NASWT: "Vital data on covid spread in schools must be made public"

The NASUWT is today calling on Public Health England (PHE) to publish all data it has on the growth and spread of the B.1.617.2 coronavirus variant in schools, amid accusations it is withholding crucial information from the public.

Dr Patrick Roach, NASUWT General Secretary, said: “Teachers, schools leaders and parents will want to know why Public Health England is withholding crucial information on the spread of the Coronavirus ‘Indian variant’, known as B.1.617.2 in schools.

“The latest data that has been released shows the variant becoming dominant in more regions of England and more transmissible than the previous ‘Kent variant’.

“Because of this deeply concerning situation safety measures in schools are vitally important and schools and colleges must do everything they can to make sure all essential and appropriate mitigations are in place.

“Where vital information regarding the spread in schools of variants is not being shared, school and college risk assessments will not be worth the paper they are printed on and pupils and staff will potentially be placed at unnecessary risk.

“The Government has said that it is committed to transparency. Ministers need to answer whether this information will be shared immediately with local employers and school workforce unions and if not, why not.”