Training unions have known as for the reintroduction of additional security measures in faculties after official estimates confirmed round 270,000 secondary pupils had COVID-19 final week.
The demand for motion got here as an skilled warned in regards to the degree of coronavirus circulating amongst older kids.
The most recent figures from the Workplace for Nationwide Statistics (ONS) present that round one in 15 kids at school years 7 to 11 in England are estimated to have had COVID-19 within the week to 2 October.
This was the highest positivity rate for any age group and up from one in 20 in the course of the earlier seven-day interval.
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Kevin McConway, emeritus professor of utilized statistics on the Open College, stated that with round 4 million kids within the 11 to 16 age group in England, one in 15 equates to round 270,000 testing constructive.
He stated primarily based on separate ONS estimates, this implies about 13,500 might go on to have lengthy COVID signs, and virtually 7,000 could have signs that restrict their day-to-day exercise
Prof McConway added: “That is reasonably loads of kids who may have their education and different actions disrupted.
“I believe the principle needed motion right here is to get on with vaccinating these aged 12-15 as shortly as potential – although, provided that it takes time for the vaccine to turn into efficient, that is nonetheless not going to convey down the an infection price on this group all that quick.
“I am definitely not suggesting basic faculty closures or something like that, however I do not suppose it is an choice to do nothing.”
His feedback got here as 5 schooling unions wrote to Training Secretary Nadhim Zahawi, calling on him to have a look at bringing again stricter security measures for faculties.
The GMB union, Unite, Unison, Nationwide Training Union (NEU) and NASUWT educating union stated they’re additionally writing to native authorities and administrators of public well being.
Kevin Courtney, joint basic secretary of the NEU, stated: “We’re involved that the federal government is standing by whereas COVID instances surge throughout faculties.
“It’s evident that extra must be accomplished, and sooner reasonably than later, to stop additional huge disruption to kids’s schooling, brought about both by kids contracting COVID-19 or COVID-related workers absence.”
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Jim Kennedy, Unite nationwide officer for schooling, known as on Mr Zahawi to “reset the security agenda for faculties”.
He argued that with winter approaching, “the entire vary of measures to maintain faculty kids secure must be deployed – the rising degree of infections in faculties demand it”.
The NASUWT stated faculties want extra help with on-site testing, “reasonably than counting on house testing, which is much less efficient”, and known as on the federal government to contemplate reinstating the requirement for pupils who’re contacts of a constructive case to self-isolate.
Avril Chambers, GMB nationwide officer, stated the newest figures present “it’s clear additional mitigation measures are wanted instantly” with the intention to keep away from additional disruption to education.
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