However, two academy schools in Greenwich ignored the council and said they would stay open.
Mayor Sadiq Khan and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer were divided on the issue. Mr Khan wrote to the Prime Minister demanding “urgent consideration” to closing schools early and reopening them later in January. But Sir Keir Starmer told LBC: “I’m very reluctant to close our schools.”
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson was adamant that schools should stay open, pointing to the importance of lessons for pupils facing mock exams in the new year.
However, a number of Tory MPs told the Standard that closing schools might be a way of avoiding the entire capital being plunged into Tier 3 restrictions this week.