Commenting on the call by Independent SAGE for urgent action to
address escalating Covid infection rates in schools, Geoff
Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and
College Leaders, said:
“We have repeatedly called on the government to allow schools to
move to rota systems if this would help them to manage the
significant disruption many are experiencing because of
coronavirus.
“The government has refused to countenance this approach and has
dogmatically insisted that schools must plough on to the end of
term fully open whatever the consequences.
“We now see that Independent SAGE is proposing blended learning
for secondary schools in areas with high levels of infection on
scientific grounds in order to control infection rates.
“We share the government’s view that keeping schools open is a
national priority but it should be prepared to show some
flexibility in how this is achieved in light of the extreme
circumstances.
“At the very least the government must give school leaders the
flexibility to move to remote learning during the final week of
term either fully or partially based on their judgement of the
situation.
“Many schools may be in the invidious position of having to tell
large numbers of pupils and staff to self-isolate over Christmas
in line with Covid protocols.
“They need to be able to make decisions over how best to deliver
learning during that week in order to minimise that risk and in
the best interests of their school community.”
