THE chair of the Commons Education Select Committee, Harlow MP Robert Halfon has dubbed the past six months “a national disaster for education” reports the TES.

In an online interview run by the Campaign for Common Sense – a group set up by former Bedford Free School founder Mark Lehain – Robert Halfon gave examples of what he thought had gone wrong in the handling of the coronavirus crisis for schools, which he called “in some ways a scandal”.

Mr Halfon, Conservative MP for Harlow and a former skills minister, said: “The past six months, in my view, have been a national disaster for education for our young people. In some ways a scandal, what has gone on.”

He said that there have been “incredible efforts” by teachers and support staff to continue teaching during the coronavirus school closures, but that not all children were reached.

Mr Halfon added: “We know that, for one reason or another, millions of children have not been learning and millions of children have not had any contact with teachers.

He said that there have been “incredible efforts” by teachers and support staff to continue teaching during the coronavirus school closures, but that not all children were reached.

Mr Halfon added: “We know that, for one reason or another, millions of children have not been learning and millions of children have not had any contact with teachers.