A Harrogate teachers’ union rep has described government plans for school reopening in January as “inoperable”.
Ministers published new guidance four days ago saying most secondary school students will begin the spring term learning online.
Only vulnerable or key workers’ children and those in years 11 and 13 can return normally on January 4 — other students will return the following week.
The delay is intended to give schools time to set up covid testing schemes.
Testing is not mandatory but the government hopes as many schools as possible adopt it to clamp down on the virus after the Christmas break.
The plans, which were suddenly introduced just before term ended, have caused controversy.
Sharon Calvert, who represents the Harrogate association of the NASUWT teachers’ union, said the plans would force many teachers to spend the holidays organising testing operations:
“Teachers in the Harrogate district have been working hard since March, many head teachers will not have had a day off since then. The last thing that should be asked of educators is to be working and putting in to place another new system over the holidays.
“The chaotic and rushed nature of this announcement, the lack of proper guidance, and an absence of appropriate support means that the government’s plan in its current form will be inoperable for most schools and colleges in the Harrogate area.
“They simply do not have the staffing capacity to carry this out themselves in a safe and effective manner.”
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Ripon Grammar School has sent a letter to parents detailing how some pupils will return as normal on January, 5 but the majority of pupils in year 7 to 10 and 12 will study remotely. All students are expected back the following week.
The letter adds a decision on testing will be taken in January.
Harrogate independent school Ashville College said in a statement:
“We will be reviewing the government guidelines and looking at a return to school in the New Year that will continue to ensure the safety of our pupils and staff.”
North Yorkshire County Council said it supported schools delaying a full return of pupils and will be holding a webinar in January to discuss testing.
“We are asking secondary schools and colleges to put in place a staggered return, providing full-time remote education for the first week of term with face-to-face education starting on January 11.“Vocational exams scheduled for that week will also go ahead as planned.”
Other schools in the district contacted by the Stray Ferret said discussions about arrangement has begun but they were unable to comment further.
The government guidance says:
“To support public health efforts during the return to school in January 2021, we are offering secondary schools in England access to additional coronavirus testing from the first week of January.
“This will help deliver the national priority of keeping as many pupils and teachers as possible in school beyond the start of term, minimising the spread of the virus and disruption caused by coronavirus cases arising in education settings.”
