The leaders of the NEU teaching union, Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney, have released a YouTube video in which they set out steps the union is taking to keep teachers safe during the coronavirus pandemic.
The joint-general secretaries of Britain’s largest teaching union spell out the contents of a letter they sent to the prime minister, which calls for immediate school closures and for this year’s Sats to be abandoned.
They also urge teachers with underlying health conditions to withdraw from school or college.
Spelling out a list of high-risk health categories, Mr Courtney says: “We are advising all our members in these categories, or who are caring for people in these categories, to withdraw from school or college from next Monday. There may be work you can do from home, but you should not be asked to put yourselves or your loved ones at risk.”
Dr Bousted says: “We have suggested to the prime minister during a period of full school closure that teachers and school leaders could work on plans for more limited opening to ensure that we can look after the children of parents who must do the work our society needs.
“That includes our fantastic NHS staff, overlooked food and distribution workers, police, prison and fire brigade staff and those who are working to produce medical equipment, including industries being re-purposed to produce ventilators.”
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