Teaching unions are criticised by Blunkett
FORMER EDUCATION Secretary Lord David Blunkett has criticised teaching unions who he accused of “working against the interests of children” in opposing the re-opening of schools in June.
If progress in tackling the coronavirus allows, the Government wants primary schools to open to some pupils from June 1.
But nine unions, representing school leaders, teachers and support staff, have accused the Government of showing a “lack of understanding” about the dangers of the spread of coronavirus in schools.
The joint statement, published by the Trades Union Congress (TUC), warns that staff will “not be protected” by social distancing if primary schools re-open to more year groups from next month.
The statement called on the Government to create conditions for a “safe return to schools based on the principles and tests” set out by the unions.
However, Lord Blunkett, the former Labour MP for Sheffield Brightside who served as Education Secretary under Tony Blair, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “It’s about an attitude of mind. It’s about whether we can work together to do it or whether we can work against it.
“And I advise both teachers and their representatives, and my own frontbench, to work together to actually find a way of gradually, from 1 June, getting those children back into school.”
He said the closures were impacting “the children of the most disadvantaged”.
He added: “I’m being deeply critical of the attitude. It’s about how can we work together to make it work as safely – we can’t 100 per cent – as safely as possible?
“Anyone who works against that in my view, is working against the interests of children.”
However, Leeds East Labour MP Richard Burgon said: “With all due respect, he couldn’t be more wrong.”