Most teachers have serious concerns about Covid-19 safety measures ahead of the return of pupils to Scottish schools from tomorrow, according to the largest-ever survey carried out by the EIS union.

Nearly 30,000 teachers took part in the survey, which opened last Tuesday and closed today, and nearly two-thirds expressed support for the mandatory wearing of face coverings by senior pupils in classrooms.

While 60 per cent expressed support for the decision to reopen schools, 66 per cent have anxiety and lack of confidence that enough mitigating factors will be in place.

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Other key statistics include:
• 29,867 teachers completed the survey.
• Only 1 in 5 expressed confidence that schools are currently safe.
• 53 per cent were not confident that an established capacity to test, trace and isolate is in place to support a safe return.
• 72 per cent of teachers indicated support for the testing for asymptomatic members of staff to help suppress the spread of Covid-19.
• 65 per cent said enhanced cleaning regimes would make them feel safer in schools.

EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan said: “These findings issue a stark warning to local authorities and the Scottish government ahead of pupils returning to schools from tomorrow.

“Our survey findings confirm that, even as they return to schools across the country today, Scotland’s teachers are extremely concerned about the risks associated with potential Covid-19 infection in schools. This worry will be particularly acute for the significant percentage of teachers identified as being in an ‘at risk’ category (16 per cent of respondents), as well as those living with a family member who is in a high-risk group.

“There is significant concern amongst all teachers on issues such as the large number of pupils in each class, inability to maintain social distancing, and the need for the wearing of face coverings to ensure safety in some circumstances.

“These concerns grow more acute based on the age of pupils being taught, with secondary teachers expressing a particularly high level of concern over the potential risks of teaching young adults for long periods of time in an enclosed classroom environment.”

Mr Flanagan added: “The EIS has consistently said that we support the principle of reopening schools so that teachers can, once again, offer their full support in a classroom setting for pupils. But we have also been consistent in the demand that schools can only re-open to pupils if this is managed in a way that can assure the safety of those pupils, staff and the wider community.”

He said the EIS would be “continuing talks at national and local level to seek resolutions to the concerns raised by our members”.

Meanwhile, first minister Nicola Sturgeon has said she is “impressed and reassured” by the measures being taken in Scotland to prevent coronavirus spreading as schools prepare to return.

First Minister @NicolaSturgeon visited @WestCalderHigh this morning to see some of the new measures in place ahead of schools reopening across Scotland this week pic.twitter.com/tVvaraaDF6

- First Minister (@ScotGovFM) August 10, 2020

She visited West Calder High School in West Lothian before pupils begin heading back to classrooms across Scotland from tomorrow.

Addressing the Scottish government’s daily coronavirus briefing, she said nerves and anxiety for teachers, parents and pupils are “entirely understandable” but stressed that reopening schools is a priority for her government.

She added: “It is worth saying that, for students and staff, school will feel different to how it was before.

“There will, for example, be a lot more hand washing, some schools will have staggered starts and lunch breaks - at West Calder, for example, lunches have to be ordered on an app in the morning and collected at lunchtime.”

She added: “I know that there will be nerves and anxiety for children, parents and teachers this week - and I think that is entirely understandable.

Ms Sturgeon said indoor play and activity clubs, as well as some faith-based education such as Sunday schools and madrassas, should not reopen.