Why is Williamson fighting so hard to prevent schools breaking up early for Christmas?

The last week of term is scarcely critical. Is he trying to avoid letting Greenwich set a precedent – or just squaring off with the unions?

Patrick Timms: Blame the unions, not teachers themselves, if our schools don’t re-open

With a ten-year background working in the education sector, I know that teachers are some of the most dedicated people you will ever meet.

Chris McGovern: The teaching unions must stop playing truant with the truth

There has even been opposition to providing on-line lessons. The closure of schools is further fracturing our already divided society.

A battle with teaching unions looks inevitable next month. Who will win?

The Government is only likely to be emboldened to take the necessary action if it feels that is what parents demand.

Tony Devenish: The Greater London Authority is undermining localism

If the Mayor is incapable of doing his job, the Government will have to call in the inspectors to take charge.

The big speech Johnson makes next week should be about education

Parents need to be persuaded to send their children back to school – and until that happens life chances will be blighted and economic growth lessened.

The shake-up that the Government needs to rescue education for a generation of children

Johnson has fewer than three months in which to move public opinion – the key to getting schools moving again.

Henry Hill: Scottish schools face a full year of disruption, and the DUP clash with teaching unions

The battle to re-open state schools rages across the UK. Also: Mohammed Asghar, Conservative member of the Welsh Assembly, passed away this week.

David Johnston and Laura Trott: We must re-open schools or risk scarring an entire generation

This is fundamentally an issue of social justice. All children not currently in school are damaged by it, but the poorest children are damaged most.

Mark Lehain: The Government must make a top priority of getting schools back this autumn

Any delay will be exploited by the Blob to try and roll back a decade of progress on testing, inspections, and accountability.

John Pennington: Anti-government ideologues are denying children in Bradford the education they need

Thousands of computers are being distributed for home education. But not enough is being done to check they are being used.

The schools debacle is a consequence not of the personal failings of Williamson, but of the structural flaws of this Government

We have a dominating centre and compliant Ministers. The Education Secretary was given his marching orders, and told to like them or lump them.

Steve Bell: In Brighton and Hove, we have been busting Labour’s myths about school reopenings

The Council’s action is increasing inequality without justfication. The independent schools are back at work.

Tim Clark: Ministers must take the time to find a safe way to reopen schools

Not only would doing otherwise expose teachers and pupils to unacceptable risk, but the political backlash could be immense.

School re-openings. Williamson is making his case without a taranatula perched on his shoulder.

Enraged voters are not his target: he is zeroing in on the mass of questioning teachers and parents.