Commenting on the Week 46 attendance statistics from the
Department for Education, Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the
Association of School and College Leaders, said:
“These figures show a huge increase in the number of secondary
schools having to send home pupils to self-isolate.
“It is clear that the improvement we saw following the half-term
holiday was temporary and that the situation has worsened again
very quickly.
“Disruption is widespread and is happening in an ad hoc manner
because of the unpredictability of outbreaks.
“This makes it very difficult for schools to be able to plan and
deliver lessons and catch-up support. This is exacerbated if
there are also members of staff having to self-isolate.
“We understand the government’s desire to keep all pupils in
school full-time.
“But when nearly two-thirds of secondaries are sending home
pupils we have a chaotic rota system by default.
“Schools need to be given more latitude to move to a planned rota
system if they feel that this would be less disruptive, more
manageable, and in the best interests of their pupils.
“It would give them the ability to deliver direct and remote
learning around smaller groups rotating between school and home
in a planned manner.
“The government has to recognise reality. The current situation
is unsustainable.”
