NASUWT: Covid-19 workload and health and safety pressures risk damaging education

The responses indicate that the education of tens of thousands of children is being disrupted by the pandemic, with almost six in ten (59%) teachers reporting that classes/year groups or ‘bubbles’ had been sent home because of suspected or positive Covid-19 cases.

While nearly half of teachers (47%) said they were confident about the way their school or college was dealing with suspected and actual cases, a third (33%) were not.

Half of teachers also said their school had split up ‘bubbles’ to send home groups of pupils within those bubbles or classes.

And the survey, in which 7,440 members responded, laid bare the reality of teachers and headteachers struggling to cope with significant additional workload pressures arising from the pandemic and that safety and workload concerns are having a major impact on teachers’ mental and physical health and well-being.

The majority said their current levels of stress and anxiety was high or very high (77%).

Other findings from the survey include:

· 80% said they did not believe the Government was providing the right support for their school during the pandemic.

· 82% of teachers said workload had increased (45%) or substantially increased (37%) since this time last year;

· The main workload driver was remote learning preparation (78%);

· Teachers are receiving fewer breaks (57%) and 5% say they are getting no breaks at all;

· One in three teachers (27%) say they feel unsafe at school.

· 27% say there is not adequate ventilation in their classrooms and workspaces;

· A third (32%) of teachers say there is not adequate availability of PPE;

· 55% said their mental health was not recognised and supported by managers;

· 57% said their physical wellbeing was not recognised and supported by managers;

· 48% said they felt their concerns were not being supported by managers;

· 61% said pupil wellbeing was being properly supported in their school;

NASUWT General Secretary Dr Patrick Roach said: “Our survey paints a picture of schools and teachers and headteachers working flat out to maintain a quality education for children and young people despite the immense disruption caused by Covid-19.

“The reality is of more and more teachers being absent from work because of illness or because they need to self-isolate.

“This is putting enormous pressure on schools and their ability to remain open safely.

“Dedicated and talented teachers are also reporting mental health problems and that continuing to work under immense pressure is leaving them stressed, exhausted and worn out.

“The Government has not done enough to support teachers in meeting the challenges of providing education to children and young people in these unprecedented circumstances.

“The Government must listen to teachers’ concerns and take urgent action to address teachers’ concerns on workload and health and safety.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

A copy of the survey headlines is attached. The survey was carried out between 22 October and 2 November. There were 7,440 responses.

A selection of free text comments is included below:

What else would you like to see the Government do to support teachers? (free text responses)

• Protect vulnerable staff, provide schools with funding to cover these members of staff.

• Funding for supply, clear timeline of steps for this year to allow exams to happen. Evidence that we are safe in classrooms where we are not allowed to wear any protection from the students. How vulnerable and at-risk teachers should be protected.

• Make teachers wear masks. Not allow observations or learning walks to happen. Split the classroom into days so that you're only teaching 15 at a time and can spread the children out.

• Allow a shorter day so that we have more planning time for online learning. Alternate students’ days in school to reduce the volume of people all together.

• More PPE, more staff, more funding for smaller classes, children coming in part time, more safety resources, signs for parents/carers, just some actual care for teachers!!!

• Stop blaming other sectors for the increase in infections. Acknowledge that schools are not Covid secure and provide options for vulnerable families and teachers.

• Provide cleaners and supply teachers to help cover the additional cleaning and teaching we are doing.

• Guidance around home learning expectations. Funding for those children who do not have digital devices or internet and cannot access home learning. Clear guidance for vulnerable members of staff (pregnant, asthmatic etc).

• More funding for staff and reduced timetables for staff to enable adequate time for planning and marking. Funding for training to adequately equip schools for online learning. I would like funding for the schools for increased cleaning and disinfecting of classrooms and facilities.

• Pay more to cover the work we do. We are contracted for 32 hours per week but actually do about 50 hours taking into account making, planning, displays, admin, calling parents, clubs and online work.

• Remove the threat of OFSTED visits and the worries about SATs and other testing/exams for next year. Give us all a chance to concentrate on the really important business of getting the pupils settled back into learning routines without the fear of being penalised when this is not straightforward due to mental health issues, self-isolating breaks etc.

• Clearer and more consistent guidelines that recognise that secondary schools have a different level of risk to primaries. Additional funding to ensure that we’re not having to make hard decisions as to which aspects of our school need to be defunded to cover costs incurred through Covid.

Are there any other issues that you would like to raise regarding your experiences during this half term? (free text responses)

• My workload is such that I've managed to have two days where I didn't work this half term. I've been going since March to make sure good learning provision is in place both online and in classrooms. I am exhausted as are many of my colleagues. A large factor is this is the lack of clear leadership from the Government. We need to know what we are doing, and not be prey to the whims of every indecision of the Government.

• I’m currently pregnant. I’ve had a risk assessment but have seen other schools where pregnant staff have been told to stay safe they should teach from home. This hasn’t been mentioned at all during my risk assessment. Again, I think nationally rules should be in place for clarity.

• Teaching staff have been absolutely forgotten about during this pandemic. Whilst the rest of society social distance and wear masks, staff in schools have nothing of the sort. Children are still carriers of Covid. If schools are to stay open the Government should give mandatory rules to follow - ie masks or visors to be worn by all staff etc. Stop giving vague advice and leaving these decisions up to head teachers.

• We need to be properly recognised as valued keyworkers rather than repeatedly bashed by almost everyone including those in Government. Staff and students who are in clinically vulnerable groups need to have additional reasonable adjustment in place to protect them - contrary to the Government position, schools are simply not safe enough for such groups without further protections.

• I literally want to quit teaching but am grateful I have a job in this pandemic. I have no time, literally working at 2 to 3am to keep on top of things.

• Positive staff case, those who worked close to them strongly discouraged from isolating despite sharing work space, kettle, printer, etc for the days before.

• I was previously shielding and now I feel totally forgotten about.

• In September, it was stated pupils not sanitising, wearing masks etc etc would be sent home, this hasn't happened.

• I really just hate being in the workplace at the moment and have been placed on anxiety medication. The expectations are insanely high for providing online for shielding students in addition to in-school teaching.

• I’m classed vulnerable yet I cover seven different classes in a four-day period

• Government has forgotten about the teachers and how vulnerable they are. No other jobs have been put to work with so little help, PPE and support to keep safe. I have come to the realisation I will get it as I can't avoid it being at work. I just hope that my job doesn't kill me and that is the worry we have each day we enter our work. Sad but that is the way it is within education at present. Primary school is much safer with bubble but when you get to KS4 and KS5 this is not possible and the mixing of pupils is with all the year group.

• I am exhausted. As with everything in school, I feel that I am failing if I do not push myself to the point of burning out.