As of the 16th of October, the infection rate in secondary
schools is now 17 times higher than it was on the 1st of
September. Considering this alarming data, Dr Mary
Bousted and Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretaries' of the
National Education Union, have written to asking him
to take decisive action to curb this trend, including the
possibility of a rota system for secondary schools and colleges
in Tier 2 and Tier 3.
Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the
National Education Union, said:
"We now have a situation where the infection rate in
secondary schools is17 times higher than on the
1st of September. This is alarming and it is crucial that
Government looks at all potential measures to stabilise the
situation including the possibility of a rota-based system for
secondary schools and colleges as outlined in the
Government???s August guidelines (2).
Full text of letter below:
22
October 2020
Dear
Gavin
We are
concerned both by reports from our members working in secondary
schools that the increasing incidence of pupils having to
isolate either because they have, or have been in close contact
with someone who has Covid, is increasing rapidly, and by the
figures from the ONS suggesting that secondary school aged
pupils are showing the greatest rise in Covid cases, which
underlies what our members are reporting.
Irregular
attendance causes a wide range of systemic and individual
problems for schools and colleges and for pupils. Members tell
us that even when in school pupils are distracted and unsettled
because of their different, and irregular, periods of absence,
and that standards of discipline are declining. We were
particularly concerned, yesterday, to see that the attendance
figures for secondary pupils in some areas of high deprivation,
were so low ??? Knowsley at 61% attendance and Calderdale at
64%, being two key examples.
We
would now appreciate the opportunity to meet with you to
discuss ways in which the situation could be
improved.
In
particular, we want to explore with you the potential of moving
to rotas in secondary schools, for older pupils. This move is
envisaged in the DfE???s tiers of intervention.
We are
of the view that it is now necessary to consider having the
conversation with civic leaders and school leaders on what
these rotas should look like. Rotas will enable better social
distancing in schools, and proper, regularised arrangements to
be made to enable high quality blended learning to be planned
for and delivered.
We
think this is an important discussion given the recent large
increase in cases in secondary schools and the modelling for
SAGE which suggest that alternating week-on, week - of school
closure with half class sizes could have a significant effect
on transmission - equivalent to closing all hospitality
venues.
We are
gaining very good information from our members who are
operating rotas in their colleges. There are examples of very
good practice which are worth sharing and disseminating
throughout the profession.
Teachers would be
in school every day and would teach their normal timetable, but
half the children would be being taught remotely in any one
week. These children would, however, be taught every
lesson.
We
would be pleased to meet with you urgently to discuss
rotas.
With
best wishes
Mary
Bousted Kevin Courtney
Joint
General Secretary Joint General Secretary
