Fiasco over A-levels must not be repeated as schools prepare to return

That U-turn did indeed come, just a matter of hours later, following on from a similar climbdown by the hapless Boris Johnson and his Education Secretary Gavin Williamson in England.

Ultimately, the right course has been navigated, but only after pressure on Mr Johnson, Mr Williamson and indeed Mr Weir reached unbearable levels over the weekend. Hundreds of A-level students here had endured days of anxiety and worry, having seen their predicted grades reduced by a confusing algorithm.

It has been a fiasco Mr Weir could have done without but with the issue now apparently settled, he must focus on the next vital task – ensuring students here return to the classroom five days a week in less than a fortnight’s time, and indeed stay there for the duration of the school year.

In a press conference yesterday, Mr Weir was right to highlight that this episode has underlined the need not only for proper exams to be held, but also for children to be educated full-time in the classroom.

Mr Weir, backed by his colleagues in the Stormont Executive, must now show strong leadership and resist the pressures that saw schools prematurely close here in March.

As coronavirus cases in Northern Ireland increase at a rate not seen for months, there may be calls for renewed social distancing restrictions. However, education must not be sacrificed, the full-time return of schools must be non-negotiable.

Children have been away from the classroom for six months, the damage to their education and social development has gone on for far too long already.