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Boris Johnson Testifies on School Closures, Admits Slow Grasp of Covid’s Toll on Children

Johnson acknowledges his government was slow to grasp Covid’s toll on children.

Overview

  • Johnson was sworn in and began giving evidence in the inquiry phase examining policies affecting children and young people.
  • He said he regretted the exam-grading model used in 2020, calling it undermining for pupils and a bad system.
  • The inquiry was shown messages in which he considered sacking Education Secretary Gavin Williamson over the grading fiasco.
  • Chair Baroness Hallett has described the pandemic’s impact on children as severe and, for many, long-lasting.
  • Long Covid campaigners cited ONS data suggesting about 72,000 children reported symptoms after a second infection and pressed for political accountability.