John Swinney ‘understands’ teacher anxiety over schools return

The Scottish education secretary has said he understands the “anxiety” teachers will have over the return to schools in less than a fortnight, but he insisted the government’s guidance would keep pupils and staff safe.

John Swinney said the guidance, which includes a ban on large gatherings such as assemblies, has been carefully developed after discussion with experts.

Speaking on BBC Radio’s Good Morning Scotland yesterday, Mr Swinney acknowledged that there was “risk” involved in reopening schools from 11 August, but said this had to be measured against the loss of educational opportunity.

Asked about comments on social media from teachers concerned about the potential spread of coronavirus in schools, he said: “I understand the anxieties that members of the teaching profession will have. That’s why we’ve ­taken such care to gather the evidence. We established a specific expert group to look at all of these questions and to provide us with clinical advice.

“And the guidance that we published reflects that clinical advice, which is that it is safe to resume full-time schooling as long as we put in place a number of mitigating ­measures.”

He said these include avoiding assemblies or large gatherings of young people, ensuring hand hygiene is observed and maintaining physical distance between teachers and pupils in the classroom.

Mr Swinney said: “We will continue to listen to any concerns that emerge as schools return.”