Portsmouth teacher leading National Education Union calls for primary schools to close next week

A TEACHING union led by a Portsmouth-based teacher has called on government to shut primary schools over rising rates of Covid-19.
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The National Education Union (NEU), after holding an emergency meeting on Saturday, wants government to ‘listen to the science’ and close primary schools - including special needs schools - until infection rates are brought under control.

The government came under fire after a dramatic U-turn when education secretary Gavin Williamson announced all primary schools in London will now remain shut next week.

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National Education Union president, Amanda Martin.

Picture: Russell Sach PhotographyNational Education Union president, Amanda Martin.

Picture: Russell Sach Photography
National Education Union president, Amanda Martin. Picture: Russell Sach Photography

All pupils in exam years will return to secondary schools in England from January 11 while the rest of secondary and college students will go back full-time on January 18.

Following the emergency meeting, the NEU also advised its members of ‘their legal rights not to have to work in an unsafe environment’.

NEU president and Portsmouth teacher, Amanda Martin, said: ‘It’s not safe to open primary and secondary schools until we know more about the new variant of the virus.

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‘In Portsmouth infection rates are rising exponentially and parents have been contacting me saying how fearful they are.

‘The top two age brackets with the largest growth areas of the virus are of primary and secondary school age. It is dangerous and scary and we need reassurance from the government.

‘We need to get this under control. We have been writing to the government since June asking them to do things like remote learning and shrink class sizes which could have prevented this but they never tell us what is happening.’

She added: ‘The government has made a real mess of things and should not be doing things ad hoc at the last minute. It took them only 18 hours to do a U-turn in 2021 - it’s not good enough.

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‘We’ve been left with no other option (to recommend primary school closures). It is unprecedented.

‘The union has to protect education but also its members and the communities we serve.’

Referring to Portsmouth, Ms Martin added: ‘There is no blame to our authority or school leaders. There are higher injection rates in Portsmouth than parts of London. We have been left with erratic guidance from the government.’

Ms Martin also called for an efficient testing system and vaccination program.

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When announcing the London school closures on Friday night, Mr Williamson said it was a ‘last resort’ and only temporary.

He said: ‘As infection rates rise across the country, and particularly in London, we must make this move to protect our country and the NHS.

‘We will continue to keep the list of local authorities under review, and reopen classrooms as soon as we possibly can.’

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