City academy chiefs back move to reopen schools Situation ‘calamitous’ for poorer pupils despite teaching union fears
Council: Black and Asian communities will refuse to send pupils back
THE Government’s decision to reopen classrooms for some pupils from June 1 has been backed by managers of a number of schools in Birmingham and the West Midlands.
Prolonged absence from school is “calamitous” for pupils from less wealthy families, school bosses said. They added: “If we do not take action and reopen schools soon, the impact of lost learning could be irreparable.”
The warning came in a letter from chief executives of academy chains, published in The Times.
But it puts them at odds with teaching unions such as the National Education Union, which says it is “not fair or feasible” for schools to reopen, and claimed the Government’s timetable is “reckless and simply not safe”.
The letter says: “The Government’s decision to proceed with the next phase of school reopening, provided key tests are met, will have been difficult, but reopening is essential.
“Our staff and pupils’ wellbeing is paramount and we are committed to implementing protective measures, advised by public health experts, to keep them safe at all times.”
And in what seems to be criticism of people who say schools should remain closed, the letter says: “Some of the debate over reopening has been unhelpful and doesn’t reflect our sector.”
It was signed by leaders of academy chains including Julian Drinkall, chief executive of Academies Enterprise Trust, which runs Four Dwellings Academy in Quinton and Greenwood Acacemy, Castle Vale. It was also signed by Hugh Greenway, chief executive of The Elliot Foundation Academies Trust, which runs nine schools in Birmingham and the Black Country, including Billesley Primary School, Chandos Primary School, Croft Academy, George Betts Primary Academy, Kings Rise Academy, Woods Bank Academy, Shirestone Academy, Shireland Hall Primary Academy and Tiverton Academy.
BIRMINGHAM City Council has warned the Government that parents of black and Asian children will not yet send them back to school because they are worried about higher risks from Covid-19.
Council leader Ian Ward and education chief Jayne Francis have called for more guidance for schools with large black and Asian populations, amid fears about increased infection and death rates.
It was signed by Jane Millward, chief executive of E-ACT, which runs Heartlands Academy, Nechells; Mansfield Green Academy, Aston; Merritts Brook Primary Academy, Northfield; Nechells Primary E-ACT Academy, Nechells, and North Birmingham Academy.
And it was signed by Hamid Patel, chief executive of Star Academies, which runs Eden Boys’ Leadership Academy, Aston; Eden Boys’ School, Perry Barr; Eden Girls’ Leadership Academy, Balsall Heath; The Olive School, Sparkhill; The Olive School, Small Heath, and Small Heath Leadership Academy.
The Government has asked schools to begin preparing to open
The vast majority of parents of black pupils, in particular, have said they “will not be returning their children to school on June 1”, says a letter to Education Secretary Gavin Williamson. It draws on new guidance issued by the Government last week that schools need to be “especially sensitive to the needs and worries of BAME (Black, Asian and minority ethnic) members of staff, parents and pupils”. The city has a BAME population for more children from June 1. It says it expects children to be able to return to early years settings, and for Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 to be back in school in smaller sizes, from this point.
But the National Education Union (NEU) is opposed to increasing the number of pupils able to attend school.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has appealed to teaching unions to work with the Government to find “practical solutions” to enable schools in England to begin reopening.
But one head teacher of a Birmingham primary school has told parents he will refuse to open the
Maintaining social distance would be almost impossible Colebourne Primary School head Stuart Guest, right
of 42 per cent – so the concerns apply to hundreds of schools and thousands of children and their families.
“In our discussions with school leaders there are real concerns relating to the disproportionately negative impact that Covid-19 is having on BAME men and women, especially those from the black community,” says the letter.
“When schools
have
contacted doors on June 1 because doing so would endanger children, families and teachers.
Head teacher Stuart Guest says there are still “active
BAME parents as part of their plans to reopen, the vast majority have stated that they will not be returning their children to school on June 1.
“Parents expressed their concerns on the disproportional impact on them as black parents if their child were to contract the virus and bring it home. We feel that further guidance is required for schools with large BAME communities on the implications of reopening.” cases of infection right now” among families at Colebourne Primary School in Hodge Hill, and he is not prepared to put people at risk. He said: “Maintaining social distance, especially in Nursery, Reception and Year 1, would be almost impossible without more extreme measures.” He adds he is not convinced there is yet an effective testing and tracing plan in place for school or the wider community, and says his concerns are backed by parents.
The council has also called on the Government to issue the full scientific advice behind the June 1 reopening guidance. It is sending parents a letter about the reopening of schools, advising that the decision lies with individual headteachers.
The authority says some schools may not be able to safely open on June 1 for pupils, other than those of key workers or those classed as vulnerable.