Schools trust backs down over plans to partially re-open four Doncaster schools this week

Astrea Academy Trust planned to re-open Atlas Primary Academy in Hyde Park, Intake Primary Academy, Hillside Academy at Denaby and Waverley Academy in Balby this week.

But after union opposition, the trust has agreed to put the re-opening back two weeks.

It said in a statement: “The safety of our pupils and staff will always be our number one priority. Comprehensive risk assessments of every Astrea school and for every member of staff had been completed and we made clear to our colleagues that only those who are happy to come into school should do so.

“These are undoubtedly very challenging times and schools across the country are facing difficult decisions. We also know, however, that a lot of children need our support and we were keen to have them back in school – both on educational and safeguarding grounds. For these reasons, we had already announced plans for six of our primaries to open more widely for eligible year groups from the middle of this week.

“Today, we have decided to review the decision for Astrea schools in Doncaster and Sheffield in light of the information received from Directors of Public Health and we will now consider opening these schools more widely from 15 June.

They remain open for key workers children an vulnerable youngsters

The National Education Union had raised concerns.

Doncaster branch Secretary, Fiona Campbell, said before the U-turn: “In Doncaster alone, the current R rate is 0.8 and and has been flagged as a hotspot for the disease to spread, with experts believing the virus has not yet hit its peak here. The Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones, has written to the Prime Minister urgently requesting data which has not been provided, and the Doncaster Director of Public Health, Dr Rupert Suckling, has sent a report to every school highlighting the serious safety concerns which informed the Mayor’s decision. Therefore we cannot understand why Astrea Academy Trust are willing to put lives of their staff and pupils at immediate risk.”