The latest school attendance figures show a collapse in school
attendance due to the spread of coronavirus in schools.
876,000 pupils did not attend school last week for reasons
related to coronavirus.
More than 1 in 5 (22%) secondary pupils were absent and 1 in 8
primary pupils (13%). Three quarters (73%) of secondary schools
had pupils self-isolating up from two thirds (64%) the week
before. Almost a third of primary schools (29%) had pupils
self-isolating, up from a fifth (22%) the week before.
The number of schools closed is still low (1%) but it is more
than double the week before.
Commenting on the latest figures, Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General
Secretary of the National Education Union, said:
“This collapse in school attendance is the direct result of the
Government’s negligence. They have taken almost no measures to
protect schools, pupils and staff from the spread of coronavirus
this term.
“We have always been waved away when we have called for action to
protect schooling, and Government has refused to look at
including schools in a ‘circuit break’ to get cases in schools
down. They have also refused to look at planning for reduced
class sizes or school rotas to keep cases down.
“Schools and teachers are working incredibly hard to keep the
system running without any support or resources from the
Government. The situation has reached a crisis point and the
Government cannot let coronavirus run riot in schools any
longer.”
