Coronavirus: Northamptonshire MP leads calls for clarity over schools closure

A Northamptonshire MP has led calls for more clarity on the Government's decision to close schools from tomorrow (Friday March 21).

Boris Johnson confirmed yesterday that all schools would be closed until further notice as part of the battle to slow the coronavirus pandemic.

He added that skeleton staff would be kept on so that children of key workers and the most vulnerable children can still be cared for.

But Kettering's Conservative MP Philip Hollobone quizzed Education Secretary Gavin Williamson in the House of Commons over how this will work.

Mr Hollobone said: "There are six big secondary schools in the borough of Kettering.

"Does the Secretary of State envisage that, to continue the education of children of key workers, those cohorts will be educated in the six separate schools, or that some arrangement will be made between the schools for them all to come together and teach the children in one place?"

Mr Williamson's reply suggested plans could be worked out at a local level.

He said: "In the initial instance, we hope that provision can be provided in the school that the child attends.

"But we recognise that, with the spread of the virus, that will not be realistic all the way through, so we will have to look at how we show flexibility.

"I have no doubt that, as in many towns and boroughs up and down the country, there is already a deep level of co-operation between schools in the local community in terms of sharing resources and learning. There are often good partnerships, but we will work with local education authorities, as well as regional schools commissioners, to help to facilitate that."

Many schools have already put plans in place in preparation for the closure using online resources.

The Prime Minister's announcement came as Northampton General Hospital revealed a 92-year-old man had become the second recorded death in the county.

Craig Ruston, who had motor-neurone disease, died in Kettering General Hospital earlier this week. The 45-year-old is the UK's youngest to die after testing positive for the Covid-19 virus.