To: Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the DfE and the Teaching Unions in England (ASCL, NAHT, NASUWT, NEU/ATL, NEU/NUT, Voice)

The handling of state education during this pandemic thus far is shambolic!  PLEASE can we put state education top of the agenda for children in England.  PLEASE stop finger pointing between one another and get your act together to devise a consistent plan for ALL state schools across England.

Independent Schools have continued online interactive teaching since lockdown began and some have now satisfied their insurers to open fully.

For state schools there is no consistency.  Some have adopted online, interactive teaching or provided daily lesson planning in line with the curriculum whilst others are woefully lacking.  The majority of state educated children remain at home.

In the case of my sons’ primary school there has been no online lessons nor daily lesson planning since lockdown began despite several requests.  The response has been that the unions are unhappy with zoom lessons and question the validity of online teaching!!. 

As a full time working Mother my sons have had no contact with their teachers or supervised home schooling for 13 weeks.

Teachers are continuing to be paid so why are they unable to deliver online teaching in accordance with the curriculum at least for the core subjects of Maths, English and Science?  Shielding does not stop you from lesson planning/teaching remotely.

Zoos are open, non-essential shops are open.  Easyjet can fly passengers in confined spaces.  Other European countries have opened schools.

ALL state school children in this country are disadvantaged – this is affecting their health, well being and depriving them of their education.

So in the sound bite language that you understand Boris – GET CHILDREN LEARNING and that means ALL children back at school by the start of the new academic year and ensure that a long term “ catch-up plan” is put in place to build into the curriculum the core learning that has been missed.

Enough of the excuses (Unions, Science, Lack of Space).  Get creative!

Funds have been allocated to the Furlough Scheme and supporting the economy.  Adequate funds need to be allocated to state education to ensure the full return of ALL children to school by the beginning of September 2020 and a contingency plan put in place to ensure consistent online teaching is provided across ALL state schools.

Lobby the CEOs of Zoom, Google, Microsoft, Cisco etc.. to provide an online platform that the Unions are happy with, BT, Sky, Virgin Media etc for the infrastructure and Amazon, DELL for devices so that ALL state educated children are jeopardized no longer.

GET ALL CHILDREN LEARNING!

The clock is ticking!

Yours sincerely,

Melanie C. Marsters

Deeply Concerned Parent and Taxpayer