Commenting as the government releases school attendance figures for the last week of November, Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

“Schools are still struggling to navigate the impacts of Covid on their cohorts. Both staff and pupil attendance figures are fluctuating massively, and the situation varies from region to region and between individual schools. School leaders and their teams are doing their very best to not just keep schools open but to attempt to catch up on learning and to help mitigate the impact of lockdown on children’s wellbeing.

“But they are still operating largely in the dark, with the government dragging its heels on crucial announcements. Schools are concerned that their plans for the last few weeks of term, and for the start of the new term in January, are at risk of falling apart due to the government’s messaging around Christmas.”

Press and Media contacts:

Steven George
NAHT Head of Press and Media
01444 472886
07970 907730

Rose Tremlett 
Senior Press Officer 
07545 354363

Email : press.office@naht.org.uk