Why Gavin Williamson can’t afford to mess up the reopening of schools

The botched attempt to get all primary pupils back in the classroom before the summer break angered many Conservative MPs. The education secretary could be ousted if he messes up again, writes Andrew Grice

The education secretary, Gavin Williamson (PA)

Ministers are expressing confidence that all children will be able to return to school at the start of the autumn term in England in September.

Gavin Williamson, the education secretary, announced that schooling will be compulsory, with parents facing fines if their children do not attend without good reason. The 15-pupil class-size limit will be scrapped. Instead, children will be grouped in “bubbles” – in classes in primary schools, and year groups in secondary.

However, the plans could be disrupted by the growing prospect of more local lockdowns to combat flare-ups of the coronavirus. In Leicester, schools closed from Thursday as part of the city’s shutdown.