UK schools could open as early as 11 May under lockdown ease

Under government proposals UK schools could reopen as early as the 11 May to ease the coronavirus lockdown restrictions.

It has been reported that the Prime Minister is looking to end the lockdown in three stages, the first step is to reopen schools, with reduced class sizes and lessons to take place on certain days.

When Boris Johnson returns back to Downing Street it is expected he will provide three possible dates, 11 May, 1 June and the start of September.

The Sunday Times claim that if the reopening of schools is delays then students who are due to sit their GCSEs and A-Levels in 2021 could go back to school in the summer.

There are contingency plans to push the pupil’s exams back by two months, exams for this summer have already been cancelled.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson tweeted, “I can reassure schools and parents that they will only reopen when the scientific advice indicates it is the right time to do so.”

An education department spokesman said, “No decision has been made on the timetable of reopening schools. We will only reopen schools when the scientific advice indicates it is the right time to do so.”

The government missed a series of opportunities in response to tackling the coronavirus pandemic and Boris Johnson has been criticised over his actions.

Dire warnings were not listened too by scientists and the UK “lost a crucial five weeks” in tackling the deadly coronavirus, according to an investigation by The Sunday Times.

Government whistleblowers alleged that in January and February there was complacency as, “a crucial five weeks in the fight to tackle the dangerous threat of coronavirus despite being in a perilously poor state of preparation for a pandemic.”