A headteacher has threatened to withdraw children from her school after some admitted breaking coronavirus rules at home.

Martine Buckley, executive head at Yew Tree Community School in Oldham, Greater Manchester, sent a letter to parents saying their ‘lovely children’ are ‘open and honest’ about visiting friends and family.

She said her teachers are ‘putting their own safety at risk’ during the lockdown and should be confident parents were ‘doing their bit’ to follow the measures – which ban household mixing.

Ms Buckley then warned she would have to withdraw a pupil’s place if they find parents are breaking the rules.

Posting the letter to the school’s Facebook page, Ms Buckley wrote: ‘Dear Parents, I am very upset to be writing this letter but I feel I must.

‘Our lovely children are open and honest and they tell us about their lives and activities.

‘Currently a number of them are telling us that they are visiting friends, neighbours and family which is against the law.

‘Our teachers and support staff are putting their own safety at risk to look after your children and they should be confident that you are doing your bit to follow the lockdown rules.

‘I am afraid that I will have to withdraw the offer of a place in school to children whose parents are putting us in danger.

‘To everyone who is doing the right thing I want to say a huge thank you. I know that this is most of you.

‘I know that home learning is nigh on impossible for too many of you and we all sympathise and feel for you. 

‘We will get over this much quicker if we all follow the rules.’

Schools across the UK are closed but classrooms have remained open for vulnerable pupils and children of key workers.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson is expected to make an announcement on schools in the coming days, having previously stated parents would have at least two weeks’ notice before they reopen.

But reports say pupils could continue learning from home until after Easter, as education leaders say they don’t expect schools to reopen until May.

A Government source claimed homeschooling may be here ‘for the long haul’ amid fears over new Covid variants. The virus mutation is believed to be up to 70% more infectious and 30% more deadly than other strains.

The source told The Times: ‘We are going to start giving parents more information so they can start managing their expectations.

‘Although we have not arrived at an exact date when we think schools will go back, it will not be after half-term.’

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