Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Safety of School Students and Staff

Monday 1 March 2021 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The decision to return to full school attendance balances protecting the NHS and mitigating the educational harm of missed school.
  • The Department provided timely guidance for schools to prepare for the full return of pupils on 8 March.
  • The Department published evidence and data from ONS and PHE to address teachers' concerns about the low infection risk in schools.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Laura Trott Con Sevenoaks
NHS Education
Context

With lockdown restrictions easing, there are concerns about the safety of students and staff as schools prepare to reopen fully.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to help ensure the safety of students and staff when schools re-open as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased. The decision to return to full attendance is based on a balance of risk—on protecting our NHS while protecting students from the harms of missing education.

Answer from Gavin Williamson

The decision to return to full attendance is based on a balance of risk—on protecting our NHS while protecting students from the harms of missing education. We have introduced safety measures including testing and the extended use of face coverings, alongside other systems of control to minimise transmission of covid.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific figures or statistics on the effectiveness of these measures are not provided

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Q2 Andy Carter
Education
Context

Schools across Warrington South are preparing to welcome back all pupils, with teachers and heads working diligently. There is a need for timely guidance and assurances on safety measures.

Question

I thank the Secretary of State for his answer. Having spoken to a number of heads this morning, I know that schools across Warrington South are busy preparing for the return of all their pupils a week today. Can my right hon. Friend assure me that his Department has provided timely guidance for school leaders, and taken every precaution to ensure the safety of both staff and students on their return?

Answer from Gavin Williamson

I would very much like to join my hon. Friend in thanking teachers, headteachers and all staff for all the work they are doing to be able to welcome back all children to school from 8 March—just next week. We published clear guidance when the Prime Minister set out his road map on Monday last week, and put extra precautions in place such as testing for all pupils in secondary schools, and staff and workforce testing for all primary schools.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific commitments or timelines for additional measures beyond those already announced

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Q3 Laura Trott Con Sevenoaks
Education
Context

Teachers in Sevenoaks and Swanley are concerned about a full return to school despite doing an excellent job throughout the pandemic. There is a need for evidence-based reassurance.

Question

Teachers across Sevenoaks and Swanley have done a brilliant job at keeping schools open throughout the pandemic. However, many are worried about a full return. Will my right hon. Friend do all he can to share with headteachers the evidence on the low infection risk in schools, so that they are fully equipped to reassure teachers that schools are safe?

Answer from Gavin Williamson

My hon. Friend is right to highlight that concern, which is why we published alongside our guidance on Monday last week summarised data and evidence from the Office for National Statistics and Public Health England, making it freely available. We are taking extra steps such as testing in secondary schools to provide confidence.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No commitment to additional measures beyond those already stated

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