, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary,
responding to new data which shows 623,000 children were out of
school due to coronavirus last week, said:
“This data shows the Conservatives’ staggering failure to keep
kids learning.
“By failing to control our borders Ministers have let the Delta
variant take hold, forcing kids out of their classrooms and away
from their friends.
“Parents, pupils and teachers have had days of mixed messages,
what they need now is absolute clarity about what measures will
be taken to keep kids in school and stop this spiralling of Covid
cases.”
Green will deliver Labour’s response to a statement in Parliament
on easing of restrictions in education today, when she will
welcome the expected move away from bubbles but challenge the
Education Secretary to publish the evidence for this decision
giving parents confidence the alternative to bubbles will keep
kids in school.
She will say:
“Labour wants nothing more than for children to be in class
learning and spending time with friends. The Government have
consistently failed to deliver this. The bubbles system must end
but today’s statement offers no clarity on how the Government
will stop infections spiralling. The Conservatives’ inadequate
testing regime, lack of action on ventilation and their
recklessness at the border have put our children’s education at
risk. They must not continue to make the same mistakes.”
Ends
Notes to editors:
On 1st July 623,000 children were out of school due to
Covid: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/attendance-in-education-and-early-years-settings-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak/2021-week-27
· 34,000 pupils with a suspected case of coronavirus, 0.5% of
pupils on roll in open schools
· 28,000 pupils with a confirmed case of coronavirus, 0.4% of
pupils on roll in open schools
· 471,000 pupils self-isolating due to potential contact with a
case of coronavirus from inside the educational setting, 6.3% of
pupils on roll in open schools
· 90,000 pupils self-isolating due to potential contact with a
case of coronavirus from outside the educational setting, 1.2% of
pupils on roll in open schools
· 0.2% of pupils were absent as a result of school closures due
to COVID-related reasons.
