Gavin Williamson warns pupils not to get 'carried away' when schools return

30 August 2021, 13:13 | Updated: 30 August 2021, 16:00

Gavin Williamson said parents and children should not 'throw caution to the wind'
Gavin Williamson said parents and children should not 'throw caution to the wind'. Picture: Alamy

By Patrick Grafton-Green

Gavin Williamson has urged parents to make sure their children are tested regularly for coronavirus when schools return as he warned youngsters not to get "carried away".

The Government is trying to persuade parents, secondary school pupils and college students to take part in voluntary asymptomatic Covid-19 testing amid concerns the return to class in England in September could drive a new wave of infections.

Education Secretary Mr Williamson said the easing of restrictions and the return of schooling which is "closer to normality" is welcome but warned that parents and children should not "throw caution to the wind".

READ MORE: School bubbles to end and pupils will only isolate if positive for Covid under new plans

READ MORE: Record 1.13m pupils in England absent at end of term due to Covid

Writing in the Daily Mail, he said: "At long last, we will see children once more free to chase a football around, sing in a choir or just hang out with friends. I am absolutely delighted.

"After all, children and their parents have had to put up with so much disruption over the past 18 months.

"It is important not to get too carried away with these new freedoms and throw caution to the wind. The fact that we are in the happy position we are now is because everyone has worked hard to follow the national guidelines. We still need to do so."

Schools will still need to follow Covid precautions, with regular testing a key element, Mr Williamson said.

"Parents too have a responsibility to make sure that their children are tested regularly. I know that there are many things people would rather be doing than testing, but it's really important to make time for it," he said.

"The last thing we want is for schools to partially close again, or for whole classes of pupils to be at home self-isolating."

Gavin Williamson announces an end to the bubble system in schools

Department for Education guidance states that secondary school and college students in England should be tested twice on site on their return, with lateral flow tests carried out between three and five days apart.

Pupils should then continue to test twice weekly at home until the end of September, when the policy will be reviewed.

Mr Williamson's comments came just days after experts warned that it is "highly likely" there will be large levels of coronavirus infection in schools by the end of September.

Advisers have told the Government to plan for this outcome, as it will be uncertain whether the high prevalence might be a result of spread of the virus within schools or in the community.

In a document from the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling, Operational sub-group (Spi-M-O), experts said the vaccine rollout - which currently extends only to 16-year-olds and above - will have made "almost no difference" to many pupils.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Matt Gaetz withdraws as Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general amid sexual misconduct allegations

Donald Trump nominates Pam Bondi for attorney general hours after Matt Gaetz withdraws

Starmer has backed the International Criminal Court over its arrest warrant for Netanyahu

Netanyahu faces arrest if he travels to Britain as Starmer vows to enforce International Criminal Court warrant

Yvette Cooper has branded the Rwanda scheme a "complete con."

Yvette Cooper to crack down on anti-social behaviour with new 'respect orders' as repeat offenders face jail time

King Charles III And Queen Camilla on Coronation Day

King Charles' coronation cost taxpayer £72 million, report reveals

Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City

Pep Guardiola signs two-year contract extension with Manchester City

Captain Tom's Daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore

Behaviour at Captain Tom charity left ex-boss 'gobsmacked'

Armed robbers attempted to break into the star's Sunderland home.

Masked machete-wielding robbers break into Charlotte Crosby's home while she is upstairs with two-year-old daughter

Police have released new CCTV of Harshita Brella and her husband

Chilling CCTV released of Harshita Brella and prime murder suspect husband on night she was killed

First photos of Gavin and Stacey Christmas Special as James Corden and Ruth Jones mark triumphant finale

First photos of Gavin and Stacey Christmas Special as James Corden and Ruth Jones mark show's triumphant finale

King Charles performs a Hongi, a traditional Maori greeting, with Mere Takoko

King Charles shares traditional Maori nose rub greeting with activist as he launches environmental charity

Putin issued a chilling threat to the West as he confirmed Russia launched a ballistic missile against Ukraine

Putin issues chilling warning to UK and US as he confirms Russia hit Ukraine with new 'experimental' ballistic missile

Telegraph writer Allison Pearson.

Police drop investigation into journalist Allison Pearson over tweet - as review to be launched over handling of case

Exclusive
Angela Rayner has paid tribute to John Prescott

Angela Rayner says John Prescott 'used to call her after PMQs to remind her to stay true to who she is'

Four men have been arrested accused of attempting to rob a mobile phone store

Undercover police arrest four men after EE shop raided by masked gang

Matt Gaetz withdraws as Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general amid sexual misconduct allegations

Matt Gaetz withdraws as Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general amid sexual misconduct allegations

Donald Trump Watches SpaceX Launch Its Sixth Test Flight Of Starship Spacecraft

Elon Musk pledges to fire civil servants who work from home