SCHOOLS in Cumbria are facing a gloomy picture ahead with Covid with schools feeling forgotten by government, according to the National Education Union.

Cumbrian schools have seen high Covid rates, low attendances due to positive tests and headteachers are facing "unsustainable pressure".

This could possibly get "even worse" according to the union secretary for the county.

Chris Brooksbank, Cumbria's secretary for the NEU said: "We already have schools going back to full online, and bubbles and classes working from home.

"The Government appears to spend most of its energy in threatening schools that face impossible situations when they simply cannot safely staff themselves.

"There has been almost no help for schools from the Government. Cumbria Local Authority and Public Health have been doing their best but are also being pressurised to follow the Government line - in essence stay open and keep kids on site at all costs. In county we have had some enhanced measures in place, but I am led to believe that this is frequently challenged by regional/national government offices."

Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi has recently called on school leaders to encourage ex-teachers "to sign up" to help with Covid-19 staff shortages.

The minister said the Government was looking at what measures to put in place "to boost supply capacity", adding that Department for Education (DfE) senior officials have begun discussing plans with key stakeholders.

"The infection rates in schools have been as much as 10 times the rate in the wider community. Currently about 800 per 100,000 in primary and about 500 in secondary with about 300 in Cumbria," Mr Brooksbank continued.

"We have situations where children are being cared for by Covid positive parents but still attending school. The other parents probably unaware of the infections in the schools their children attend.

ISSUE: NEUs Chris Brooksbank

ISSUE: NEU's Chris Brooksbank

"Situations where staff are unavailable some classes are doubling up, and therefore almost definitely will generate far greater transmission rates! 50 or 60 in a room instead of 25 or 30.

"Many schools have set up systems for online learning, but we are concerned when staff are being asked to teach online and in front of pupils at the same time. Parents and pupils should be concerned as well. Not all schools have the resources for all pupils to access online and the reality for some secondary subjects and especially for younger children teaching cannot be the same online and they need other types of resources, input, and support.

"Thankfully many schools have maintained virtual staff meetings, parents’ evenings and social events. We have had some significant outbreaks in some schools where they have been less vigilant. Outbreaks will impact on their local communities and therefore impact on hospitalisations and deaths.

"Fortunately, we have had relatively few children and young people fatalities or hospitalisations in Cumbria, but the latest evidence is suggesting that we will see an increase in these with the anticipated explosion of Omicron cases.

"For schools and the staff working in them this has been the worst term since the pandemic hit. The new rules are not clear for all cases, and staff and especially our headteachers are under unsustainable pressure. Next term may be even worse if the virus gets out of control again - we will probably know the situation better in the new year.

"The system is really struggling."