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I think originally not closing schools was about keeping the economy going - parents who have to look after kids all day can't/find it hard to work - and not upsetting Tory voters by putting them in that situation.
I don't think it was ever about science or public health. This government has been almost weirdly obsessed with keeping them open and now we're seeing the cost of that.
Fox-
I agree with most of that but I think closing schools also has a very big impact on long term life opportunities especially if close to exams.
Missing 6 months of school could easily cause you to drop a grade or two in key subjects like Maths and English where not having the magic pass (old C at GCSE?) really holds you back for the rest of your career.
Also looking after secondary school kids while working isn't all that tricky. Primary is a problem.
jellybaby
It isn't. It is the government not having the slightest idea what it is doing. There are reasonable arguments for and against opening schools. There is no logic to closing Barnet primary schools but not Haringey.