London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Tuesday, Oct 21, 2025

'Shut pubs, not schools': Children's Commissioner demands classrooms stay open with increased testing even if it means other sectors must be locked down after summer holidays

Anne Longfield said children had been treated as an 'after-thought' in lockdown
The Children's Commissioner for England said schools should be last to close
Mrs Longfield called for regular testing of pupils and teachers amid coronavirus

Schools must be kept open ahead of pubs or shops in any future coronavirus lockdown, the Children’s Commissioner for England has warned.

In a major intervention, Anne Longfield said children had been treated as an ‘after-thought’ in the first lockdown and insisted they must be at the heart of future plans.

She said schools should always be the first to open and the last to close. She also declared that, if necessary, they should be prioritised over other sectors and kept open at the expense of pubs, restaurants or non-essential shops.

Mrs Longfield called for regular testing of pupils and teachers, saying this was essential in keeping schools open and preventing ‘bubbles’ or year groups being sent home after just one positive test.

Boris Johnson has vowed that children will return to class on a full-time basis from next month.

But that pledge has been coming under pressure in recent days amid concern over an increase in infections and new social restrictions in the North.

At the weekend, scientists warned that pubs may have to close as a ‘trade-off’ to get all schools back.

Yesterday a major study in The Lancet medical journal warned that reopening all schools in September could lead to a devastating second wave of the virus without an improved test and trace system.

Teaching unions have also raised renewed concerns about the return of schools and called for a ‘Plan B’ if the virus is resurgent.

However, in a paper on future virus planning last night, Mrs Longfield insisted that keeping schools open was essential to safeguarding children’s futures.

Her briefing paper said schools should be the ‘absolute priority’, adding: ‘Education should be prioritised over other sectors – first to open, last to close.

‘When only a limited amount of social interaction is feasible, the amount accounted for by education must be protected at the expense of other sectors/activities.’

The commissioner said she believed that reducing Covid-19 transmission in the community was very important ‘but it should not be automatically assumed that this requires closing schools – except as a last resort’.

The paper suggested that, with rapid testing of pupils and teachers, any confirmed Covid-19 cases and their close contacts could be isolated without necessarily having to send entire classes or year groups home.

Mrs Longfield said that if schools do have to close for most pupils, they must remain open for children of key workers and vulnerable children.

She insisted this group should be renamed ‘priority children’ and a concerted effort must be made to work with these families to increase attendance.

The paper also suggested that ministers hold a press conference aimed at children – and youngsters should be allowed to participate and submit questions.

Mrs Longfield said: ‘Too often during the first lockdown children were an after-thought.

‘Despite the welcome decision to keep schools open for vulnerable children, too few attended.

'Those schools that did bring back more children before the summer holidays often found classes were only half-full. That must change in September.

‘The Government’s promise that all children will be back to school after the summer holidays is a step in the right direction.

'However, if a second wave occurs, children must be at the heart of coronavirus planning.

'That means schools must be the first to reopen and the last to close during any local lockdowns.

‘Regular testing must be also in place for teachers and pupils to reassure parents. If the choice has to be made in a local area about whether to keep pubs or schools open, then schools must always take priority.’

Paul Whiteman, of school leaders’ union NAHT, agreed that it was vital to get children back to school as soon as possible.

He added: ‘The success of September’s return to school rests as much on what happens outside the school gates as within.

'The Government needs to ensure that everyone knows what actions they should be taking to keep everyone safe – we’re all going to need to work together to be successful.’

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said: ‘Getting all children back into the classroom full-time at the start of next month is a national priority – as this is the best place for them to be.

'Our detailed guidance sets out protective measures for schools to implement ahead of a full return in September.’

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Apple Challenges EU Digital Markets Act Crackdown in Landmark Court Battle
Nicolas Sarkozy begins five-year prison term at La Santé in Paris
Japan stocks surge to record as Sanae Takaichi becomes Prime Minister
This Is How the 'Heist of the Century' Was Carried Out at the Louvre in Seven Minutes: France Humiliated as Crown with 2,000 Diamonds Vanishes
China Warns UK of ‘Consequences’ After Delay to London Embassy Approval
France’s Wealthy Shift Billions to Luxembourg and Switzerland Amid Tax and Political Turmoil
"Sniper Position": Observation Post Targeting 'Air Force One' Found Before Trump’s Arrival in Florida
Shouting Match at the White House: 'Trump Cursed, Threw Maps, and Told Zelensky – "Putin Will Destroy You"'
Windows’ Own ‘Siri’ Has Arrived: You Can Now Talk to Your Computer
Thailand and Singapore Investigate Cambodian-Based Prince Group as U.S. and U.K. Sanctions Unfold
‘No Kings’ Protests Inflate Numbers — But History Shows Nations Collapse Without Strong Executive Power
Chinese Tech Giants Halt Stablecoin Launches After Beijing’s Regulatory Intervention
Manhattan Jury Holds BNP Paribas Liable for Enabling Sudanese Government Abuses
Trump Orders Immediate Release of Former Congressman George Santos After Commuting Prison Sentence
S&P Downgrades France’s Credit Rating, Citing Soaring Debt and Political Instability
Ofcom Rules BBC’s Gaza Documentary ‘Materially Misleading’ Over Narrator’s Hamas Ties
Diane Keaton’s Cause of Death Revealed as Pneumonia, Family Confirms
Former Lostprophets Frontman Ian Watkins Stabbed to Death in British Prison
"The Tsunami Is Coming, and It’s Massive": The World’s Richest Man Unveils a New AI Vision
Outsider, Heroine, Trailblazer: Diane Keaton Was Always a Little Strange — and Forever One of a Kind
Dramatic Development in the Death of 'Mango' Founder: Billionaire's Son Suspected of Murder
Two Years of Darkness: The Harrowing Testimonies of Israeli Hostages Emerging From Gaza Captivity
EU Moves to Use Frozen Russian Assets to Buy U.S. Weapons for Ukraine
Europe Emerges as the Biggest Casualty in U.S.-China Rare Earth Rivalry
HSBC Confronts Strategic Crossroads as NAB Seeks Only Retail Arm in Australia Exit
U.S. Chamber Sues Trump Over $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee
Shenzhen Expo Spotlights China’s Quantum Step in Semiconductor Self-Reliance
China Accelerates to the Forefront in Global Nuclear Fusion Race
Yachts, Private Jets, and a Picasso Painting: Exposed as 'One of the Largest Frauds in History'
Australia’s Wedgetail Spies Aid NATO Response as Russian MiGs Breach Estonian Airspace
McGowan Urges Chalmers to Cut Spending Over Tax Hike to Close $20 Billion Budget Gap
Victoria Orders Review of Transgender Prison Placement Amid Safety Concerns for Female Inmates
U.S. Treasury Mobilises New $20 Billion Debt Facility to Stabilise Argentina
French Business Leaders Decry Budget as Macron’s Pro-Enterprise Promise Undermined
Trump Claims Modi Pledged India Would End Russian Oil Imports Amid U.S. Tariff Pressure
Surging AI Startup Valuations Fuel Bubble Concerns Among Top Investors
Australian Punter Archie Wilson Tears Up During Nebraska Press Conference, Sparking Conversation on Male Vulnerability
Australia Confirms U.S. Access to Upgraded Submarine Shipyard Under AUKUS Deal
“Firepower” Promised for Ukraine as NATO Ministers Meet — But U.S. Tomahawks Remain Undecided
Brands Confront New Dilemma as Extremists Adopt Fashion Labels
The Sydney Sweeney and Jeans Storm: “The Outcome Surpassed Our Wildest Dreams”
Erika Kirk Delivers Moving Tribute at White House as Trump Awards Charlie Presidential Medal of Freedom
British Food Influencer ‘Big John’ Detained in Australia After Visa Dispute
ScamBodia: The Chinese Fraud Empire Shielded by Cambodia’s Ruling Elite
French PM Suspends Macron’s Pension Reform Until After 2027 in Bid to Stabilize Government
Orange, Bouygues and Free Make €17 Billion Bid for Drahi’s Altice France Telecom Assets
Dutch Government Seizes Chipmaker After U.S. Presses for Removal of Chinese CEO
Bessent Accuses China of Dragging Down Global Economy Amid New Trade Curbs
U.S. Revokes Visas of Foreign Nationals Who ‘Celebrated’ Charlie Kirk’s Assassination
AI and Cybersecurity at Forefront as GITEX Global 2025 Kicks Off in Dubai
×