School opened only to certain pupils as some staff kept away following union advice
A DERBY school yesterday told the majority of its pupils to stay at home despite the Prime Minister insisting children should attend their primary school if it is open.
Ash Croft Academy in Sinfin, part of The Harmony Trust, said it was only open to vulnerable pupils and children of key worker families, a letter published on the school’s website stated.
“All other pupils should stay at home until further notice,” it said.
The letter from The Harmony Trust chief executive Antony Hughes explained that “a number of staff” were following advice from their unions due to concerns regarding the coronavirus pandemic.
This means the school does not have sufficient staff to be able to open the academy to all pupils.
The letter said: “This has been a difficult decision to make, the education of all our pupils remains our highest priority.
“However, a number of our staff members are following the advice of their unions and will not be returning to work due to the increasing concerns related to coronavirus.
“This is a situation that is happening in many schools across the country and we must respond accordingly.
“We must prioritise the health, safety and wellbeing of our staff, children and their families and following our risk assessment of the situation we do not have sufficient staff to be able to open the academy to all pupils.”
The development came after Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he had “no doubt” that classrooms were safe and parents should send children back to schools in England that remained open.
He said: “There is no doubt in my mind that schools are safe, and that education is a priority.
“The benefits of education are so huge, overwhelmingly we want to keep our young people in education.”
Last week it was announced primary schools would be back open from yesterday, except for areas where infection rates are extremely high.
The reopening of secondary schools was to be staggered over January so they can hold mass testing programmes.
However, Mr Johnson later announced that schools would indeed be closed.
Making the announcement that all schools in England will shut, Mr Johnson said: “Because we now have to do everything we possibly can to stop the spread of the disease, primary schools, secondary schools and colleges across England must move to remote provision from tomorrow, except for vulnerable children and the children of keyworkers.”
He said early years settings such as nurseries will still be accessible.
Mr Johnson said the move on schools means “it’s not possible or fair for all exams to go ahead this summer, as normal”.
The move to keep pupils out of class raises questions about GCSE and A-level exams due to take place in the summer, a school leaders’ union has said.
Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: “We are relieved the Government has finally bowed to the inevitable and agreed to move schools and colleges to remote education in response to alarming Covid infection rates.”
But he added: “This decision clearly raises a question about GCSEs, A-levels and other exams which are due to take place in the summer.” He added: “We are keen to work with the Government and exam regulator Ofqual to make this process as fair as it can possibly be.”