Teaching union reps in Northamptonshire calling for more evidence to prove a full return to school is safe

Teaching union representatives in Northamptonshire are calling for evidence to prove it is safe for all pupils to be back in schools as soon as early March.

Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, today (February 22) announced in the House of Commons that all pupils can return to school from March 8 with regular testing in place for secondary school students.

Although schools have remained open to key workers' children throughout this third lockdown, union representatives are concerned about the safety of allowing full classes to be together again, mixing tens of households.

Alan Hackett, of the National Association of Schoolmasters and Union of Women Teachers in Northamptonshire, said: "I do not see the scientific evidence and we are meant to be being governed by that evidence.

"We are never going to get out of lockdown if we just open the schools and let children mix and bring it home to parents and parents then spread it to their friends and family.

"Also teachers have not been protected by vaccinations. They should have been prioritised, but they haven't been.

"We want schools to go back in a measured and safe way and to be governed by scientific advice.

"The next big step is removing the uncertainty of tests too. This year, they would not be in the best interest for the children."

Elaine Coe, who is the joint secretary of the National Education Union in Northamptonshire, added: "The main question is what has changed? We want to see a big difference.

"We want everything to be done by data not dates.

"We want to avoid another surge in the virus and we want to avoid going back into lockdown.

"We have not seen scientific evidence to say it is safe. We think it is rushed.

"It also seems reckless that everyone is going back at the same time especially as Scotland and Wales are staggering it, which would make more sense from an organisational point of view."

After school activities run by schools, such as sport clubs will also be allowed to resume from March 8.

In the next stage of the road map, personal care service businesses should be allowed to reopen from April 12, which has given Northampton's business owners a huge sense of relief.

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