Eton College to send pupils home despite advice not to cancel classes amid coronavirus outbreak

by

Eton sends pupils home despite old boy Boris Johnson’s official advice not to cancel classes amid coronavirus outbreak while Marlborough College closes to become ‘virtual school’

  • Eton College near Windsor is to shut down schools across the country today
  • Marlborough College  said it is moving to an ‘online learning environment’ 
  • Closures come despite government’s advice for schools to stay open 
  • Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?

By Terri-ann Williams For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

One of the UK’s most prestigious schools will send pupils home despite official advice to keep classes up and running.

Boris Johnson’s old stomping ground Eton College near Windsor, is to shut down schools across the country in order to combat the coronavirus pandemic. 

This is while Marlborough College in Wiltshire also said it is moving to an ‘online learning environment’ from 1pm today, after it became ‘impossible’ for the college to provide effective boarding and residential care. 

The closures come just 24-hours after Harrow School closed due to an infected pupil. 

So far there have been 72 deaths from the disease in the UK and 2,626 confirmed cases. Globally there have been 8,222 deaths and 203,480 confirmed cases. 

Boris Johnson’s old stomping ground Eton College (pictured above) near Windsor, is to shut down schools across the country in order to combat the coronavirus pandemic

The closure comes despite Mr Johnson's stance that schools and colleges should be kept open

The closure comes despite Mr Johnson’s stance that schools and colleges should be kept open 

This is while Marlborough College (pictured) in Wiltshire also said it is moving to an 'online learning environment' from 1pm today

This is while Marlborough College (pictured) in Wiltshire also said it is moving to an ‘online learning environment’ from 1pm today

Eton – which has fees of over £14,000 per term – has decided to send pupils home.

One member of staff at the school, who did not want to be named, said: ‘I don’t think it’s much of a secret. We’re sending the boys home at lunch today.’

A teacher at Eton, who wanted to remain anonymous, declined to comment – but did confirm that students were being sent home today.

A worker in the bursar’s office at the world-famous college said: ‘Thing’s are all a bit hectic when you close a school down before the end of term.’

Speaking to the MailOnline a spokesperson for Marlborough College said staff had wanted to do their best to implement social distancing guidelines set out by the government.

A petition has garnered over 672,000 signatures, as many urge the government to close the schools

A petition has garnered over 672,000 signatures, as many urge the government to close the schools 

What is the government’s official advice on school closures?

Despite the spread of the coronavirus across the UK schools and colleges have remained open.

The official government advice is that schools ‘should only close if they are specifically advised to do so’.

The government has however advised schools to cancel or postpone any international school trips that were scheduled. 

The government’s chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, said that while it’s ‘true that there’s some effect in closing schools’ the effect is ‘minimal’. 

He said that if schools were closed they would have to be shut for 13-16 weeks. 

It was also advised that parents needed to take the right measures, such as children no longer staying with grandparents. 

A Government spokesperson said: ‘As the Chief Medical Officer has said, the impact of closing schools on both children’s education and on the workforce will be substantial, but the benefit to public health may not be.

‘Decisions on future advice to schools will be taken based on the latest and best scientific evidence, which at this stage suggests children are a lower risk group.

‘The advice from Public Health England continues to be for schools to remain open, unless advised otherwise.’

Education events across the country have also been cancelled.  

In a statement a spokesperson said: ‘Marlborough College is moving to a “virtual school” environment from 1pm on 18th March.

‘This decision will enable the College to continue to operate, given the increasing numbers of pupils and staff taking precautionary measures to self-isolate or to preempt further global travel restrictions which is making it impossible for the College to provide effective full boarding 24/7 residential care.

‘The College will continue to deliver its timetabled academic lessons, pastoral support and co-curricular provision to pupils remotely, utilising a number of online platforms and delivery methods.

‘The College has no confirmed case of COVID-19 and the campus will not be closed. All members of staff will continue with their duties until the end of term’.

Despite some private schools acting unilaterally to shut their doors, a spokesperson for the Department for Education said that, as things stand, the government would not be closing down schools – pointing to Mr Johnson’s statement yesterday.

At his daily coronavirus briefing, the prime minister hinted that school closures may be enforced soon, adding that the current policy was under ‘continuous review’.

Mr Johnson said: ‘I understand completely where people are at with that, we’re keeping it under continuous review.’

An online petition launched by parents and teachers worried about coronavirus urging the government to close all schools is approaching 700,000 signatures, with many parents warning they will pull their kids out of school if action isn’t taken quickly.

It said: ‘We would like the government to at least consider closing schools/colleges down in the coming weeks or as soon as possible, in addition to taking necessary actions to prevent further spread.

‘We would like the Government or Parliament to enforce this action due to the growing fear among parents and students that attend school.

‘The ability to focus or concentrate is affected in addition to the growing fears of the Coronavirus. In our view, the government and health officials around the world are more ‘reactive’ rather than ‘proactive’.

‘This will result in more spread as time is given for the virus to do so. We hope to come to an agreement as soon as possible in a timely manner.’

MailOnline has contacted Eton College.