Please Gavin Williamson, children have suffered enough stress without facing longer school days

Rachel Padman shows the way forward for schools. Reduce the syllabus in most subjects proportionally to the time lost so no actual catch up on content is needed.

So please Gavin Williamson, talk to the teachers and the exam boards to see what is possible. Kids have suffered enough stress already without being forced into longer school days and extra work.

Alan Pack

Canterbury

Portugal and holidaymakers are protesting about an overreaction by changing travel rules.

Better an overreaction than a late underreaction – as in the recent past – to changes in the virus!

Michael Pate

Preston

Be prepared for Boris Johnson to blame the threat of the “Nepal” variant, arriving via Portugal, for the need to delay England’s big unlock on 21 June.

I believe the government have “form” here, it would be cover for the real (inevitable?) reason to delay, namely the government’s complete failure to prevent the Delta variant from becoming dominant in England.

N. Williams

Llandrindod Wells

So it appears that after a Coronavirus alert upon return from Portugal, Michael Gove will not have to self-isolate, but will be permitted – unlike the vast majority of the rest of us – to go about his “essential” daily duties merely taking a test a day.

Truly, it appears there is one rule for the Tory elite and one for the rest of us.

I am sure that all those unfortunates forced to return early from Portugal to enforced self-isolation with possible loss of earnings will take note.

John Lewis

Preston

With due respect to David Murfit and his former physics teacher, politics is the process whereby we make our collective decisions. If more people engaged and demanded first-rate policies the politicians would up their game. They are second rate (where they are) only because an apathetic electorate does not hold them to account.

Joanna Pallister

Durham City

It is probably wise for Boris Johnson not to comment on his private life. It seems to be far too complicated!

K Hagan

Newcastle-under-Lyme