More children back in school despite Covid rises

The number of pupils missing classes because of Covid is stabilizing in England’s state schools, according to new government figures – despite a record number of infections in the UK.

A total of 179,000 schoolchildren (around 2.2%) had the day off last Thursday, compared to 202,000 (around 2.5%) in mid-March.

However, staffing problems persist in some schools, with almost one in 12 teachers being unemployed.

School leaders have criticized the end of free testing in schools.

Around one in 13 people in the UK have the coronavirus, according to the latest estimates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

But most people in England will no longer be able to get free PCR or lateral flow tests after the changes introduced on Friday.

Some free testing for the public will continue in Scotland until the end of April and in Wales and Northern Ireland until the end of June.

New Department of Education data put 46,000 teachers and principals (nearly 9%) in open schools as of March 31, down from 48,000 on March 17.

One in five state schools were missing more than 15% of their teachers and principals, up from 23% two weeks earlier.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said he was pleased with a slight decrease in student and staff absenteeism, but added that “the situation remains serious as many schools and colleges remain very serious disturbances occur”.

Referring to the absence of staff, he said: “It is very difficult to work in these conditions. The Government’s decision to withdraw free testing in such circumstances is a step backwards, particularly when exams are a few weeks away, and we have repeatedly urged ministers to reconsider.

“We understand the government’s desire to declare Covid over, but that is simply not the reality in schools and colleges where the disease continues to be a real concern due to the impact it is having on both students and staff.”

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT Heads’ Union, said absentee rates “remain at worryingly high levels”.

“We continue to hear a sense of deep frustration from school leaders as they struggle to deal with the significant and ongoing disruption caused by Covid – while the Government is lifting all the measures they have to control it,” he said.

The Department of Education said: “We are now moving towards living with and managing the virus while maintaining good ventilation and sanitation as the norm and continuing to use vaccines to build the population’s protective wall.”