Headteachers request clarity over coronavirus plans

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson is set to meet with head teachers' leaders to discuss their concerns about managing the coronavirus epidemic.

With exam season fast approaching, many schools have emphasised concerns with how they will manage, especially in the likelihood of reduced staff.

Unions have said that said school leaders were ‘showing calm and assured leadership’, but need to know what they should prioritise when their staffing is affected, as well as how they can support more vulnerable families and children on free school meals.

The policy on school closures has not yet changed, with the government stating that schools should remain open unless told otherwise by Public Health England. Some schools have, however, taken action into their own hands and closed for deep cleans, with a few cases of staff showing symptoms and self-isolating.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: "The concerns we will be raising with him are: the challenges of keeping open schools and colleges when a growing number of staff are away from work because they are self-isolating; the potential for disruption to GCSE and A-levels and what contingencies will be put in place; and how we ensure children in poverty do not go hungry and that vulnerable young people are safeguarded if schools are closed.

"We aim to work through these issues in order to arrive at constructive solutions about the way ahead. School and college leaders are showing calm and assured leadership in these difficult times and we can reassure the public that everything that can be done to support young people will be done."

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, added: "It's important that we all work together to do the maximum we can. We will be working jointly with the secretary of state to establish a credible plan for schools and colleges in the coming weeks. School leaders and their teams are determined to play their part in the national civic response to this crisis. We will use the meeting to bring some clarity and direction.

"Vulnerable children and families are uppermost in our minds. For some children, a day at school is a place of sanctuary and nourishment, as well as a place of education. Once the immediate issues are under control, I am confident that school leaders and their teams will do all that they can to support children and young people throughout the remainder of the crisis."