Calls for Education Secretary to give 'more clarity' over plans to reopen Scottish schools in August

Opposition parties are calling for more clarity over measures to protect teachers and pupils on their return to schools in August.

Speaking on Northsound 1 Education Secretary John Swinney confirmed social distancing will be relaxed for a full-time return to schools on 11th August but made no commitment as to whether face masks would be provided for teachers.

Scottish Labour Education spokesperson, Iain Gray, said: “After his overnight u-turn on a full-time return to school, without warning even his own Education Recovery Group far less teachers or councils, John Swinney must now start to allay fears of school staff and parents.

“Having ditched social distancing for pupils, he must confirm that it will still apply for staff, as in many other countries, and he must commit to providing and funding face masks for all staff and any pupils who wish them.

Councils need support to make this happen and should not be expected to fund it from existing resources. This would at least be a start to rebuilding some confidence in his handling of schools after this week’s fiasco.

“The Education secretary must also set a reasonable date for deciding if a full time return is safe. His suggestion that parents will be told on July 30th whether or not their children will be going back full time on August 11th is unacceptable.”

Scottish Tory Shadow Education Secretary Jamie Greene says:

"The comments made by the Education Secretary, I think, are of huge concern. All this does is create far more uncertainty, worry and concern for parents, schools and also local councils who have to deliver these plans."

"Many people listening to this will be hugely concerned that John Swinney will turn around at the end of July and say, 'I know you're at work full-time but I'm sorry we've changed our mind you will now have to stay at home three or four days a week and teach your children again.'

"That's unacceptable to parents, it's just creating more confusion, more concern."

This all comes after the Education Secretary confirmed he will send his son to school on August 11 during an interview with Ewen Cameron on Northsound 1 - unless clinical advice recommends otherwise.

Mr Swinney said he will send his own son back to school despite his wife Elizabeth being in the shielding category due to having multiple sclerosis.

He said: "Matthew will go to school unless there is clinical advice to say that the child of a shielding person should not go there - but I don't expect that to be the case.''

Mr Swinney added he and his family have had to be "very careful'' as a result of the pandemic, something which will have to continue "for a long time to come''.

The Education Secretary said his wife and son have been at home since the beginning of lockdown and the idea he was the only one who could bring coronavirus into the house was something that "preys on him''.

He said he will not punish parents who are uncomfortable sending their children to school over fears they may catch or spread the virus.

During his announcement on Tuesday, a final date was not given for a decision on whether pupils will return full-time or with the "blended model'' - with some learning done in the classroom and the rest at home.

Mr Swinney said the regular review on July 30 - 12 days before children are due to go back to school - will be the last chance to make the decision on a full return.

He said: "There's two review points during the month of July, one on July 9 where the First Minister will come to Parliament to make a statement on the next steps in relation to moving ahead and then there will be a further review point on July 30.

"I think in all likelihood, and I'll discuss this with the Education Recovery Group, I don't think we could resume full-time schooling if we didn't have a green light by July 30.''

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