Education, Education, Education - Scotland's Schools in Lockdown
Everyone agrees that school students and staff are entitled to learn and work in a safe environment as Scotland's schools slowly return to some kind of normality.
But however this is achieved the claim that 'only one in seven of the most vulnerable children (in England) are getting educated' is a truly appalling state of affairs.
Who knows what's happening in Scotland's primary and secondary schools?
Because there's precious little information coming from the Scottish Government or education authorities (local councils) who are notoriously reluctant to publish or share comparative data about the performance of individual schools.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/teaching-unions-are-working-against-the-interests-of-children-says-blunkett-mwrv5vws0
Teaching unions are working against the interests of children, says Blunkett
Teaching unions have advised members to use health and safety legislation to refuse to return to school on June 1 - ALAMY
By Nicola Woolcock - The Times
Teaching unions are working against the interests of children in opposing plans to reopen schools, Lord Blunkett said today.
The former education secretary said that he was “deeply critical” of the approach of teaching unions towards attempts to open schools in England on June 1, for children in reception, year 1 and year 6.
They have advised members to use health and safety legislation to refuse to return to school until the coronavirus infection rate is lower and a test-and-trace system is more sophisticated.
Speaking this morning, Lord Blunkett said that disadvantaged children were suffering most.
“Only one in seven of the most vulnerable children are getting educated. So we have got a vast swathe of youngsters with varying degrees of online teaching — some children getting nothing, some teachers really putting themselves out to make this work and be there for the children,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
“If we’re not clear about this it’s the children and the future we will let down. In the end this is a matter of risk. We know that children transmit the disease less than adults. They are less likely to get it. Therefore they are less likely to be a risk.
“Tens of thousands of really good teachers have been doing what they’re doing, and they’ve been shopping and thanking the people on the counters in supermarkets and shops or they have got parents who are being cared for by carers in those homes. They thank them. They know they are taking a risk.
“I know that in asking teachers from June 1 very carefully with the best possible advice, risk assessment, with learning, with testing to go back and start teaching those children has to be in the best interests of the most disadvantaged in our country who will not have tutors, who will not have parents with higher education, who will rely entirely on us getting back to normal as quickly as possible.”
Lord Blunkett was particularly scathing about the biggest teaching union, the National Education Union (NEU), and its joint general secretary Mary Bousted, who has been vociferous about the dangers of schools reopening.
She has described the decision to reopen schools as “nothing short of reckless”, has spoken of “tooling up” members with health and safety legislation and said recently: “Coronavirus continues to ravage communities in the UK and the rate of Covid-19 infection is still far too great for the wider opening of our schools. If schools are re-opened to blatant breaches of health and safety, we will strongly support our members who take steps to protect their pupils, their colleagues and their families.”
Lord Blunkett worked with Dr Bousted, who was general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers when he was education secretary.
“I’m really, really surprised at Mary and her colleagues’ attitude on this,” he said. “Not because I don’t understand the risk and the role they play. No wonder parents are frightened about putting their children into school. We are known to be the most fearful country in the world at the moment in relation to this virus.
“I’m being deeply critical of the attitude. It’s about how can we work together to make it work as safely as possible. Anyone who works against that, in my view, is working against the interests of children.”
Lord Blunkett served as education secretary for four years under Tony Blair.
On Wednesday a joint statement from the GMB, NAHT, NASUWT, NEU, Unison and Unite unions urged the government to “step back” from its June 1 plan and “work with us to create the conditions for a safe return to schools based on the principles and tests we have set out”.
They said that school staff were “uniquely” unprotected by social distancing rules. “Fifteen children in a class, combined with their very young age, means that classrooms of four- and five-year-olds could become sources of Covid-19 transmission and spread,” the unions said.
The government has accepted that young children will not practise social distancing and instead plans to keep small groups of pupils and their teacher in “bubbles” that do not interact with other groups.
Gavin Williamson, the education secretary, told the Commons yesterday that he had worked with a sub-group of Sage, the government’s scientific advisory group for emergencies, on the safety of reopening schools.
Schools have reopened in Denmark without the infection rate rising, and he suggested that teaching unions should speak to their Danish counterparts.
Responding to Lord Blunkett’s comments, Dr Bousted said: “The NEU absolutely has the interests of children and young people at the heart of all we do. School staff have been continuously working throughout lockdown either in schools for children of key workers or from home supporting the children and young people they teach.
“We all want to see a return to some sort of normality and that includes the wider re-opening of schools. However, when the government cannot provide evidence that it is safe to do so it is reckless to rush into any such plans. This is not just for the safety of teachers, children and their parents and families but for wider society. Neither Scotland nor Wales are announcing the possible reopening of schools for precisely these reasons.”
Education, Education, Education (14/05/20)
The challenge of getting Scotland's school students back into their classrooms is finally receiving more attention from the press and media.
One reading of the BBC article below is that an effective COVID-19 vaccine must be in place before schools are able to re-open because that is the only way to provide a cast-iron guarantee that schools are completely safe once again.
But that may never happen, of course, since a vaccine may be months or years away, if at all.
So the only sensible course is to have a contingency plan or plans in place to avoid the Coronavirus doing lasting damage to the education of a whole generation - my suggestion is to have a Plan A and Plan B, maybe even a mixture of the two.
Plan A
Re-start lessons with teachers attending school as normal to deliver virtual lessons in their usual subjects or year groups. The technical challenge for schools must be minimal and most children already have access to a social media tablet.
Plan B
Reorganise the school day going froward so that half the students attend each day - for two days one week and three days the next. Not ideal, of course, but one of the important things I learned at school is that 'half a loaf is better than none at all'.
I was speaking to a friend the other day, an essential worker, who has two young children (one school age the other not) and the only support she receives is a list of tasks, from school, to go through with her older child - while looking after the younger one as well.
In theory some schools have remained open to support the children of essential workers, but the 'take up' appears to be very low perhaps because to qualify for a place both adults in a two adult household have to be designated as key workers, in some council areas at least.
What would help is if local councils and the Scottish Government were to publicise examples of good practice in schools across Scotland.
Because at the moment there's a real dearth of information to assist hard-pressed parents keep abreast of what's going on, never mind ask parents what is best for their children.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52596410
Coronavirus: Key safeguards needed for schools to reopen - unions
Image copyright - PA MEDIASchools should not reopen unless key measures are in place to stop the spread of coronavirus, unions have warned.
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) is urging ministers to work closely with unions to agree a way forward.
There was speculation schools may return in England from 1 June, but it was ruled out in Scotland and Wales.
England's Department for Education said it would follow scientific advice about the "right time" to reopen schools.
Schools across the UK closed in the last week of March as part of the lockdown measures to prevent the virus spreading.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson will give details on Sunday of his "roadmap" to get the UK out of that lockdown.
Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford said Mr Johnson's plans for easing the measures in England would be "very much in line" with "modest" changes already outlined in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Drakeford added: "We're not going to be reopening schools in Wales in the next three weeks, or indeed in June.
Unions, including the National Association of Headteachers (NAHT) and the National Education Union (NEU), have called for "clear, scientific published evidence" that schools are safe to re-open.
In a joint statement sent to UK Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, they said there should be no increase in pupil numbers until a national test, track and trace scheme has been fully rolled out.
The government's three-pronged coronavirus strategy is being rolled out in various stages, with the NHS contact-tracing smartphone app currently being trialled on the Isle of Wight before a UK-wide expansion.
They have called for extra resources for deep cleaning, personal protective equipment (PPE) and local powers to close schools if there is an outbreak of the virus in a particular area.
Some of the other "essential" measures unions said must be in place before pupils return, include:
- Safety and welfare of pupils and staff as the paramount principle
- A national Covid-19 education taskforce with government, unions and education stakeholders to agree statutory guidance for safe reopening
- Consideration of the specific needs of vulnerable students and families facing financial hardship
She urged No 10 to "work closely" with unions to "agree a plan that meets the tests we have set out", adding the best way to do this would be through a "national taskforce" between "government, unions and education stakeholders".
A spokeswoman for England's Department for Education said Mr Williamson has not set a date for schools reopening, and the department would ensure the education sector has "sufficient notice to plan and prepare" for schools, nurseries and colleges to return.
"Schools will remain closed, except for children of critical workers and vulnerable children, until the scientific advice indicates it is the right time to re-open and the five tests set out by government to beat this virus have been met," she added.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock, meanwhile, said pupils will only be allowed to return to school when it is safe to do so.
It follows a warning by the British Irish Group of Teacher Unions of the "very real risk of creating a spike in the transmission of the virus by a premature opening of schools".
Labour's shadow education secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey called on the government to "take heed of the tests set out today by trade unions and commit to not opening schools unless they have been met".
Last week at the Downing Street daily briefing, NHS England's national medical director Prof Stephen Powis said the "science is still evolving" on how much children contribute toward virus spread.
It comes as the public was urged to be "realistic" about the easing of lockdown measures, as a further 626 coronavirus deaths were confirmed on Friday, taking the UK total to 31,241.
Leading the No 10 news conference on Friday, Environment Secretary George Eustice said there would be "no dramatic overnight change" and the government would be "very, very cautious as we loosen the restrictions we have".
Meanwhile, the government announced 97,029 tests had been delivered in the 24 hours to 09:00 BST on Friday, just shy of the 100,000 target Mr Hancock set for the end of April.
Mr Johnson has set a target of increasing testing capacity to 200,000 by the end of May.
Education, Education, Education (14/05/20)
The challenge of getting Scotland's school students back into their classrooms is finally receiving more attention from the press and media.
One reading of the BBC article below is that an effective COVID-19 vaccine must be in place before schools are able to re-open because that is the only way to provide a cast-iron guarantee that schools are completely safe once again.
But that may never happen, of course, since a vaccine may be months or years away, if at all.
So the only sensible course is to have a contingency plan or plans in place to avoid the Coronavirus doing lasting damage to the education of a whole generation - my suggestion is to have a Plan A and Plan B, maybe even a mixture of the two.
Plan A
Re-start lessons with teachers attending school as normal to deliver virtual lessons in their usual subjects or year groups. The technical challenge for schools must be minimal and most children already have access to a social media tablet.
Plan B
Reorganise the school day going froward so that half the students attend each day - for two days one week and three days the next. Not ideal, of course, but one of the important things I learned at school is that 'half a loaf is better than none at all'.
I was speaking to a friend the other day, an essential worker, who has two young children (one school age the other not) and the only support she receives is a list of tasks, from school, to go through with her older child - while looking after the younger one as well.
In theory some schools have remained open to support the children of essential workers, but the 'take up' appears to be very low perhaps because to qualify for a place both adults in a two adult household have to be designated as key workers, in some council areas at least.
What would help is if local councils and the Scottish Government were to publicise examples of good practice in schools across Scotland.
Because at the moment there's a real dearth of information to assist hard-pressed parents keep abreast of what's going on, never mind ask parents what is best for their children.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52596410
Coronavirus: Key safeguards needed for schools to reopen - unions
Image copyright - PA MEDIASchools should not reopen unless key measures are in place to stop the spread of coronavirus, unions have warned.
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) is urging ministers to work closely with unions to agree a way forward.
There was speculation schools may return in England from 1 June, but it was ruled out in Scotland and Wales.
England's Department for Education said it would follow scientific advice about the "right time" to reopen schools.
Schools across the UK closed in the last week of March as part of the lockdown measures to prevent the virus spreading.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson will give details on Sunday of his "roadmap" to get the UK out of that lockdown.
Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford said Mr Johnson's plans for easing the measures in England would be "very much in line" with "modest" changes already outlined in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Drakeford added: "We're not going to be reopening schools in Wales in the next three weeks, or indeed in June.
Unions, including the National Association of Headteachers (NAHT) and the National Education Union (NEU), have called for "clear, scientific published evidence" that schools are safe to re-open.
In a joint statement sent to UK Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, they said there should be no increase in pupil numbers until a national test, track and trace scheme has been fully rolled out.
The government's three-pronged coronavirus strategy is being rolled out in various stages, with the NHS contact-tracing smartphone app currently being trialled on the Isle of Wight before a UK-wide expansion.
They have called for extra resources for deep cleaning, personal protective equipment (PPE) and local powers to close schools if there is an outbreak of the virus in a particular area.
Some of the other "essential" measures unions said must be in place before pupils return, include:
- Safety and welfare of pupils and staff as the paramount principle
- A national Covid-19 education taskforce with government, unions and education stakeholders to agree statutory guidance for safe reopening
- Consideration of the specific needs of vulnerable students and families facing financial hardship
She urged No 10 to "work closely" with unions to "agree a plan that meets the tests we have set out", adding the best way to do this would be through a "national taskforce" between "government, unions and education stakeholders".
A spokeswoman for England's Department for Education said Mr Williamson has not set a date for schools reopening, and the department would ensure the education sector has "sufficient notice to plan and prepare" for schools, nurseries and colleges to return.
"Schools will remain closed, except for children of critical workers and vulnerable children, until the scientific advice indicates it is the right time to re-open and the five tests set out by government to beat this virus have been met," she added.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock, meanwhile, said pupils will only be allowed to return to school when it is safe to do so.
It follows a warning by the British Irish Group of Teacher Unions of the "very real risk of creating a spike in the transmission of the virus by a premature opening of schools".
Labour's shadow education secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey called on the government to "take heed of the tests set out today by trade unions and commit to not opening schools unless they have been met".
Last week at the Downing Street daily briefing, NHS England's national medical director Prof Stephen Powis said the "science is still evolving" on how much children contribute toward virus spread.
It comes as the public was urged to be "realistic" about the easing of lockdown measures, as a further 626 coronavirus deaths were confirmed on Friday, taking the UK total to 31,241.
Leading the No 10 news conference on Friday, Environment Secretary George Eustice said there would be "no dramatic overnight change" and the government would be "very, very cautious as we loosen the restrictions we have".
Meanwhile, the government announced 97,029 tests had been delivered in the 24 hours to 09:00 BST on Friday, just shy of the 100,000 target Mr Hancock set for the end of April.
Mr Johnson has set a target of increasing testing capacity to 200,000 by the end of May.
