The Secretary of State for Education, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 38 of, and paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 17 to, the Coronavirus Act 2020¹, gives the following direction.

Before giving this direction the Secretary of State for Education:

(a) has had regard to any advice from the Chief Medical Officer or one of the Deputy Chief Medical Officers of the Department of Health and Social Care relating to the incidence or transmission of coronavirus; and

(b) is satisfied that giving this direction is a necessary and proportionate action for, or in connection with the continued provision of education for the specified period for one or more persons.

1. This direction applies to the Royal London Borough of Greenwich.

2. This direction requires the Royal London Borough of Greenwich to:

a) take the following steps which the Secretary of State considers to be reasonable in the interests of securing that schools in the borough allow registered pupils to attend school full time for the purpose of receiving education, other than pupils who are required to self-isolate in accordance with guidance given by the Secretary of State regarding the full opening of schools during the coronavirus outbreak or where an individual pupil is unable to attend school because they are complying with clinical or public health advice:

• Immediately and by 10am on 15 December at the latest, withdraw the following letters:

○ the letter sent to all headteachers in the borough on Sunday 13 December 2020 asking all schools in Greenwich to close their premises at the end of the day on Monday 14 December, with the exception of key workers and vulnerable children, and move to a remote learning offer for the duration of the term; and

○ the open letter sent to parents, carers and families across Royal Greenwich on Sunday 13 December 2020;

• simultaneously with that communication withdrawing their letter, send the ‘Schools Opening Requirement’ letter provided by the Secretary of State for Education to all headteachers in the borough.

b) When complying with this direction the Royal London Borough of Greenwich must have regard to any guidance given by the Secretary of State regarding the full opening of schools during the coronavirus outbreak.

Definitions

4. In this direction –

“coronavirus” means severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2);

“registered pupil” in relation to a school means a person registered as a pupil at the school in the register kept under section 434(1) of the Education Act 1996²;

“school” has the same meaning as in the Education Act 1996 (see section 4 of that Act).

Specified period

3. The specified period in this direction starts on the date on which this direction is made and finishes at the end of the autumn term.

Effect

4. This direction has effect until the earlier of—

(a) the end of the specified period, or

(b) the revocation of this direction by a further direction given by the Secretary of State under paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 17 to the Coronavirus Act 2020.

Enforcement

5. This direction is enforceable by the Secretary of State making an application to the High Court or the county court for an injunction. The application may be made without notice being given to the Royal London Borough of Greenwich.

¹ 2020 c.7.

² 1996 c.56.

Signed by, or on the authority of, the Secretary of State for Education

Gavin Williamson

Department for Education

14 December 2020