Headteachers have said that the profession should not become “embroiled in a polarised debate” with the government over whether schools should reopen.

Writing in Tes today, Mr Barton said school leaders should not fight “tooth and nail” with the government over the issue.

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His comments come after teaching unions including the NAHT and NEU issued a joint statement earlier this week, calling on the government to “step back” from its 1 June school reopening plans due to members’ safety concerns.

“Do we fight tooth and nail against the government’s decision? Or do we accept the government’s assurances and get on with planning for reopening?” he said. 

“Neither position is right. We have to avoid the trap of becoming embroiled in a polarised debate in which we are either in full-blown opposition, or being seen to meekly accept a fait accompli,” he added.

Mr Barton said unions must call on the government to provide the scientific evidence and modelling to reassure the profession that returning to school is safe.

The Department for Education is holding two key meetings with the major teaching unions this afternoon, focusing on the scientific basis for reopening schools and the policy implications of the advice, Tes understands.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT school leaders’ union, has said he hopes the government will acknowledge the risks of reopening schools today, as well as a quantification of these risks and the strategies needed to mitigate them.

And Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the NEU teaching union, said: “There are important scientific questions that need to be addressed, and we will listen to what the government’s scientists have to say.”

He added: “It’s really important that we are absolutely clear what the level of safety is and if it remains the case that we believe it to be unsafe, we will not back the wider opening of schools.”