Schools must disclose what they are doing to prevent Covid-19 exposure, not try and evade health and safety legislation says GMB Union
GMB, the union for school support staff, is calling on Kent schools to accept their health and safety responsibilities.
An email [1] sent to all Kent school governors by Matt Dunkley, Corporate Director of Children, Young People and Educational at Kent County Council told schools they should not respond to union requests for information – despite those requests only being made to maximise protection of staff, pupils, parents and those who they live with.
GMB had written to all Kent Schools with a list of questions [2] to answer before reopening – all of which are paramount to ensure public safety.
In his email, Mr Dunkley tells governors they are “not obliged to complete the various templates and questionnaires requested” and “the parent has made the decision to send the child in and is therefore consenting…therefore, their case would need to be one of negligence.”
Nick Day, GMB Membership Development Officer for Kent, said:
“Telling schools the parent would be giving consent and then guiding headteachers not to answer our reasonable questions is grossly irresponsible.
“Mr Dunkley is assuming parents know the full risks without responding to our health and safety queries which I’m sure most parents will wish to know the answers to.
“All schools must disclose what they are doing to prevent coronavirus exposure and spread and not concentrate on whether they can legally evade health and safety legislation
“England’s infection rates are some of the worst in the world and four members of the Government’s SAGE committee have spoken out against plans to reopen schools.
“GMB’s message to our members is clear, if you feel that you cannot work safely then you must contact us immediately.”
