Failure to improve ventilation in schools is “unacceptable”, Scotland’s education secretary has been told today (26 November).

Tes Scotland can reveal that the NASUWT teaching union has written to Shirley-Anne Somerville over concerns that various Scottish government updates on improving school ventilation during the Covid pandemic have done “little to address concerns we have repeatedly raised”, Henry Hepburn reports.

At a time when the strategy of simply opening windows to improve ventilation could become highly problematic - severe winter weather is being forecast for later today - NASUWT general secretary Patrick Roach calls in the letter for “a wholesale review of the current ventilation guidance”.

Covid safety: Changes made to improve school ventilation ‘very small’

In England: Most school CO2 monitors not yet delivered

Also this week: Heads should not face pressure over Christmas shows and parents’ vaccine status

The NASUWT told Tes Scotland that feedback from union reps and members indicated that:

• The promise that all teaching areas would have CO2 monitors has not been met.
• There are “wildly different” interpretations by employers of the thresholds in monitors that determine when action is required, and reports of monitors being installed inappropriately.
• Government guidance offers little more than “open a window” as a solution where ventilation is poor.
• Where windows have been opened and temperatures drop as a result, the only suggestion by government is to wear more clothes.

The NASUWT letter (see full text here) states that at the most recent Cosla [the local authorities ‘body] Workforce Implementation Group meeting on 11 November, it was indicated that 100 per cent of teaching areas in Scottish schools would have access to fixed or mobile CO2 monitoring by the following day, 12 November.

Covid safety: Calls to improve ventilation in schools

“Casework feedback to us since then suggests that this aspiration has not been achieved and, in any case, the fact that large numbers of local authorities are using mobile [CO2] monitors to take occasional readings from different teaching areas is wholly inadequate in establishing an effective preventative strategy for the spread of Covid-19,” writes Dr Roach.

He adds: “The continuing failure of Scottish government to provide clear guidance setting out the steps to be undertaken when poor air quality is established in a teaching area is simply unacceptable.”

Dr Roach called on the government to “urgently review” its guidance on reducing the risks from Covid-19 in schools to take account of teachers’ concerns.

A Cosla spokesperson said: “In August we agreed with the Scottish government to monitor CO2 levels in all learning and teaching spaces over the first term of the school year. We are continuing to work constructively with all partners, including the Scottish government and our colleagues in the trade unions, to consider next steps.”

Tes Scotland has asked the Scottish government for comment.