Headteachers in Greater Manchester have spoken of their battle to keep schools open in the new term as cases of Covid continue to rip like wildfire through the workforce.
More than 50,000 people in Greater Manchester tested positive for coronavirus last week, with rates surging in all 10 boroughs, and topping 2,000 in Salford and Stockport.
It’s left employers in all sectors grappling with diminishing numbers and has again put schoolchildren’s face-to-face learning in jeopardy.
READ MORE: Secondary school pupils will be asked to wear masks in class again in bid to curb Omicron threat
The Government has reintroduced some measures to support schools, including the recommendation that masks be worn in secondary classrooms, plans to provide 7,000 air cleaning units to schools and college, and a get-out for Ofsted inspectors so they can focus on teaching.
In December, Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi called on ex-teachers to help with Covid-related staff shortages in the new year.
Despite these efforts, teachers are still bracing themselves for an uphill battle amid warnings from Government insiders that some pupils may have to return to at least some online learning.
Many schools already have in place back-up plans for home schooling and virtual lessons.
Among them is Glyn Potts, headteacher at John Henry Newman RC College in Oldham, who stresses home-schooling will only be triggered as a very last and final resort.
Glyn himself is among more than 20 of 200 staff (10pc) at the school to have received a positive PCR over the Christmas break. Struggling with symptoms of the virus, it means he will have to work from home for the start of the new term.
He told the Manchester Evening News : “I’m concerned about the rising cases and the potential disruption, but I’m committed to doing everything we can to remain open to students.”
It will be a challenge.
“If this continues, even with the reduced isolation time, it is going to be tight for us," he added.
“It isn’t always obvious absence due to covid that causes us issues. Many staff have young children and the hard working staff in nurseries face the same problems, often having to restrict the attendance of toddlers.
“This impacts on the availability of staffing alongside the normal illness that occurs this time of year.”
On his own diagnosis, Glyn, who is more vulnerable to the virus as he has myocarditis, added: “My isolation period means that I will miss the first two days of school but will be able to work from home.”
Glyn’s determination to stay open if at all possible is matched by primary school leaders - despite the lack of comparable measures like mask-wearing.
And even that is controversial in some quarters, with critics including senior Conservative backbencher Rob Halton voicing concerns that the measure risked damaging youngsters' mental health.
Ruth Vayro, headteacher at St Ambrose RC School in Chorlton, who has two out of eight staff currently self-isolating with Covid, says their main concern is staff absence, but that they are determined to carry on.
She says they can try to cover in-house, with herself and the deputy head also stepping in to teach, but that more absence would make life ‘extremely difficult’.
“When we return on Tuesday for a training day I don’t know how many staff I’ll have. It’s not easy and it’s not over.
“I’m gravely concerned about how much absence children have had, and the national tests being imposed again is so unfair because children have missed so much education.”
Ruth describes primary schools as a ‘forgotten sector’, adding: “The Government continually talk about education being a priority but never mention primary, it’s as though we don’t exist or spread Covid.
“Until there’s a vaccine programme for five to 11-year-olds I do feel like we are the sector that’s forgotten.
“There are reports that all of England’s pupils will be wearing masks but it’s only 50 per cent because that’s how many are primary and they seem to forget that.”
Despite a lack of legislation for primary schools, Ruth has continued to have teaching bubbles, social distancing where possible and mask-wearing in communal areas.
She added: “We have had an update from the Department of Education which recognises it’s going to be difficult, the ongoing challenges in running schools and the priority of face-to-face learning.”
Speaking to Sky News, Rev Steve Chalke, founder of Oasis Community Learning, said: “We all know the impact of children being out of school, the impact on their lives, their life chances, their homes, their parents ability to get out and work etc, etc, so it’s not ideal but it’s better than not being in school.
“We can’t afford lost days of schooling for these children and we know from reports in the media, the tragic cases in the media, that children being left on their own is not good for them, its not good for society.”
He added his trust had bought 150,000 masks for pupils and had prepared for the possibility of returning to online learning from home with the purchase of an iPad for every student.
As the new term draws closer, and infection rates continue to rocket, parents will no doubt be concerned about school closures, the knock-on impact they will have - and the concern over their children or other vulnerable relatives becoming unwell.
Glyn, meanwhile, concedes there are no ‘easy answers’ - but he’s certain where the Government’s priorities should lie.
“It is a thorny issue for some, particularly those with views for or against vaccination.
“But what rests at the heart of this must be the welfare of young people and the acknowledgement of the efforts of all staff in education, not just teachers, who help keep this massive machine working.”
A Department for Education spokesperson said: “We know children and young people want to be in the classroom and it is the very best place for their education and wellbeing, which is why face to face teaching continues to be an absolute priority.
The safety measures we have put in place strike a balance between managing transmission risk with regular testing and enhanced ventilation and hygiene, and reducing disruption to in-person learning.
“We’ve asked any teachers no longer in the profession to come forward if they are available to temporarily fill absences in the new year.
“Supply teacher agencies across the country will continue to manage local supply and demand to help make sure schools and colleges can keep pupils in the classroom.”
