Protests in Chesterfield town centre over 'irresponsible' schools return

Teachers and nurses joined protests in Chesterfield town centre over the reopening of schools during the coronavirus pandemic.
Tim Paget
By Tim Paget
Published 28th May 2020, 21:25 BST
Updated 28th May 2020, 21:25 BST
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Some teachers fear children are returning to classrooms too soon and they took part in socially distanced protests near the Crooked Spire church on Thursday, May 28.

Joan Pons Laplana, a Chesterfield resident and ICU nurse who joined the protest, said reopening schools at this time was ‘utterly irresponsible’.

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MORE: Claims Derbyshire headteachers have received 'veiled threats' about June 1 school reopening plans

Protests took place in Chesterfield over the reopening of schools next week.Protests took place in Chesterfield over the reopening of schools next week.
Protests took place in Chesterfield over the reopening of schools next week.

He said: “This Government has sacrificed the elderly and now they want to use our children as guinea pigs.

“I am a father of three and I will not be sending my children to school until it’s safe.”

Chesterfield and District Trades Union Council helped organise the protests and there were similar events held across the country.

The Government says reopening schools is a crucial part of the next phase of its response to the pandemic but Derbyshire County Council has warned many schools will not be ready for June 1.

Related topics:ChesterfieldTeachersGovernmentDerbyshireICU