Campaign Statement

Parents United UK

A STRATEGY for SCHOOLS should be SENSIBLE, SAFE, and SUSTAINABLE

SENSIBLE ❌

1. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is a continuing threat, with schools badly affected, causing massive disruption to education.
2. People of all ages act as vectors for the transmission of SARS-CoV-2.
3. Schools are ideal breeding grounds for aerosol transmission through crowded, enclosed, and poorly ventilated environments. #CovidIsAirborne

SAFE ❌

1. Clinically vulnerable children are at increased risk from a virus with unknown long-term effects (eg #LongCOVID).
2. Clinically vulnerable adults, either working in schools as teachers or support staff, or in the household bubble of children or adults in school, are also at increased risk.
3. The mental health of both children and adults is being compromised by the Government’s draconian approach to attendance by threatening fines.

SUSTAINABLE ❌

1. SARS-CoV-2 is here to stay for the foreseeable future.
2. Despite vaccinations, further waves of SARS-CoV-2 (or other novel viruses) are highly probable given the possibility of reinfection or mutations of SARS‑CoV-2.
3. We need a “new normal”: blended learning combining a mixture of online and in-person teaching; smaller class sizes; robust and comprehensive funding from Central Government; a focus on children who require more contact time; and a revamp of both the curriculum and examination system until case numbers are very low – a maximum suppression approach.