Back to school undermined?

The COVID Diaries – 141 18th August

Following education secretary Gavin Williamson’s part in this year’s exam results fiasco, Robert Halfon, the Conservative chair of the education select committee, has said the prime minister must personally lead the back-to-school campaign in order to ensure confidence.

Many people involved in education say that parents and teachers have lost faith in Gavin Williamson’s competence to lead a safe return of pupils to England’s schools in two weeks’ time.

Speculation is mounting that Williamson is only managing to hold on to his job because “he knows where the bodies are buried” from his time as chief whip and won’t go quietly if sacked.