NASUWT: Survey shows Government failing on classroom ventilation

Government plans to provide 7,000 air purifiers for schools and colleges will fall thousands short of what is needed to ensure adequate ventilation in every classroom, a survey released by NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union has found.

Well over half (56%) of the nearly 2,000 teachers who responded to an NASUWT survey on ventilation said they do not have access to a CO2 monitor in their classroom. This is despite a pledge from ministers that all schools and colleges would be provided with monitors from the start of the current academic year in September 2021 as part of measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Even for those that do have a classroom monitor, nearly one in ten (9%) said it was not working properly, with common problems including powering and charging the monitors, monitors requiring frequent resetting and erratic readings.

Over a third (34%) reported that their monitors show that CO2 levels often or sometimes exceed 1500ppm in their classrooms, a level at which the Government has stated remedial work is needed to improve ventilation.

Six in ten of those who stated that monitors have indicated concerning levels of CO2 in their classroom said that their school or college had failed to put in place any actions to improve ventilation in response. Even in cases where actions have been taken, a quarter (25%) said monitors show that CO2 levels are still consistently high.

Dr Patrick Roach, NASUWT General Secretary, said:

“Ministers have consistently emphasised the importance of ensuring good ventilation in heavily populated settings as a key mitigation in reducing the spread of Covid-19, yet they have consistently failed throughout this pandemic to ensure schools and colleges can be kept as safe as possible by equipping schools with the tools to improve classroom ventilation.

“Efforts to ensure good ventilation in the fight against Covid should not be a lottery for schools and colleges. Schools should be guaranteed the equipment that is needed, rather than being offered a chance to bid for an air purifier.

“The Government’s promise of 7,000 air purifiers barely scratches the surface in terms of what is needed to ensure that every classroom is adequately ventilated.

“We repeat our call for the Government to go further and ensure CO2 monitors for every classroom as well as the provision of additional air purifiers for every school and college where ventilation has been identified as persistently poor.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

1,892 teachers in England responded to the online survey between 15 December and 4 January.

A full breakdown of the survey questions is below:

1. If you have a CO2 monitor in your classroom, is it working properly?

Yes: 35.68%

No: 8.68%

I do not have access to a CO2 monitor: 55.64%

2. If not, what are the problems with it?

Batteries do not last/no charging lead: 15.72%

Charing lead too short/no suitable power socket: 4.34%

Needs re-initialising too often: 7.32%

Readings are erratic: 4.88%

Readings are too high without reason (such as when taken outside): 1.63%

Too complex to set up: 1.63%

Reading are too low, even when poor ventilation is suspected: 0.81%

3. What does your CO2 monitor usually show?

Ventilation is good-CO2 levels always close to or below 800ppm: 18.10%

Ventilation is usually good-CO2 levels are normally below or close to 800ppm but occasionally rise above 800ppm: 29.53%

Ventilation usually requires improvement-CO2 levels are normally above 800ppm: 18.23%

Ventilation is sometimes poor-CO2 levels occasionally rise above 1500ppm: 18.47%

Ventilation is usually poor-CO2 levels are often above 1500ppm: 15.67%

4. If the monitor has regularly indicated concerning CO2 levels despite maximising ventilation, how has the school leadership responded?

Additional mitigations put in place: 4.21%

Moved my classes to a different room: 0.65%

No response: 60.36%

Other: 34.79%

5. What mitigations have been put in place in response to high readings?

Provided mechanical ventilation: 10.72%

Provided an air cleaner/filtration unit: 2.33%

Repaired non-opening windows/doors: 5.59%

Altered auto-closing device on fire doors to allow them to be left open: 6.06%

Other: 79.49%

6. What impact have these mitigations had?

Little/no impact-CO2 levels are still consistently high: 25.23%

Some impact-CO2 levels are still occasionally high: 21.85%

Good impact-CO2 levels have been brought down to an acceptable level (i.e. close to or below 800ppm): 17.12%

Other: 35.81%

A selection of comments from respondents about their views and experiences of managing ventilation in their workplaces is below:

“We have to share a single monitor over 6 classrooms on a rotation. I have not been offered the monitor once despite being extremely vulnerable.”

“Monitor is being rotated around the school and has only been in my classroom for one whole day.”

“Only had co2 monitor for 1 day. This was the case in all classes in our school. Readings in my room were super high despite windows and the door being open. We have not had the monitors back and were told that we would only get them once a term as there weren't enough within the authority for all schools.”

“Open doors and windows is what we are expected to do. Many don’t because it’s freezing and it has been suggested it’s not good for children. I'm currently on my third head cold and absence due to a cold working environment.”

“Told to get a bigger room or remove some students - neither are possible.”

“Batteries depleted after less than a day, new batteries did the same. No power source to keep it plugged in.”

“We are told to open our windows but I can't open my windows because they are broken.”

“My classroom is now so cold that the students complain and I have to wear my coat and gloves in the classroom.”

“It only works if plugged into laptop so can't monitor CO2 at recommended head height.”

“We have several we share across the school but calibration is proving a challenge with them showing high levels both inside and outside the rooms, even when placed outside!”