Two-thirds of teaching staff do not feel safe returning to college, an exclusive Tes survey has found. 

The survey – to which more than 130 further education managers, teaching staff and support staff responded – also found that just over 50 per cent of support staff don't feel safe returning to work. In contrast, around 80 per cent of managers said that they did feel safe. 

A quarter of teaching staff said that sufficient steps had not been taken for them to return to work safely, while 50 per cent said steps had been taken "to some extent". 

Across the country, many staff and students returned to college last week, with more returning today. 

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Listen: The return to college with Jo Maher

Covid-19: How are colleges reopening?

Three-quarters of all respondents said that face coverings were mandatory in communal areas of their college and the vast majority – 83 per cent – said that they would be wearing face coverings around the campus. However, almost one in five believed that face coverings should not be mandatory. 

When it came to wearing face coverings in the classroom, 56 per cent of teaching staff said that they were not planning to wear one – however, 55 per cent support staff said they would. Current guidance from the DfE says face coverings are not required in classrooms. 

University and College Union's head of further education Andrew Harden said that colleges have to recognise the "very real fear" staff have about a return to work.

He said: "The health of staff, students and their families has to remain the number one priority and colleges should not fully reopen until it is safe to do so. Colleges have to recognise the very real fear their staff have about a return to work.

"Colleges should be working with students and staff to make sure they have full confidence in health and safety risk assessments institutions have undertaken. Any member of staff who is worried about their return to work should contact UCU."

Leigh Powell, national officer of support staff union Unison, said: "Staff are telling us they don't feel safe returning to work, especially those who've been shielding. It's understandable they're scared. They tend to be older and from BAME communities, so know they're at greater risk from the virus than younger, white staff. 

"Some colleges have done much to protect workers, but the picture across the country is patchy. Ministers must end the Covid lottery by ensuring all colleges are safe. They must provide clear, timely guidance and the funds to pay for proven safety measures, including extra professional cleaning and personal protective equipment."

Speaking on the Tes FE podcast, Jo Maher, principal and chief executive of Loughborough College, told Tes that the campus looked "completely different" and face coverings were mandatory in communal areas from the start of August. 

She said: "It took a little bit of time to get people to real habits of bringing in their own, trying different ones, we went through 10,000 reusable face coverings but because we are conscious about the impact on the environment, we wanted to make sure we provided students with face coverings that are washable.

"We've had the opportunity for a month to test these processes, and I think some of the things that came out of that was staff saying, if you're working with your person who has a special educational support need, and as a result of that they need to be able to lip read then a face covering can be a barrier to learning thing so we've tried to clear ones but they fogged up, staff with glasses were getting the mist in, so now we're trialling different visors." 

Most colleges will be delivering teaching through a blended learning approach this year – with just a quarter of teaching staff responding to the survey to say their course will be delivered in full on the college site. However, 39 per cent of teaching staff said they had not received any training in delivering online learning. 

Around 46 per cent of support staff also said that student demand for support services has increased as a result of lockdown. 

David Hugher, chief executive of the Association of Colleges, said: “Colleges have worked extremely hard to ensure that it is safe for staff and students to return this term. Staff and unions in every college have been part of the planning and are central to making it work, so it is important that they are confident about the arrangements.  

"We understand though that it is a worrying time for everyone, given the unique circumstances we are all facing. College leaders are using the government guidance along with rigorous risk assessments to make judgements about what works best for their environment and communities as the new term starts.

"We are seeing a range of plans which include moving to full returns using blended learning at first - a mixture of online teaching and face to face to manage the risks and allow for social distancing responsibly on site. Another key part of a safe return to colleges is everybody being able to access a coronavirus test should they develop symptoms and we welcome DfE and Public Health England’s work to prioritise testing capacity.”