Greenwich council ordered to withdraw early closure request

The education secretary Gavin Williamson has ordered Greenwich council to withdraw its early school closure request, after it had urged schools to move to online learning in the last week of term.

It's the first time the education secretary has used emergency coronavirus powers granted earlier this year.

Greenwich council urged schools across the borough to close due to the significant growth of Covid cases.

The direction orders the council to withdraw letters sent to headteachers on Sunday asking them to close their schools at the end of today. It asks them to do so by 10am tomorrow at the latest. The council has also been ordered to issue a ‘Schools Opening Requirement’ letter provided by Williamson to all headteachers in the borough.