Discussion about this post

User's avatar
Neil Burton's avatar

I found the 'closing schools' issue really difficult. If the policy had been to keep them open, it would not have been reasonable – nor possibly legal – to require teaching and support staff to work. So an incremental number would be off sick due Covid, and others 'by choice' due medical vulnerability in family. Thus putting head teachers in impossible situation – stay open with fewer staff (changing daily), maintain teaching/childcare and duty of care to all whilst complying with laws eg health and safety. Many schools already operate close to breaking point. Some heads would have had no choice other than to close despite government policy. The Nightingale option wouldn't work. There would have been a media blame-fest. Closing schools was probably the least-worst option.

Expand full comment
3 more comments...

No posts