6 trade unions representing the majority of education staff have yesterday (Sunday) issued a joint statement prior to the return of schools and colleges for the spring term.
ASCL, GMB, NAHT, NASUWT, NEU and UNISON and urges the government to take immediate and urgent steps to mitigate the risk of Covid transmission in all educational establishments.
In their joint statement, they say:
“There has been much speculation about the possibility of more disruption to education over the next academic term as a result of the Omicron variant of Covid-19.
“As trade unions representing the vast majority of education staff, we wish to emphasise that teachers, leaders and support staff desperately want to be able to conduct face-to-face teaching for all children and young people on a consistent basis and without further interruption caused by the pandemic.
“Education staff have moved heaven and earth to support pupils and students throughout the course of the crisis and they remain committed to providing the best possible support for all children and young people.
“They are acutely conscious that this is essential particularly in supporting disadvantaged and vulnerable children and young people who have often been most badly affected by the pandemic both educationally and in terms of their wellbeing.
“But last term education staff were more likely than other workers to test positive and therefore to have to self-isolate, inevitably leading to disruption of education.
Article continues below this advertisement “Schools and colleges cannot on their own reduce the threat posed by the virus and they need from the Westminster government more than rhetoric about the importance of education.
“We need the minimum amount of educational disruption this term in order to avoid a third successive year where GCSEs, A-levels and other exams have to be cancelled, and thereby removing the uncertainty and additional workload for students and teachers.
“It is essential therefore that the government takes immediate and urgent steps to mitigate the risk of Covid transmission and that it provides more support to minimise disruption in schools and colleges by such steps as:
- Providing government-funded air cleaning units to every school and college classroom that needs these devices. While we welcome the provision of a small number of these units to special educational needs and alternative provision settings, the government’s decision to signpost all other schools and colleges to purchase this equipment from an ‘online marketplace’ is simply not good enough. We also question why the Westminster government takes such a different line on face coverings in secondary schools to Scotland and Wales when they use the same evidence.
- Committing to providing schools with more resources in the event that on-site Covid testing is again required. Secondary schools have once again been left in the lurch at the beginning of the spring term by being asked to set up and staff testing stations with little support from the government.
- Providing improved financial support to schools and colleges for the costs of supply staff to cover for Covid-related absence. The current government scheme contains so many complex conditions that it is inaccessible in many circumstances.
- Making it clear that all schools or colleges due for an Ofsted inspection this term can request that the inspection is deferred, and that their request will be automatically granted. This will enable teachers and leaders to focus on the immediate and urgent task in hand – that of supporting their pupils and students – and remove the unnecessary pressure and distraction of unhelpful inspections at this time.
“As a new year begins, we urge the government to work more collaboratively and constructively with education workforce representatives to keep schools and colleges open. By working side by side, we can remove unnecessary burdens and find solutions with government in the interests of all children and young people.”
Commenting on the joint declaration to Government, Peter Shreeve, Assistant District Secretary of the National Education Union, said:
“Government has repeatedly re-iterated “education is the number one priority”. It doesn’t feel like it for many. Schools are being asked to set up and staff testing stations with little support from the government. It is helpful that Ofsted school inspections are to be delayed in the first few weeks. But why not longer? It is helpful to have the extra 7,000 ventilation units promised [Saturday]. But why so late and why so few?
“On 9 December, pupil Covid absence rate was 2.9% in English state schools. Positive Covid tests over the three weeks up until 29 December on the Isle of Wight show a significant increase – more than double. Given the current, sky-high rates of infection, every school will be significantly affected by Covid on their return.
“The Government message has been to consistently state it would do “everything in its power” to keep pupils in class. “Everything” would be delightful, but we will settle for enough, so that we can focus on the essential aim of providing education continuity for as many pupils as possible.”
Mark Chiverton, Secretary UNISON Isle of Wight Local Government Branch said,
“At a time when Covid infection rates are again worryingly high, it’s more important than ever that the Government should respond positively to the latest joint representation being made by all trade unions on behalf of the entire education sector.
“It’s essential that schools and colleges are properly funded to enable easier availability of supply staff in all roles to cover for Covid-related absences. Additional resources to ensure better ventilation and effective on-site Covid testing are also urgently required to ensure that disruption to education is kept to an absolute minimum”.
