ASCL comment on Greenwich announcement

Responding to today’s announcement by Greenwich council over end-of-term arrangements, Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said:

“The government may find it has won a hollow victory in its squabble with Greenwich council over end-of-term arrangements. It has compelled direct classroom teaching for the last few days of term, but we would not be surprised if many parents simply keep their children at home given the evident concern over Covid infection rates.

“It has been an unseemly end to a gruelling and exhausting term when schools at the very least deserved some flexibility over their end-of-term arrangements in the best interests of their pupils and staff, but instead have been met with legal threats from the government, not only in Greenwich but more widely. That will not be easily forgotten.”