
Greenwich announced plans to close schools across the south London borough on December 14 - four days before they were due to close for the school break due to rising coronavirus cases across England.
However, the Department for Education quickly issued a temporary continuity notice to Greenwich Council demanding leaders retract the guidance to close schools.
Williamson said that if Greenwich did not follow the direction, DfE could apply to the High Court or County Court for an injunction against the council under the Coronavirus Act 2020.
Speaking to the education select committee, Williamson was asked about the controversial move made just days before the government moved London into a tier four lockdown and U-turned on plans for restrictions to be lifted over Christmas.
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