A VOLUNTEER army of retired teachers could be deployed to help kids catch up, under plans being looked at by ministers. They may be used to help run summer schools and provide extra tuition. Boris Johnson is considering the move after dropping his vow to get all primary pupils back to school before summer. […]
A VOLUNTEER army of retired teachers could be deployed to help kids catch up, under plans being looked at by ministers.
They may be used to help run summer schools and provide extra tuition.
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Boris Johnson is considering the move after dropping his vow to get all primary pupils back to school before summer.
Mr Johnson said he was left with no choice because Covid infection rates are still too high.
But he vowed to create a massive “educational catch-up programme”, to be unveiled next week.
The PM’s spokesman said the Government will do “whatever we can to make sure that no child falls behind as a result of coronavirus”.
Asked if that could mean bringing teachers out of retirement, he said: “We’ve said that we are looking at what further support we can provide.”
The PM enraged parents by tearing up his pledge to get all under children under 11 back to class for a month before the summer.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson admitted rules capping class sizes at 15 left schools short of the classrooms and teachers they needed.
Mr Johnson said: “We are going to get all schools back in September if we possibly can. But it is going to be a big summer of catch-up.”
Whitehall sources say these “protective bubbles” will only be changed on the advice of Public Health England.
Meanwhile, a study has found three in four parents with pre-school kids feel unable to meet the needs of work and children during lockdown. They admit they are struggling.
National Education Union boss Kevin Courtney said kids who couldn’t take exams should get higher grades.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies said the pandemic will increase inequality.
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