Michael Allen, principal of Lisneal College in the Waterside
Stormont Education Peter Weir has set that as the target date for pupils in P7, year 12 and year 14 to return to class.
But Michael Allen, principal of Lisneal College in the Waterside, said at this point he has “no idea whatsoever how the school day will work” in relation to social distancing, transport or PPE.
“We have no idea about deep clean,” he added.
“We have no idea as to what the stance will be if a teacher is either shielding or is coming from a household where there is someone vulnerable – we have no guidance whatsoever.”
Asked if schools could be ready if guidance was available on those issues by the end of this academic year, Mr Allen replied: “I believe it’s already too late.”
Primary school children were due to start back to school in England this week.
But Downing Street had to row back on that move after school principals, teachers, trade unions and parents were deeply unhappy over the issue of children social distancing in classrooms.
At the Downing Street on Wednesday afternoon, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the government “fully intends” to bring all children in England back to school in September “provided the progress we are making continues”.
“What we’ll be doing is a huge amount of catch-up for pupils over the summer months,” he said, adding that the education secretary will announce more on a catch-up programme next week.
Schools across the North have been empty since lockdown in March
And he said parents had lost confidence in the government’s schools plan.
He accused the prime minister of “flailing around trying to blame others” for what had been a completely avoidable “mess”.
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