Headteachers are concerned that the Covid-19 safety check calls to schools by the Health and Safety Executive are being carried out by a private company.
Tes understands that the calls, which started last week to English schools, have been contracted out to Civica.
The NAHT school leaders’ union said that this will make the calls less helpful for schools because they will not be from HSE experts, and that heads could face calls on behalf of the HSE and a visit from Ofsted at the same time during this term.
Ofsted said today that schools can ask to defer a visit from the watchdog if the HSE is already in contact.
Tes revealed two weeks ago that schools will be receiving calls from the HSE, which could result in a follow-up visit, to check on plans for keeping pupils and staff safe and reducing the transmission of the coronavirus.
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James Bowen, director of policy at the NAHT, said: “We do have concerns about the transparency of the HSE checks on schools, and also about their validity.
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“If school leaders are expected to spend time preparing for, and responding to these calls, they must be conducted by experts who are capable of participating in a dialogue. Having recently learned that HSE are outsourcing the initial calls, we have real concerns about whether or not this will be the case.
“While we understand that the HSE have an important role to play in ensuring that all employers are providing safe working environments, a ‘spot check’ during the first few days and weeks will only serve as a distraction from the vital work schools will be doing to settle pupils back into a routine.
“Schools need to be given time to actually implement and refine the new safety measures, otherwise the HSE risk getting an inaccurate picture of how schools are operating under this ‘new normal’.”
The union is also concerned that schools could face checks from the HSE and Ofsted at the same time.
However, Ofsted has said that schools can ask for its visit to be deferred if the HSE is already there.
Ofsted is carrying out new visits this term to check on how pupils are being supported to catch up after the disruption to schools caused by the coronavirus.
Tes revealed earlier this year that these visits will not be checking on how well schools are meeting Covid-19 reopening guidelines.
The HSE has confirmed today that Civica has been contracted to carry out the safey calls.
A HSE spokesperson said: “To increase capacity in our call centre, HSE has employed an experienced third-party contractor (Civica) to make the initial contact with schools, businesses and organisations.
“To enable the spot check process to begin, HSEs experts using their expertise and extensive inspection knowledge, created the Covid Secure spot check questionnaire that is used during the spot check calls. The professional agents have also received training on the Covid Secure guidance.
“The calls aim to identify if there are any areas of concern and assess if the risks outlined in the Covid Secure guidance are being managed effectively. The calls are not about the more traditional health and safety practices of the school they are concentrated on understanding and implementing the necessary controls outlined by the schools Covid Secure guidance.”
The HSE said the calls would reach ” an agreed number of schools” and would be running for four weeks.
Hayley Dunn, a business leadership specialist at the Association of School and College Leaders told Tes that she understood that the HSE had an “ambitious target” of schools to call but not every school in the country would be reached.
Civica has been approached for a comment.
