Just 1% of teachers say pupils are always practicing social
distancing from adults in their school, with over half (56%)
saying pupils are rarely or never doing so, a survey by the
NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union has found.
The survey of nearly 7,000 teachers in England found low levels
of compliance with many of the Covid secure measures schools are
expected to have in place to help protect pupils and staff.
Just 4% said adults in their school are always practicing social
distancing, with only 15% saying managers are always modelling
and reinforcing social distancing measures and only 30% said
parents were respecting social distancing rules when picking up
and dropping off their children.
Overcrowded classrooms were the main barrier cited to social
distancing for pupils and adults.
More than six in ten (61%) say pupils and adults are not
routinely wearing masks in communal areas of the school.
Only 56% were able to confirm their school has clear and adequate
arrangements in place for enhanced cleaning of the school
premises and 45% said cleaning arrangements in their school rely
on staff not employed as cleaners. 7% of teachers said they were
expected to clean toilets themselves.
Significant numbers of teachers reported inadequate supplies of
PPE and a failure to ensure classrooms are sufficiently
ventilated to reduce the risk of virus transmission.
Nearly a third (32%) of teachers said groups of pupils had been
sent home from their school since the start of the new academic
year because of positive or suspected cases of Covid within the
school.
69% had pupils in their school who have displayed Covid symptoms
and half knew of staff who had symptoms.
Four in five said they were concerned about getting access to
Covid tests, if needed.
NASUWT General Secretary Dr Patrick Roach said:
“At a time when the Government has raised the Covid threat level
and introduced stricter curbs designed to limit social
interactions it is worrying that many schools do not appear to be
implementing Covid secure working practices or reviewing their
risk assessments in light of the increased threat levels.
“The failure of Government to provide schools with additional
funding is leading to schools cutting corners on safety.
“As increased numbers of staff are forced to self-isolate,
serious operational difficulties are emerging for schools in
maintaining safe working practices.
“The Government promised teachers, pupils and parents schools
would be safe to return to. So far, they are failing on that
promise.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
The survey was carried out between 25th and 29th September and
received 6,717 responses from teachers in England. The survey
headlines are attached.
