On 22 February Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, confirmed the announcement on resuming face-to-face learning for all pupils from the 8 of March. Mr Johnson announced this as a part of a 4 step gradual roadmap for easing lockdown restrictions over the next four months. Boris Johnson claims that: “All the evidence shows that classrooms are the best places for our young people to be and that's why I've always said that schools would be the last to close and the first to reopen."

Despite the success of the vaccination program, with over 17 million people receiving the first dose of the vaccine, one of the UK government’s scientific advisers has warned that the plan could lead to a resurgence of coronavirus. Along with unions, experts, and some opposition MPs, demanding the publication of scientific evidence acquainting the government’s decision. Questions are also arising why Prime Minister Boris Johnson is not heading to take similar steps as Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland who are taking a cautious phased approach to school opening which enables their governments to assess the impact on the R rate and to make necessary adjustments to their plans so once schools are fully open, they can stay open. 

Will this action lead to England’s repetitive tendency of lockdown after lockdown, or are we finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel?