When Boris Johnson took the stand at the UK Covid-19 InquiryLondon on 22 October 2025, he flatly denied that his government had failed to plan for the pandemic’s school closures. He insisted the Department for Education (DfE) had been “thinking ahead” even as the virus surged, while former Education Secretary Gavin Williamson testified that officials were given just one night in March 2020 to draft a closure strategy.
Background to the Inquiry
The inquiry, launched in June 2022 after pressure from bereaved families’ groups such as Covid‑19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK, is now in its third phase, focusing on children’s experiences across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Expected to run until 2027, this segment scrutinises decisions that disrupted lessons for millions of pupils.
During the first wave, schools swung from full‑time teaching to remote learning almost overnight. By mid‑March 2020, over 5 million students were out of classroom settings, according to the Office for National Statistics. The rapid shift exposed gaps in contingency planning that the inquiry hopes to unpack.
Johnson’s Testimony
Johnson, who led the United Kingdom as Prime Minister from July 2019 to September 2022, told the panel, “I was very much hoping that we wouldn’t have to close schools. I thought it was a nightmare idea.” He added that senior civil servants were “overwhelmed by the acceleration of the virus” and that the DfE “was considering school closings,” but he stopped short of admitting any concrete preparation.
He also offered an apology for broader mishandlings, noting, “We made mistakes, and I’m sorry for the pain it caused families.” Yet when pressed about whether a formal shutdown plan existed before March 2020, he replied, “No, there wasn’t a single document that laid out a step‑by‑step closure timetable.”
The former prime minister’s remarks echo his earlier defence in 2023, when he rejected claims that his administration ignored scientific advice that could have prevented thousands of deaths.
Williamson’s Contradictory Account
Just days earlier, Gavin Williamson — who served as Secretary of State for Education from July 2019 to September 2021 — told investigators that he was handed a one‑night deadline on 12 March 2020 to produce a viable school‑closure plan. He said, “I was given the night to draft something, because the advice was coming in fast and we had to act.”
Williamson also disclosed a series of expletive‑laden text messages sent to Johnson, in which he described himself as “f‑‑‑ed over” by the government’s pandemic decisions. Those messages, first reported by Schools Week, highlight the internal frustration that brewed behind the scenes.
The former education minister further admitted that the algorithm used to award GCSE and A‑level grades in 2020 was “quite clearly wrong,” a system that downgraded many pupils’ results despite teacher assessments. He told the panel, “We felt reassured by Ofqual at the time, but the impact on individual students was massive.”
When asked about a meeting with Jon Coles, the former director‑general of the Education Department who now heads United Learning, Williamson claimed “no recollection” of acknowledging the plan’s flaws, even though Coles’ notes suggest he warned the minister that “it was too late to do anything about it.”
Reactions from Stakeholders
Teachers’ unions, represented by the National Education Union (NEU), have welcomed Williamson’s testimony, saying it validates long‑standing claims that the government acted “in haste and without proper consultation.” NEU spokesperson Claire Bingham told reporters, “Parents and pupils were left in limbo because ministers didn’t have a clear plan. The one‑night scenario is a stark illustration of that failure.”
Conversely, members of the Conservative Party have defended Johnson, arguing that the unprecedented speed of the pandemic left any administration scrambling. MP James Daly remarked, “We cannot judge the response with hindsight; the virus was evolving daily.”
The United Learning academy trust, one of England’s largest multi‑academy organisations, released a statement through its CEO Jon Coles, emphasizing that “schools need clear, pre‑approved frameworks, not ad‑hoc directives that come at the eleventh hour.”
Implications for Education Policy
Analysts say the conflicting accounts could spark a legislative push for a permanent “pandemic‑ready” education contingency plan. Dr. Emma Rothwell, a professor of public policy at King’s College London, warned, “Without statutory requirements for school‑closure protocols, we risk repeating the chaos of 2020.”
Should the inquiry’s findings lead to new statutes, bodies like Ofqual may be tasked with developing rapid‑assessment tools that balance fairness with speed. The DfE, still chaired by Secretary of State for Education (as of 2025) Lucy Frazer, has already signalled an intention to review grading algorithms.
Looking Ahead
The inquiry will reconvene in early 2026 to hear from parents, mental‑health experts, and education researchers. It will also examine whether the one‑night plan cited by Williamson actually influenced the March 20, 2020, decision to shut schools across England.
Meanwhile, Johnson’s legal team is expected to file a brief defending his record, arguing that “no single minister could have anticipated the speed of the viral spread.” Whether that defence will hold sway with the judges remains to be seen, but the clash of testimonies ensures the debate over school‑closure preparedness will stay front‑and‑center for years.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Boris Johnson say about school‑closure planning?
Johnson told the inquiry he hoped schools wouldn’t have to close and that officials were “overwhelmed.” He denied any formal, pre‑pandemic plan existed, saying the Department for Education was merely “considering” closures when the virus accelerated.
How did Gavin Williamson describe the timeline for creating a closure plan?
Williamson said he was given just one night in March 2020 to draft a school‑closure strategy, a fact that contradicts Johnson’s claim of no concrete planning.
Why are the grading algorithms of 2020 under scrutiny?
The algorithm used to adjust GCSE and A‑level results was later admitted by Williamson as “quite clearly wrong,” leading to widespread grade downgrades that affected university admissions and student morale.
What role did United Learning’s Jon Coles play in the inquiry?
Coles, now CEO of United Learning, previously served as director‑general of the Education Department. He warned officials that the closure plan was being drafted too late, and his notes were referenced during Williamson’s testimony.
What could change in future education policy because of the inquiry?
Experts warn the inquiry may push Parliament to enact a statutory “pandemic‑ready” framework for schools, giving bodies like Ofqual clear mandates on rapid grading and closure procedures.
