Scottish schools can't operate as normal while social distancing is in place warns EIS Union

A teaching union has warned it will be “impossible” for Scotland’s schools to reopen as normal while social distancing measures remain in place.

It’s after the Scottish Government published a strategy framework for lifting coronavirus lockdown restrictions.

The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) has said schools will require “wide-scale reorganisation” to be safe for pupils and staff.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon suggested “classrooms may have to be redesigned to allow social distancing” if the lockdown is lifted to enable children to return.

No timescale for schools to reopen has yet been announced.

EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan said: “Even after the lockdown has been lifted or partially lifted, it would be impossible for schools to operate as normal while measures such as social distancing remain in place.

“When we reach a point where schools can reopen, it will require a wide-scale reorganisation of the ways in which they operate.

“Classrooms are by and large fixed spaces, for example, so smaller class groupings will be necessary to allow social distancing.

“That may limit the number of pupils attending at any one time and require an element of prioritisation, or the introduction of rotas.”

Mr Flanagan said effective coronavirus testing will need to be a key part of the strategy to enable schools to reopen.

He added: “Being able to ensure the health and well-being of pupils, staff and the wider school community is a priority.

“Parents would need to feel comfortable sending their children back to school, and teachers would need to be confident that schools were once again safe places to work.

“For the EIS, that means Scotland would need to have the capacity to test, trace and track the virus, in order to limit its spread.

“That doesn't seem to be there as yet.”

When asked at the Scottish Government's daily briefing about how schools might reopen, Ms Sturgeon floated ideas such as having desks further apart and different pupils attending on alternate weeks.

She repeatedly stressed discussions and considerations are at a very early stage and would be informed by scientific evidence.

The First Minister added: “We can't guarantee schools will be back before the summer but if they can be in any way we would want that to happen because we don't want children to be out of school for any longer than necessary.

“These are really difficult judgments but if we get these judgments wrong, the impact from the virus will be really damaging so we have to try and get them as right as possible and if that means taking a bit more time to consider them then I think that is worth doing.”

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