Schools outside coronavirus hotspots, such as London and Birmingham, could reopen next month under plans being considered by the Government. Ministers believe that such a measure would help parents return to work and help reboot the economy. But several head teachers have warned it will be impossible for schools to ensure social distancing measures are adhered to, especially among younger children.

Katharine Birbalsingh, dubbed as Britain’s “strictest headteacher” has said it would be impossible to ensure pupils and teachers stayed two metres apart, due to narrow corridors and small classrooms.

She told BBC Radio 4’d Today programme: “The fact is, social distancing in schools is simply impossible.

“We’re considered be the strictest school in Britain and even we would find it impossible – we’ve got corridors that are just over one metre in width, so the children when passing one another obviously touch each other, when they’re in the classrooms coming in and out.

“First of all classrooms are small in all schools so the children are all sat right next to each other – they have to hand out books and pens and paper when they get up off their desk to walk out the classroom they touch each other they are also children we need to remember – reception children are all going to be together the younger they are the more difficult it is.

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“Let alone the physical implications around all this in terms of making that work.”

Ms Birbalsingh, who’s head of the Michaela Community School in Brent, north London, hit out at the idea that social distancing measures could be followed in schools.

Her warning came in response to the suggestion that ministers could soon decide to reopen schools in parts of the county, after Denmark became the first country in Europe to allow students to return to the classroom.

Ms Birbalsingh said it was a “lie” that safe social distancing would be possible in schools full stop and urged experts to be realistic about this.

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She said: “But what I don’t want is for people to perpetuate the lie – and it is a lie – that social distancing is possible.

“It just isn’t and that’s fine if they say look we understand that there’s a risk and we know what we’re asking you teachers and this is what we need you to do – we need you to do your duty and go out and do this for the country, it’s in order to jump start the economy and people need to go out and get their children into schools.

“That’s what needs to be said.

“What shouldn’t be said is what’s told that’s is absolutely fine we can do social distancing in schools, and we pretend.

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It’s the pretence that I can’t bear – that social distancing is possible.’

Ms Birbalsingh gained the nickname of Britain’s “strictest headteacher” when she introduced a swathe of reforms in her north London school.

Measures include giving pupils detention for slouching in their chairs, using a mobile phone or wearing make-up or jewellery.

Other headteachers from around the UK have echoed Ms Birbalsingh’s concerns.

Bryony Baynes, a head teacher at Kempsey Primary School in Worcester, agreed that social distancing is “pretty much impossible” with young children.

Similarly, Maddie Ross, a teacher at a primary school in Wolverhampton, said all teachers would be at risk if schools reopened too early because of the difficulty of imposing social isolation rules on small children.

The National Education Union (NEU) has written to Boris Johnson asking for the Government to share its modelling, evidence and plans for reopening schools after the proposals were reported in The Times this morning.

It warned acting too early in the coronavirus crisis will result in an “increased risk” to staff and children, and could “undermine people’s resolve to stick to social isolation”.

Denmark became the first European country to reopen schools this week.

Students still have to follow social distancing rules and sit two metres apart.

The news has given Britons hope that the country’s lockdown measures could soon be lifted.

But Dominic Raab, who is currently deputising for the Prime Minister, is expected to announced today the lockdown will be extended for another three weeks.

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