PLANS for three schools in the Bradford district to close a week early for Christmas this year will no longer go ahead, the Department for Education has said today.

Last week, Focus Trust said that all fifteen of its schools were to break up for Christmas on 11 December, in an attempt to stop families having to self-isolate over the festive period.

Three of the Trust's schools - Shibden Head Primary Academy, Thornton Primary School and Wilsden Primary School - are in the Bradford district.

Today, the Department for Education said that the "latest state of play" is that the schools will not be closing a week early for Christmas, and that there has been a U-turn on last week's decision. 

On Friday, Focus Trust said that it had made the move after "detailed discussions" between its leadership team and its board, amid "growing concern" that many children, their families and staff would be forced to self-isolate throughout the traditional two-week holiday, due to COVID-19.

It was understood, however, that the Government had been in touch with the Trust to ask it to "review its arrangements to reflect government guidance."

The Department for Education has now said that the decision has been rescinded, and that schools will be ending the term "as normal".

In a statement issued today, School Standards Minister Nick Gibb said: 

“The best place for children to be is in schools, which is why it remains a national priority to keep them open full time and avoid further disruption to education.

“I know this is a challenging time, but the latest data shows only 0.2 per cent of pupils were off school isolating with a confirmed case of coronavirus. Closing early for Christmas or extending the holidays is not the answer.

“The Chief Medical Officer has been clear that schools should remain open and has highlighted the damage caused by not being in education to children’s education, development and mental health, which greatly outweighs any other risks. Children are at very low risk from the virus, and staff are not at higher risk than those working in other sectors.”

Focus Trust has been contacted for a comment.