Queen Elizabeth death: Will London schools close for state funeral?

Once details of the funeral are confirmed, officials will contact schools again with further guidance.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

The country has been plunged into a period of mourning following the death of the Queen.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Following her death, the country has gone into mourning and a state funeral for the monarch will be held.

Schools and colleges will remain open during this period.

Queen Elizabeth visits Mayflower Primary School in PoplarQueen Elizabeth visits Mayflower Primary School in Poplar
Queen Elizabeth visits Mayflower Primary School in Poplar

In an email to schools, the Department for Education (DfE) said: “We have now entered a period of national mourning that will continue until the end of the state funeral.

“Guidance providing the public, businesses and institutions with advice on the period of national mourning following the death of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will be issued by the Cabinet Office and available on www.gov.uk.”

Once details of the funeral are confirmed, officials will contact schools again with further guidance.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad
The Mayor of Harrogate will hold a special proclamation ceremony for King Charles III at the cenotaph in Harrogate on Sunday afternoon.The Mayor of Harrogate will hold a special proclamation ceremony for King Charles III at the cenotaph in Harrogate on Sunday afternoon.
The Mayor of Harrogate will hold a special proclamation ceremony for King Charles III at the cenotaph in Harrogate on Sunday afternoon.

King Charles III will decide whether the funeral is a bank holiday, and if so, it is thought likely that schools would close.

In the meantime, the department said schools and colleges “should remain open”.

“Whilst normal attendance is expected, headteachers continue to have the power to authorise leaves of absence for pupils in exceptional circumstances.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Any requests for leave of absence should be considered on a case-by-case basis taking into account individual circumstances.”

Schools have been asked to “consider conducting special activities, holding assemblies or adapting planned lessons to reflect the period of national mourning and commemorate the life of Her Majesty”.

Schools also “may wish to repurpose the lesson materials about the Queen’s Jubilee produced by Royal Collections Trust and the National Archives”.

Queen Elizabeth was the first British monarch in history to reach her Platinum Jubilee, and died just three months after the national celebrations in June celebrating her 70 years on the throne.

The Queen was also the longest-reigning still-serving monarch in the world.