Riots

The Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson has said that it is important to recognise that school students and staff “might be nervous about returning to the classroom” after riots broke out across the country during the summer holidays.

Writing in Tes, Sam Henson from the National Governance Association (NGA) called for the Department for Education to “act swiftly to help tackle the very real risk of division entering the school gates” and provide “practical, easy-to-use guidance for school leaders and governing boards” on how to respond to tensions.

Mr Henson believes that governors also need advice on how to build long-term strategies and whether to review existing safeguarding and health and safety plans.

The DfE recently published a blog on “Speaking to children and young people about violent disorder and the Southport attack”, signposting school staff towards existing guidance.