Nearly seven in ten UK headteachers do not trust test and trace scheme, survey finds

The NAHT poll of over 4,000 leaders comes as England’s almost 25,000 schools prepare to go back next week

Less than one in three are confident that pupils and parents understand the government guidance (AFP/Getty)

Almost 70 per cent of headteachers do not have confidence in the UK government‘s test, trace and isolate system ahead of the return of millions of schoolchildren next week, a new survey of more than 4,000 school leaders has shown.

England’s 25,000 schools are set to return full-time next week after many saw only a fraction of pupils return for the end of the last academic year.

They face challenges trying to manage the issue of the coronavirus in busy buildings, and what will happen if there is an outbreak in a school, as has happened in some other countries.

In the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) survey of predominantly English schools, only 7 per cent of school leaders said they were confident in the government’s test, trace and isolate scheme, while 68 per cent said they were not.

Only 30 per cent said they were confident that pupils and parents understood government safety guidance for the return to classrooms, and only 18 per cent were confident about arrangements in case of a local lockdown in their area.

After failing to persuade schools to bring all students back before the summer, and a scandal over estimated exam results, the prime minister, Boris Johnson, is keen to make sure that the reopening happens smoothly as he urges people to get back to some kind of normality after the coronavirus lockdown.

“Very clearly, school leaders need more information about the government’s track and trace scheme, and what the authorities will expect them to do if there is a local lockdown,” said Paul Whiteman, NAHT general secretary.

“Leaders are also worried that public awareness about the return to school could still be low.”

Reuters