In the face of rapidly rising infection levels amongst secondary
pupils, the National Education Union is calling for an urgent
circuit breaker to suppress Covid cases. Alongside other
nationwide measures to suppress coronavirus, schools and colleges
should be closed for two weeks at half term for secondary and
post-16 students.
Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National
Education Union, said:
“The latest infection survey report from the ONS (16 October)
shows infection rates rising sharply amongst secondary age pupils
- much more sharply than in any section of the population apart
from university students. (see chart and editor's note)
“This should be no surprise to either the Prime Minister or the
Department for Education - scientists have consistency told them
that secondary students transmit the virus as much as adults, and
we have warned them that because we have amongst the biggest
class sizes in Europe we have overcrowded classrooms and
corridors without effective social distancing.
“Our classrooms often have poor ventilation leading to airborne
transmissions, and in many areas we have also have overcrowded
school transport where children are mixing across year group
bubbles. These children live in families and are part of
communities, so even if they have few or no symptoms themselves
they are still part of spreading the virus to others, including
to teachers and other school staff.
“Such a circuit breaker could allow the government to get in
control of the test, track and trace system, and get cases lower
to allow the system to work better.
“Heads, teachers and school staff understand the educational
impact of this, but we also understand that in exponential
epidemics early action is essential. Taking action now can avoid
more disruption later.
“The government must also guarantee the expansion of free school
meals and holiday food provision for the disadvantaged during any
such circuit breaker.
“All the above are urgent measures.
“However we may be in this situation for another year or more: to
help prevent future disruption, the government should take steps
to mitigate risk by expanding school space, increasing staff and
therefore ensuring smaller classes and a greater ability to
maintain social distancing. Government should be working with
schools on plans for blended learning. This work needs to happen
now.
“The Government must not just turn a blind eye and pretend all is
going to be ok. They must not pretend that the only change needed
is a delay of three weeks to next year’s exams. Urgent action is
needed now.”
ENDS
Editor’s Note
1) Charts attached
2) Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey pilot : England,
Wales, and Northern Ireland, 16 October 2020 (see Section 4
and Figure 5):https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/conditionsanddiseases/bulletins/coronaviruscovid19infectionsurveypilot/16october2020
