Evening Standard comment: Disadvantaged pupils must be prioritised | Let's open air bridges | Getting fans in games

The founder of the charity Teach First, which has been raising standards by providing high-flying young teachers to schools for nearly two decades, has warned that the pandemic risks undermining the work to lift the performances of London’s most disadvantaged children.

Brett Wigdortz says that children from such backgrounds suffered most when schools were closed because of a lack of access to online learning, a lack of space in which to study and disruptive room-sharing with siblings.

It’s a concern that this newspaper has highlighted before and Mr Wigdortz says there is a danger of “backsliding” as a result with the gap between rich and poor pupils widening once more as those from more advantaged homes find it easier to recover from lost time in school.

The outcome, he fears, could be an “underclass” of people who haven’t had the opportunities they deserve because of missed schooling and the potentially lasting impact on exam and job prospects.

He’s right to raise the alarm, particularly since many pupils are still missing lessons when class bubbles are sent home after a positive test.

The response must be a redoubling of the Government’s efforts to help children catch up and a focus on ensuring that the £1 billion that has been allocated to do this is used predominantly to help the most disadvantaged children.

Additional investment should be provided too if evidence emerges that disadvantaged children are suffering from further missed classes. The pandemic must not be allowed to blight permanently any child’s future.

Let’s open air bridges

Heathrow's boss John Holland-Kaye says there’s a 50/50 chance that an air bridge between his airport and New York will be operating next month, using testing to enable quarantine-free travel.

We hope his ambition can be achieved and that similar testing agreements to allow travel to other countries come soon too.

One reason is the importance of tourism. City Hall warns today that central London is on course for a £7.4 billion hit this year because of the slump in overseas visitors and the spending they bring.

It’s a reminder of how important flying is to our economy. It’s time to get airport testing going to encourage passengers back on board again.

Getting fans in games

The Brazilian footballing legend Pelé, renowned as one of the world’s greatest ever players, celebrates his 80th birthday today.

We hope he enjoys a wonderful day, but regret that it’s not possible for fans here to mark the occasion by watching footballers in the flesh.

Indeed, in relation to that problem, it makes little sense that Brentford and Millwall will admit fans to their grounds this weekend to watch on screen, or that West Ham supporters will watch their match indoors at a cinema a few metres away, when ministers are still banning the admission of even small numbers into actual games.

Watching live football can be an uplifting experience, as Pelé’s feats showed, and it’s time to start letting fans return.

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Pandemic risks creating 'education underclass' in London, expert says