Staff pressures ‘could hit school recovery’

“UNSUSTAINABLE” PRESSURE on school staff could put the Government’s education recovery plans at risk, a school leaders’ union has warned.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT school leaders’ union, believes an “exodus” of headteachers could take place post-Covid after an “exhausting” and “stressful” year for school staff.

His comments came as a poll by the union revealed that nearly half (46 per cent) of school leaders said they had 31 per cent or more of their normal roll attending class in person before February half-term.

More than one in eight (13 per cent) said they had 41-50 per cent of pupils come into school amid the lockdown, according to a survey shared with the PA news agency.

The overwhelming majority (91 per cent) of school leaders said demand for places – among children of key workers and vulnerable pupils – has increased since the beginning of the current lockdown.

The poll found that 64 per cent of school leaders said they have worked at least six additional hours per week on average since the beginning of this term as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Nearly two in five (38 per cent) said they have worked an average of 51-60 hours a week since the start of term, according to the survey of more than 3,000 school leaders across England in February.

Mr Whiteman said: “These figures prove once and for all that schools are not and have never been closed. Teachers and school leaders have in fact been working harder than ever to juggle the demands of remote teaching for pupils at home, while also caring for those vulnerable and key worker children in school.

“The worry is that the workload and pressure on school staff at the moment is simply unsustainable – and could threaten the education recovery to come.”

The latest Government figures suggest that more than one in four (27 per cent) primary school pupils in England were taught onsite last week.

Overall, 18 per cent of state school pupils were in class last week, up from 16 per cent before half-term, according to the Department for Education (DfE) statistics.

All pupils in England will return to class from Monday after months of remote learning.

Sinead Mc Brearty, chief executive of charity Education Support, said headteachers “are clearly on their knees”.

She added: “Teacher and pupil wellbeing is inextricably linked and no one can do their best if mentally and emotionally depleted.”