Nine education organisations have joined together to issue a statement requesting caution on the wider opening of schools and colleges in England.
The statement by the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), GMB, National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), NASUWT, National Education Union (NEU), National Governance Association (NGA), Sixth Form Colleges’ Association (SFCA), Unison, and Unite, urges the Prime Minister to commit to 8th March only if the scientific evidence is absolutely clear this is safe, and for there to be a phased return, with sufficient time to assess the impact before moving to the next phase (see below in full).
Peter Shreeve, Assistant District Secretary of the National Education Union, said:
“The Prime Minister has made it clear this week that he will follow the data and not be swayed by the date.
“This third lockdown reflects the failure of measures taken to combat the virus. Common sense and science are telling us, we cannot afford a ‘big bang’ approach to opening schools and fuel a resurgence in the pandemic.
“We need to be cautious, reign in any aspirations and lead with realistic expectations and actions.”
The Statement
The statement below is issued ahead of the Prime Minister’s expected announcement on this issue later today (Monday). Ed
We are committed to bringing all children and young people back into the classroom as soon as possible. However, it is counterproductive if there is a danger of causing another surge in the virus, and the potential for a further period of lockdown. Wider opening must be safe and sustainable.
We therefore urge the Prime Minister to commit to 8th March only if the scientific evidence is absolutely clear that this is safe, and at that point go no further than a phased return of children and young people with sufficient time to assess the impact before moving to the next phase.
We are increasingly concerned that the government is minded to order a full return of all pupils on Monday 8th March in England.
This would seem a reckless course of action. It could trigger another spike in Covid infections, prolong the disruption of education, and risk throwing away the hard-won progress made in suppressing the virus over the course of the latest lockdown.
The science around the role that schools play in the overall rate of transmission is uncertain. Scientists have expressed different views on this point. What we do know is that the full reopening of schools will bring nearly 10 million pupils and staff into circulation in England – close to one fifth of the population. This is not a small easing of lockdown restrictions. It is a massive step.
These factors necessitate a cautious approach with wider school and college opening phased over a period of time. This is the approach being taken in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It allows public health experts to assess the impact of the first phase before moving to the next.
None of this is intended to stand in the way of the full reopening of schools and colleges. On the contrary. It is intended as a prudent way forward to ensure that once they are fully open, they stay open.
- The National Education Union stands up for the future of education. It brings together the voices of more than 450,000 teachers, lecturers, support staff and leaders working in maintained and independent schools and colleges across the UK, to form the largest education union in Europe.
- It is an independent, registered trade union and professional association, representing its members in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.
- The National Education Union is affiliated to the Trades Union Congress (TUC), European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE) and Education International (EI). It is not affiliated to any political party and seeks to work constructively with all the main political parties.
Image: Katerina Holmes under CC BY 2.0
