Commenting on the Prime Minister’s statement on the full
reopening of schools, Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the
Association of School and College Leaders, said:
“We share the government’s aim of returning all children to
school as soon as possible, but we are concerned that its
decision to press ahead with a full return on 8 March may prove
counterproductive and lead to more disruption.
“It is very difficult to understand why the approach in England
is so different from the decisions taken in Scotland, Wales, and
Northern Ireland for a more cautious, phased approach to full
school reopening, particularly as the Covid infection rate is
actually higher in England than in Scotland and Wales.
“Just today, the Welsh Education Minister has said that the
phased and careful approach in Wales is consistent with UK-wide
advice.
“We fear that England’s less cautious approach runs the risk of
increasing the rate of infection and prolonging the damaging
cycle of stop-start schooling, and we will be studying the data
carefully to understand the rationale for this decision.
“It is also concerning that the decision in England comes on the
same day that ONS statistics suggest there is an elevated risk to
education staff of contracting coronavirus, contrary to the
assurances from the government over the past few months that this
is not the case.
“Nevertheless, we will, of course, now work with the government
to try to make this plan work as safely and sustainably as
possible.
“Of immediate concern is the huge logistical challenge facing
secondary schools and colleges of having to manage the mass
testing of pupils for coronavirus. This requires setting up
testing stations on site and having significant numbers of staff
to operate them.
“This may mean that the return of pupils has to be staggered over
a minimum of two weeks, and we expect the government to show a
spirit of understanding.”
