Education Secretary said schools shut during Covid because teachers ‘hate work’

The Metro says Former education secretary Sir Gavin Williamson said some schools wanted to close during the Covid pandemic so staff would have an ‘excuse’ not to work, according to the latest tranche of Matt Hancock’s leaked messages.

The ministers swapped WhatsApp messages in May 2020 as ministers and teachers planned for lessons to begin returning as normal after the first national lockdown.

Messages published by the Daily Telegraph show Sir Gavin asked Mr Hancock for help securing PPE for schools, adding: ‘Some will just want to say they can’t [open] so they have an excuse to avoid having to teach, what joys!!!’

Those comments contrast with public statements at the time thanking teachers for their ‘outstanding work’ and praising them for ‘going above and beyond the call of duty’.