THE government must be honest with the public and stop hiding Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) advice on the return of schools and colleges, Labour urged today.

The call came as senior scientists from the government’s New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (Nervtag) warned that schools may have to remain shut in order to control coronavirus transmission.

Nervtag’s Professor Neil Ferguson said that closing schools could be required as an “alternative to having exponentially growing numbers of hospitalisations.” 

Labour blamed delays to the return to classrooms on government failures to manage the spread of the virus.

The party warned that parents, pupils and school and college staff are being left in the dark about plans, with media speculation taking the place of government clarity.

Shadow education secretary Kate Green and shadow schools minister Wes Streeting wrote to Education Secretary Gavin Williamson urging him to provide answers by publishing the scientific evidence on the spread of the virus in schools, as well as Sage’s advice. 

It also demanded that the government publish a credible plan to ensure all pupils will be able to access remote learning as well as confirming whether plans for mass testing will go ahead and clarifying when staff can expect to be vaccinated. 

Ms Green said: “The government has lost control of the virus and children’s education is suffering as a result. 

“It’s time for the Prime Minister to own his mistakes and be honest about whether students can return to schools and colleges in a week’s time.” 

The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) criticised the government for dropping plans for mass testing in schools, conducted by the military and health professionals.

National Education Union (NEU) joint general secretary Kevin Courtney said testing in itself will not resolve problems such as poor ventilation, an absence of PPE and lack of space for social distancing in classrooms.

He said that opening schools to all but the children of keyworkers and vulnerable children is “sheer folly and irresponsible in the extreme.”

“We need to see schools and colleges revert to online learning for at least the first two weeks of January to get the virus under control and protect school staff, children, their families and wider society,” Mr Courtney said.

The government said it is “still planning for a staggered opening of schools” in the new year but is keeping the plan under constant review.