HUNDREDS of schools in northern England are to rebel against the government and remained closed on Monday, as coronavirus infections began to increase again in the region.

Many local authorities urged schools not to reopen and teachers called on those that had not done so to follow suit.

Infections in the north-west have passed the crucial R-rate threshold of one, indicating that the number of people becoming infected was rising again.

The rate measures the number of people, on average, that one infected person will pass the virus on to.

The north-west has a higher rate of infection than any other English region, according to Public Health England (PHE).

Some local authorities in the region advised schools in their area not to open, and teaching union NASUWT urged more councils to do the same to protect staff and pupils.

Health officials at Blackburn & Darwen Council, which runs 85 schools in Lancashire, warned them on Friday not to reopen on Monday.

The same action has been taken in Tameside in Greater Manchester, where schools are told to delay reopening for pupils other than vulnerable children and those of key workers until June 22.

The NASUWT has written to local authorities and mayors in Manchester, Oldham, Salford, St Helens, Stockport and Warrington, warning them that reopening schools “poses unacceptable risks to the health and safety of school staff and pupils.”

“Some local authorities and employers in the region have already suggested that schools in their borough postpone the wider reopening of schools in response to the increase in the R rate,” the union’s general secretary Dr Patrick Roach said.

“The NASUWT believes their neighbours should now do likewise. 

“In the absence of new risk assessments being provided to the NASUWT and in the light of the increase in the R rate, the union must insist that these local authorities demonstrate how they intend to keep pupils and staff safe.

“And if they cannot, they must pause their plans for the wider reopening of schools.”

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram have questioned whether the lockdown is being lifted too soon, with the views of northern regions seemingly ignored by the government.

Council bosses in Liverpool and Gateshead led the northern backlash against government calls for schools to reopen on June 1.