This campaign is now closed. As we called for, schools were shut as part of the third lockdown in England.

To Gavin Williamson, education secretary

Boris Johnson has refused to move school education online despite teachers fearing for their lives and safety in light of the highly transmissible new strain of coronavirus that’s spreading like wildfire across the country.

Government medical experts SAGE have warned that schools are not safe, and that without closing schools it will be almost impossible to get the pandemic under control.

The government has already been forced to backtrack on plans to open primary schools in some the worst affected boroughs in London, but that hasn’t stopped them pushing ahead with their reckless plans to open schools other areas of England, even as the rate of infection keeps rising.

Teachers and headteachers are rightly up in arms about this. The teachers’ National Education Union have told their members that they should refuse to work in schools on safety grounds, and the headteachers’ association NAHT are launching a legal challenge against the government’s plan to open the schools.

Nobody should have to work in an unsafe environment. We support the school staff in their decision to keep themselves, pupils and vulnerable family members safe. We also support their campaign for more equipment and funding for online learning.

All primary and secondary education needs to move online immediately, until the rate of infections is under control and falling, and the mass vaccine roll-out is under way.

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Highlighted comments

I’m a 62 year old teacher who has dedicated the last 40 years to teaching children in inner London. I am extremely worried about going into school. The virus might not be dangerous for children but it is spread by them and is dangerous to staff and the school community – parents, carers, families and therefore to the wider community. The government is ignoring scientific advice. It is unbelievable.

Jacqueline, South London

I’m clinically extremely vulnerable and work in a school. I’m terrified, frankly.

Sue, Bristol

I have a nine year old grandson who I look after while my daughter is at work. I do not want to put him, his teachers or myself at unnecessary risk when it is possible for him to learn online.

Jennifer, Sunderland

Social distancing is impossible with younger children and difficult with older students in secondary schools. We need to work to get the virus under control, school staff vaccinated and then when it is safe to do so, reopen.

Marian, Derbyshire

I am having chemotherapy and so am clinically very vulnerable. I am told to shield and avoid contact with others. But my son is in sixth form. So how can I shield if he is in contact with so many other families? It is impossible. My life is in danger and if I die my son will lose a lot more than face to face schooling.

Julie, Wiltshire

If it’s safe then let Gavin Williamson go and teach in a school for a month!

Emyr, Bournemouth

We should restart the academic year for all age groups, and supply universal broadband and computers to all children. Schools should open only for the small numbers of children who are at risk in the home, frontline workers’ families, those who cannot study at home, etc.

Kate, Northumberland

I have a 6 year old boy who goes to school and spends the majority of his time staying at his grandparents’ house. This puts our bubble at serious risk.

Ursula, Yorkshire

All schools should remain closed until Eton re-opens.

Stephanie, Yorkshire