The government says schools should remain open during the period of national mourning in light of the Queen’s death on Thursday afternoon (September 8). The Department for Education (DfE) issued the guidance to schools on closures earlier today.
The DfE has said it will issue further guidance once a date is set - with Monday, September 19 the most likely - although this is yet to be confirmed.
The new King will decide whether the funeral is a bank holiday. If the decision is made to make the funeral a national holiday, it is likely schools would close for that day.
READ MORE: Everything that will be cancelled or postponed following the Queen's death
In an email, the DfE said: “We have now entered a period of national mourning that will continue until the end of the State Funeral. Guidance providing the public, businesses and institutions with advice on the period of national mourning following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will be issued by the Cabinet Office and available on GOV.UK.”
In the intervening period of national mourning schools “should remain open”. With the DfE adding: “Whilst normal attendance is expected, headteachers continue to have the power to authorise leaves of absence for pupils in exceptional circumstances. Any requests for leave of absence should be considered on a case-by-case basis taking into account individual circumstances.”
The guidance also suggests certain things that the school can do to address the Queen’s passing, including special assemblies and offering grief support if its required. According to the DfE schools may want to “consider conducting special activities, holding assemblies or adapting planned lessons to reflect the period of national mourning and commemorate the life of Her Majesty may wish to repurpose the lesson materials about the Queen’s Jubilee produced by Royal Collections Trust and The National Archives”.
Officials also cite Minded as a source of information to support upset children. The email adds: “We know teachers, lecturers, early years colleagues and social workers around the country have an important role to play in reassuring children and young people at this difficult time.”
The documents for Operation London Bridge show that the government will not order companies to give their staff the day off. However, the country will be expected to take a day off in remembrance of Queen Elizabeth II.
Those who do not work in an essential service will likely be off work. This will essentially be a bank holiday but an extra day off will not be granted if the funeral falls on a weekend or a pre-existing bank holiday.
Reports suggest the Queen's funeral will take place on September 19 which will be a Monday. Tributes have been made to honour the monarch who passed away in the year of her Platinum Jubilee after 70 years of dedicated service to the Throne.
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