Teachers call for better air ventilation in schools

Teachers have today warned that the Government’s ‘open window’ guidance to improve ventilation and therefore reduce the risk of COVID transmissions in schools is unworkable in winter months.

A fifth (21%) of those polled expressed concern for the guidelines claiming they were ‘impractical’, with a quarter (25%) stating they caused more problems than they solved.

The policy dictates that windows should be opened in classrooms to ventilate the air and purge potential viruses.

But just a few days into the new term, three-quarters (74%) of education staff say they are disappointed in central and local government for failing to find a better solution for air purification.

The independent research, commissioned by phs – an organisation leading a major study into pollution and air quality in schools alongside the University of Surrey – also found a fifth (21%) of teachers do not understand or are not familiar with the Government’s open window policy.

Johnny Jenkins spoke to Professor Paul Linden, expert on the role of ventilation in the airborne transmission of Covid-19; and Chris Brown, head of public sector at phs:

Photo by MChe Lee on Unsplash