Leaving aside all the heat and fury, it is for leaders and boards to decide if their schools can operate safely. At a time we need the best possible information, yet again, we have to find it ourselves. Some important info for leaders and governors who haven't found this yet

Here is the Children’s Task and Finish Group update from 17 Dec:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/948617/s0998-tfc-update-to-4-november-2020-paper-on-children-schools-transmission.pdf

And here are the minutes of the SAGE meeting on 22 December and published on 31 December:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/948606/s0991-sage-meeting-74-covid-19.pdf

From SAGE:

Existing mitigation measures remain important, but given the increase in risk associated with the new variant, a commensurate strengthening in the measures taken (rather than a need for different measures) may be needed (i.e. greater use of all these mitigations).

Schools have had no additional guidance from DfE on how existing measures might be strengthened. This is what we have been working on in the last 48 hours. Bland statements eg "schools are safe" are misleading. We are once again trying to find ways of mitigating new risks.

Also from SAGE:

It is highly unlikely that measures with stringency and adherence in line with the measures in England in November (i.e. with schools open) would be sufficient to maintain R below 1

We need to be honest about this. We are doing absolutely everything we can.

Just like in June and September, things will work if leaders can tell parents HOW safe their schools are. Parents are smart and need honesty and transparency. We need to know what the models say and what information the DfE is acting on.