School staff trust in the Department for Education (DfE) over its handling of the pandemic has dropped markedly from already low levels in the past six months, new Tes survey results reveal.

Responses from more than 8,000 headteachers, teachers, teaching assistants and other school staff in England show that more than two-thirds now have no trust “at all” in the DfE’s coronavirus policy and decision making, and 95 per lack trust. 

When Tes asked the same question in July, 50 per cent didn’t trust the DfE at all on Covid. A second survey in September found the figure had climbed to 60 per cent.

That complete lack of trust has now spread to 70 per cent of staff, according to the latest Tes survey, carried out at the end of last month.

It also reveals that the figure is much worse in England, where it is claimed “lives of schools staff are being lost due to callous decision making”, than in the UK’s three other nations

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In Wales, 29 per cent of school staff have no trust in their education department “at all” over Covid; in Scotland it is 31 per cent and in Northern Ireland 59 per cent.

One state secondary school teacher in England said: “[There have been] constant changes to what is said and no notice given.”

DfE legal threats over school closures

The latest results come after the controversy created when the DfE threatened legal action to force schools to stay open, despite Covid safety fears, only to reverse its policy two days later 

Another secondary teacher in England told Tes: “My school was forced to remain open by the DfE the week before Christmas while we had a staff outbreak with only 10 teachers left not isolating, [only] for schools then to get closed after Christmas. Myself and another pregnant teacher were given no additional protection and I’ve never felt so stressed and unsafe.

“I have no trust in the government to protect me or make clear, thought-out decisions that truly put children and teachers health and wellbeing at the forefront.”

The survey, which attracted more than 8,000 responses, asked: “How would you describe the level of trust you have in your government’s education department’s decisions and policy on coronavirus and schools?”

No school staff have complete trust in DfE

A quarter of respondents in England said they had only “limited trust” in the DfE and none said they had “complete trust”.

A state primary teacher in England said: “Our current education secretary seems to know nothing about what teachers face on a day-to-day basis.”

And a learning support assistant in a state special school said: “We know what is happening on the ground. They don’t.”

Teachers terrified by the job they love

The learning support assistant continued: “We all called for a lockdown, we all considered/sent in section 44 letters, we are all terrified and are just doing our best so we don’t lose the jobs we love. The government has done everything wrong and lives are being lost every day due to their callous decision making.”

The mood in England, where only 4 per cent of school staff “generally  trust” their government’s education department on Covid compares poorly with that of Scotland, where the figure is 21 per cent, and Wales, where it is 18 per cent. 

In Northern Ireland, 5 per cent of school staff generally trust their government education department on Covid.

DfE accused of ‘life-threatening incompetence’

The decline in trust in the DfE is also reflected in another Tes survey question, in which 74 per cent of school staff in England said it had “dropped significantly” since the Covid outbreak began.

“They were always self-serving but this is life-threatening incompetence,” a primary deputy head commented.

A secondary teacher said their trust in the DfE had declined “even though it was already at what I thought was rock bottom”.

“They could not have got this more wrong,” said a special school learning support assistant.

“I used to think the DfE would act in a planned and coherent manner,” a primary teacher said. “Now I know it’s just a shambles on all fronts - laptops, free school meals, exams, guidance late at night, school return. In addition, I really don’t think they care about the wellbeing of any school staff.”

A DfE spokesperson said: “We are enormously grateful to teachers and school staff for the resilience and commitment they have shown in supporting children during this challenging time.

“The Government has acted consistently in the interests of children and young people, working to keep them in the classroom wherever possible and every major decision we have taken has been guided by the latest scientific and medical advice.

“We continue to engage with stakeholders from the sector, including teaching unions, and will set out plans for the wider return to schools for staff, parents and pupils as soon as possible, providing as much notice as we can.”