A headteacher has hit out at the government over its controversial Christmas parties.
As footage was shared of Downing Street officials laughing about a festive party last December, the Department for Education also admitted holding a 'gathering' in its office building.
This was during a time when London and Greater Manchester were both under Tier 2 Covid rules, meaning social mixing between households was banned and the number of people in any indoor space was limited to six.
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Former Education Secretary Gavin Williamson is understood to have delivered a short speech at the event, where up to two dozen of his staff gathered in the DfE cafe for 'drinks and canapes'.
Following the DfE's admission that 'it would have been better not to have gathered in this way at that particular time', headteacher Glyn Potts stressed the sacrifices that others made and are still making amid the ongoing pandemic.
Venting his frustration in a tweet, Mr Potts, head of Newman RC College in Oldham, said: "I cancelled Christmas concerts, parents evenings, asked staff to put their anxieties about the virus aside to support our children and did so believing “we were all doing our bit.” I feel like I have lied to my team."
His comment, which clearly struck a chord with other school leaders, received more than 150 likes dozens of retweets.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, he said: "I think everyone accepts that the staff at DfE have worked tirelessly, like those in schools, to ensure a stable education for young people.
"However, one must question what leadership decisions were taken to suggest this was an appropriate event during a times of real crisis."
A DfE spokesperson said: “On December 10 2020 a gathering of colleagues who were already present at the office – and who had worked together throughout the pandemic, as they couldn’t work from home – took place in the DfE office building in London at a time when the city was subject to Tier 2 restrictions.
“The gathering was used to thank those staff for their efforts during the pandemic. Drinks and snacks were brought by those attending and no outside guests or supporting staff were invited or present.
“While this was work-related, looking back we accept it would have been better not to have gathered in this way at that particular time.”
