SOME schools are set to reopen next week after a council advised them not to listen to Government advice to do so yesterday.

Headteachers opened schools across Sussex to Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 pupils yesterday in line with Department for Education guidance.

But no state schools reopened in Brighton after the city council advised headteachers to ignore the Government’s timetable, claiming it was not safe enough for pupils to return.

Now some schools in the city say they will welcome more pupils from next Monday while others will wait until June 15.

Schools have remained open for vulnerable children and those of key workers.

Yesterday the city council told The Argus the decision on when and whether to reopen was up to headteachers.

Damien Jordan, head of Fairlight Primary and Nursery School in Brighton, said his school is preparing to begin reopening next Monday.

The Argus: Fairlight Primary and Nursery School could begin to reopen next Monday. Photo: Paul GillettFairlight Primary and Nursery School could begin to reopen next Monday. Photo: Paul Gillett

He said figures revealed by the Government last week on the number of infections were “worrying” for schools.

“We will continue to prepare cautiously for the wider reopening of Fairlight with the plan still being that the first children will start on June 8,” he said in an update to parents. “One of the most worrying new pieces of information was the figure that only about six per cent of the UK population has had Covid-19.

“In school terms, that would mean of the 420 children in school, about 25 children will have had it, however 395 will have not.

“In a class of 30 children that would mean two children will have had it. Mr Johnson confirmed the targets the Government set to measure if it was safe for schools to reopen are being met. Note they never said ‘have been met’.”

Paul Shellard, secretary of the National Education Union’s Brighton branch, said the majority of schools in the city are set to reopen from June 15 at the earliest.

The Argus: Brighton and Hove National Education Union secretary Paul Shellard said most schools in the city had set a provisional opening date of June 15Brighton and Hove National Education Union secretary Paul Shellard said most schools in the city had set a provisional opening date of June 15

When asked if he thought the Government’s “five tests” – which detail the circumstances in which schools would be safe to reopen – would be met by next Monday, he said the scenario was “highly unlikely”.

He cited the advice of the independent Sage scientist group which claimed delaying school reopenings by two weeks would halve the potential spread of coronavirus.

“Opening will be very much staged and gradual,” Mr Shellard said.

“One idea is schools not opening to a whole year group but rather different classes on different days.”

Windlesham School was one of the only schools in Brighton to reopen yesterday.

Reception pupils returned to the private school yesterday, while Year 1 and Year 6 pupils are set to return today.

Elsewhere in Sussex the vast majority of primary schools reopened to more pupils. Handcross Primary School near Haywards Heath welcomed children back yesterday with play areas cordoned off.

  • The coronavirus Sussex Crisis Fund has been set u p to help those affected by the pandemic. The Argus’s charity and American Express have each donated £50,000 to kick-start the appeal. Grants will usually be for up to £5,000. More information is available at www.sussexgiving. org.uk/apply. To donate visit www.totalgiving.co.uk/appeal/sussexcrisisfund