Defense staff
- Delivery drivers
‘Half of them are part time or shift workers therefore the full time earning parent then needs to be at home with their children so the key workers can go out to work and save lives. Are those non-key working parents businesses going to support them to be at home with full time pay to keep them afloat – I doubt it ‘.
St Mary’s Catholic School in Harborne, Birmingham, tweeted: ‘We will be closing to the vast majority of children from Friday. You will be aware that schools have been asked to accommodate those families where BOTH parents / carers are “key workers”.
‘If only one parent is a key worker, the Government expects the other parent to be responsible for the care of their child / children’.
The same warning has been shared by several other schools across the UK, MailOnline can reveal.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said today that any NHS worker from medics to cleaners and administration staff will have a school place for any children to keep the health service running. But many parents are still waiting to hear if they are going to be given key worker status and growing concerns about how families will cope financially.
One NHS work parent told MailOnline: ‘I’m terrified about how we will manage it as a family. My partner cannot work while looking after our children at home so we look like we will lose half our monthly income overnight ‘.
She added:’ It’s not ideal for anyone, but many high -paid people in the NHS such as consultants, surgeons and senior management already have nannies or stay-at-home partners – but most of us don’t and have no idea how we’ll cope ‘.
Headteacher Sue Tadman comforts a parent as she talks with them outside of Greenfields Junior School in Hartley Wintney today as teachers, students and parents are all in limbo
Pupils enter Westminster City School in London with all UK schools due to close by the end of tomorrow – if they haven’t already
Parents, teachers and nursery staff have also claimed that non key workers will be expected to care for their children at home
Parents are today demanding clarity on how their children will be fairly graded without GCSE and A-Level exams this year as Gavin Williamson failed to give any details but admitted schools could be closed until September because of coronavirus.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has said the Government will work with schools, colleges and exams regulator Ofqual. ‘to ensure children get the qualifications they need’.
In an interview on BBC Radio 4’s Today program on Thursday, Mr Williamson said guidance will be issued on Friday about how pupils unable to sit their exams due to school closures will get their grades.
Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), told the PA news agency: ‘We are waiting for details from Ofqual about how GCSEs and A-levels will be assessed and grades awarded in lieu of exams.
‘However, we expect that it will be based on teacher assessment supported by evidence of internal assessment that has already taken place such as mock exams, and that this will be submitted to the exam boards which will then check submissions to ensure consistency and fairness and award grades accordingly.
‘The vast majority of teachers endeavor to give accurate assessments, but the decision to suspend school and college performance tables this year will remove any incentive to do otherwise.
‘ There will clearly need to be an appeal procedure if candidates feel they have been disadvantaged, and inevitably a great many questions remain about how all of this will work.
‘We can assure the public that everything possible will be done to support students at this worrying time. ‘
The Education Secretary has warned parents they should ‘assume’ their children will be at home ‘for a significant amount of time’ when asked if the academic year is over until the Autumn when all schools close their gates on Friday.
All schools in England will close on Friday along with those in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as coronavirus continues to wreak havoc in the UK with London’s Mayor Sadiq Khan saying only ‘critical workers’ Should use the Tube and supermarkets emptied by shoppers queuing through the night to buy household goods.
Mr Williamson has confirmed there will be no SATs, GCSE or A-Level exams this year but has only said children will be graded only to say their path to work, sixth form or university will not be impeded – not how they will be graded.
He said: ‘I’ve got to be absolutely honest with you here, any sort of route that we go down is not as good as having a proper set of exams. This isn’t something that any education secretary would want to be making a decision on ‘.
When pushed on the plan on how grades will be awarded he said:’ That will be coming out tomorrow ‘as talks with universities and schools continue. He also revealed that anyone who works for the NHS, including office staff and cleaners, will get a place in a school for their children so they can remain in work.
Children and parents have been told anecdotally that teacher assessment and mock results would form the basis of grades – but with many students traditionally ‘cramming’ for exams at the last minute there are concerns they may not get accurate graded or have a proper right to appeal.
As millions of working parents face the extraordinary prospect of having school-age children at home for six months – and students had their exams cancelled, it has emerged:
Q&A: No lessons … so now what happens to my children?
J ames Tozer
When will schools close?
Schools in England will close to most pupils tomorrow afternoon, although many are already shut or are only teaching certain year groups due to teacher shortages caused by staff selfisolating. In addition, most boarding schools are already sending pupils home for fear of an outbreak. Schools in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will close by the end of the week if they haven’t already done so.
Whose children will still be able to attend school?
Children whose parents are classed as ‘key workers’, who would not otherwise be able to do their jobs, will be able to attend some schools, which will remain open with a skeleton staff. Examples include NHS staff, police and delivery drivers. Children classed as ‘vulnerable’ – such as those who have a social worker – will also be able to attend.
What happens to those who are not eligible?
There will be confusion for parents as individual schools work out what they can offer using technology. Many aim to provide online tuition, and ministers say they are working with the BBC to provide learning resources. Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned working parents that children should not be looked after by elderly grandparents who are among those most at risk from coronavirus.
How long will the mass closure go on for?
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said only that schools would be closed ‘until further notice’ – although those catering for key workers will remain open over the Easter break. The Prime Minister said that the aim was to reopen them again ‘as fast as we can’. In reality, any effort to reopen schools is dependent on the success of the campaign against the coronavirus.
What happens to school meals?
Children eligible for free meals will receive them at those schools which remain open via a national voucher system. Details of the scheme have yet to be confirmed but ministers say it will be in place ‘as soon as possible’.
Why has the Government decided to close schools?
Its medical advisers say that while children themselves are not at special risk, the move will curb the spread of the outbreak by further reducing social contact across society. In addition, high rates of teacher illness and staff self-isolating with a cough or high temperature now means that schools are increasingly unable to continue as normal anyway.
Why was this decision not made sooner?
Until today, ministers have resisted mounting pressure to follow other European countries which have already closed schools. They had insisted that shutting them would put unacceptable pressure on the NHS and other public services as parents were forced to take time off work, without significantly curbing the spread of the outbreak.
What about nurseries, colleges and universities?
Ministers say they are ‘expecting’ early years providers, sixth form and further education colleges to close, as well as private schools. Many universities have already moved lectures online.
What does it mean for SATS, GCSEs and A-levels?
They have been cancelled, with Mr Williamson saying ‘we will not go ahead with assessments or exams’. League tables will not be published this year.
How will grades be allocated?
The Prime Minister insisted grades would be allocated ‘fairly’ but full details are yet to be outlined. However grades for GCSEs and A-levels are expected to be based on existing assessment evidence, such as teachers’ grade predictions, with an appeal system in case of disputes.
What will be the impact on university admissions?
Plans are still being drawn up, but experts predicted the process could be turned into ‘one big unconditional offer’. Last night admissions service Ucas said only that it would be ‘providing further guidance … as soon as possible’. Ucas chiefs said they would be ‘working through the implications’.
Pupils have been left devastated and confused after this year GCSE and A-level exams were scrapped because of coronavirus .
Children and parents were told teacher assessment and mock results would form the basis of grades – but it was unclear how this would work in practice. Boris Johnson vowed students’ academic careers would not be ‘impeded’.
Mr Williamson said guidance will be issued on Friday about how pupils unable to sit their exams due to school closures will get their grades.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today program on Thursday morning, Universities UK chief executive Alistair Jarvis said: ‘If an appropriate way can be found to assess students, perhaps a combination of teacher assessments and assignment works that’s already done, then awards could be granted this summer. This would allow students to get their grades and the university admission process to go ahead this summer. ‘
Asked whether students who have already been offered a place at university could get it as an unconditional offer, Mr Jarvis said: ‘That is possible, that would be a good option to immediately remove the uncertainty for students.’
The Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said the Government would be prepared to waive the newly-qualified teacher status to ensure new teachers currently in training can enter the classroom in September.
During an interview with Sky News, he was asked whether – for trainee teachers who will not have had the required classroom time by September – the Government would be prepared to waive the newly-qualified teacher status.
Mr Williamson said: ‘We will be prepared to waive that, we will be working with teacher training establishments in order to do this.
‘We’re also starting to roll out something called the Early Career Framework which in a number of regions will be starting the next academic year and right across the country the following year to make sure new teachers are supported ‘.
Boris Johnson vowed students’ academic careers would not be ‘impeded’ – but the Prime Minister declined to go into detail about exactly how they would be assessed. He stressed: ‘It will be done fairly and in order to protect their interests.’ Scores of protest pupils online, saying mock results did not reflect the progress they made in revision.
One student wrote: ‘How can we possibly get awarded A-level grades when we can’ t sit our exams and prove what we’re worthy of getting. Mocks don’t reflect our capabilities and I think most Year 19 s are devastated right now. ‘
Many parents are in despair about how they will look after their children for the next six months and hold down their jobs – while key workers in the NHS, the police and other vital services are in the dark about who will care for their children while they remain working.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced school closures across the UK but promised the children of NHS and police workers and supermarket delivery drivers would still be able to attend, as would vulnerable children.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today program on Thursday, Mr Williamson said there will be a ‘proper and fair system’ of appeal for students who are unhappy with the results they are given as GCSEs and A-levels are cancelled.
He said: ‘We will be doing everything we can do to make sure they get their results in August as they will be hoping to, but we can ‘t predict as to how they are going to unfold.
‘ It is absolutely vital for me for those children who have put so much work into all their learning over these years working up to their GCSEs and A-levels to get their results, but also making sure that we have a proper and fair system if they dispute that, if they are not content with it, there is some mechanism for them to have redress. ‘
Gavin Williamson today admitted schools could now be closed until September at the earliest because of coronavirus but gave no detail about how GCSE and A-Levels students will be graded without any exams
All exams in the UK will be axed but it is not yet clear how children will be graded and how the system will be kept fair including the system of appeals
Universities UK chief executive Alistair Jarvis said: ‘If an appropriate way can be found to assess students, perhaps a combination of teacher assessments and assignment works that’s already done, then awards could be granted this summer.
‘This would allow students to get their grades and the university admission process to go ahead this summer.’
It comes as Health Secretary Matt Hancock tables the Emergency Coronavirus Bill setting out measures aimed at slowing the spread and supporting the NHS and workers.
The legislation will be presented as the Army prepares to help out in the crisis and Londoners face the prospect of greater restrictions, with the capital suffering a faster spread of Covid – .
So far, 150 people have died after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK and tens of thousands of people are thought to be infected.
Mr Williamson said the Government stands Ready to take the ‘incredibly tough decisions’ needed to slow the spread of the virus.
He said there are currently no plans to shut down bars and restaurants and order people off the streets, but ministers will be guided by the scientific evidence.
Earlier, former prime minister Gordon Brown urged people to come together.
He said: ‘This is a global problem – it’s not just a national problem – it needs global action and not simply national action.
‘We’ve had too much of America first, India first, China first, we have had too much of this populist nationalism.
‘We’re finding that we’re connected whether we like it or not, we’re finding that we depend on each other whether we like it or not, and I think people have got to put aside the differences they have and international co-operation is absolutely vital to this. ‘
He also urged Chancellor Rishi Sunak to do’ considerably more ‘to protect people’s jobs by the weekend.
Mr Brown told BBC Radio 4’s Today program: ‘He says he’ll do more but the package should be out now to avoid redundancies being forced upon companies over the next day or two.
‘I think a lot of company directors will be looking at the moment to how many staff they are going to shed in the next few days, next few weeks.
‘And I think we need to step in now with building the confidence that we can keep people in work o r keep people on short-term in work, and have an arrangement with people where they take some holidays but at the same time they are going to have income protection.
‘If families don ‘t have income protection there’s lots of other consequences: people try to work if they are sick, people put themselves at risk.’
Meanwhile, English schools will shut their gates on Friday until Further notice, as will nurseries, colleges and childminders.
GCSEs and A-levels in both England and Wales will be cancelled – although the Prime Minister said there are plans for students to receive qualifications .
In Scotland and Wales, all schools will close by Friday. A decision on whether exams will sit in Scotland has not yet been taken.
Schools in Northern Ireland will also shut and it is expected pupils will not sit summer exams.
Mr Johnson has said measures taken so far are helping slow the spread of the virus, but he has not ruled out tougher measures being enforced down the line.
The PM has also not ruled out stricter controls being imposed on London ahead of the rest of the country.
Transport for London has announced up to 55 Tube stations will be closed on Thursday and a reduced service will run on the rails from Friday.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan warned Londoners they should not be traveling unless they ‘really, really have to’, but he insisted the network must remain open to aid front-line health workers.
Elsewhere, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has said he will lead a national broadcast as the Church of England responds to the challenge of becoming a ‘different sort of church’.
In China, no new cases transmitted between people in the country have been reported for the first time since the virus emerged there in late December. But cases have been reported from travellers returning home to China.
(London has three times more cases of the killer (coronavirus) than any other region in the UK, according to official statistics.
More than cases have already been confirmed in the capital, with the boroughs of Southwark, Westminster and Lambeth the worst affected.
In comparison, fewer than (people have been struck down in the second worst hit region, the South East.
London makes up more than a third of the UK’s infection toll, which has already seen 2, 728 cases confirmed by health officials.
It comes as Boris Johnson today said the capital – home to almost 9million people – will not face being locked down this week, after fears had been growing that travel around and in or out of the city would be stopped.
Despite London being the epicentre of the UK’s escalating crisis, the worst affected single authority in England is Hampshire.
Southwark, Westminster and Lambeth are the areas of London with the most coronavirus cases. London is, in turn, the area of Britain with the most combined cases
London has three times more cases of the killer coronavirus than any other region in the UK
London is the epicentre of the UK’s escalating coronavirus crisis. However, the worst affected authority in England is Hampshire (pictured). Southwark, Westminster, Lambeth, Wandsworth and Kensington and Chelsea are within the 36 hardest hit coronavirus spots in the UK
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