The government has set out draft plans that could force schools to stay open, as part of emergency measures included in a dedicated coronavirus bill.
The bill, which builds on the government’s action plan published on 3 March, will propose that local authorities should be given powers to keep schools open.
Details on the bill, published today, reveal that measures could include reducing teacher ratios, adapting school meal standards and relaxing provisions for those with special educational needs and disability (SEND).
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Guidance on the bill states: “[The government should] provide powers to require educational institutions or childcare providers to stay open or relax some requirements around education legislation in order to help these institutions run effectively during the event of an emergency.
“This could include reducing teacher ratios, adapting school-meal standards and relaxing provisions for those with special educational needs.
“This will ensure that children, young people and those who work with them remain safe, while minimising disruption to everyday life and progression to further and higher education or employment, by ensuring schools have the flexibility and support they need to respond pragmatically to the changing situation.”
The plans also propose that the government should be given powers to shut schools, but this will happen “only where necessary, to help minimise disruption to everyday life and progression of children and young people to further and higher education or employment”.
The guidance adds: “The measures would only be put in place for the period of time required to mitigate the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union the NAHT, said: “We are very concerned about the content of the bill and its potential implication for schools.
“Over the past week, teachers and school leaders have played a leading role in the response to this national crisis, and they stand ready to continue to do so. In order for that response to continue to be effective, government must work with the profession.
“It is hard to see how these measures could even work in practice. If there are not enough healthy teachers to run a school, the powers to compel it to open seem entirely irrelevant.
“Taking powers that are unenforceable is at best pointless and, at worst, potentially counter-productive.
“Our sincere hope is that the government will trust school leaders on the ground to make the right decision for the safety and wellbeing of their pupils. Tough words and draconian powers are the last thing schools need right now.”
Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “It is pointless to introduce a power to require schools to stay open when the problem they face is that they increasingly do not have enough staff to do so.
“The current situation is unsustainable and what is needed is a strategic plan to alleviate the pressure on schools, and prioritise support for vulnerable children and the children of key workers.
“We are in dialogue with the education secretary and his officials to represent the difficulties faced by schools and colleges, and come up with a national plan of action.”
