The COVID Diaries – 142 22nd August
Following the exams fiasco, another crisis is now looming for our schools.
With schools due to reopen in two weeks’ time, headteachers and teaching unions are saying that the government has failed to engage with schools on what would happen in the event of a coronavirus outbreak in schools. “At the moment, there’s no guidance beyond: speak to your local public health officials,” said Geoff Barton, leader of the Association of School and College Leaders.
Barton wants the government to tell schools urgently what their procedures should be if a child or staff member contracts the virus, or if there is a local lockdown. “There needs to be an absolute urgency now,” he said “both so we can reassure parents that this has been thought through and so that our headteachers can put those procedures in place and do some scenario-planning next week, before we start to open. Once again, time is running out.”