Commenting on the statistics from the
Department for Education on attendance in education settings,
Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and
College Leaders, said:
“These grim statistics show a big increase in the number of
pupils out of school as a result of the continuing havoc caused
by coronavirus. We are hearing from schools where there are 10
per cent or more of pupils absent and where staff are also off
work because of the virus. Teaching and learning is very
difficult in these circumstances and it is clear that the
educational disruption of the past 18 months is far from being
over.
“The new Education Secretary recently said that he won’t stand back and let
attendance fall because the education of our children is simply
too important. Now is the time for him to set out exactly what
steps he intends to take to back up that statement with practical
action to address the current situation. We are writing to him
today expressing the urgency of the situation.
“One thing he might do is to look at why it is taking so long to
deliver the carbon dioxide monitors to schools that the
government promised at the start of term. These devices are a
relatively modest step towards addressing the issue of
ventilation – and we would still like to see investment in
high-quality ventilation systems – but they are at least
something.
“Today’s figures emphasise the importance of the vaccination
programme for 12 to 15-year-olds. The anti-vaccination campaign
that is taking place is extremely unhelpful and we urge parents
and students who have any concerns as a result of this campaign
to seek out reliable and official sources of information. These
vaccinations are an important step inkeeping children in the
classroom and returning the education system to normality.”
