The NASUWT, the fastest growing teachers’ union in Scotland, today moved an emergency motion on the Edinburgh schools’ PPP crisis at STUC Congress in Dundee. The motion was passed unanimously.

The Union called for urgent safety checks to be undertaken on all PPP buildings in Scotland and for action to ensure all future school building arrangements guarantee pupils and staff a safe working environment.

The NASUWT has sought assurances and safeguards for staff and pupils from Edinburgh Council, Education Scotland and the SQA.

Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, said:

“We recognise that this is an unprecedented situation and that Edinburgh Council has faced an enormous challenge in making alternative arrangements for thousands of pupils and school staff, however, it is critical that lessons are learnt from this event.

“Parents expect their children to be safe when they send them to school and the public will need to be reassured that all buildings constructed through PPP arrangements have been rigorously checked and that all future construction projects conform to building safety regulations.

“The guarantees that no detriment will be caused to pupils as a result of this crisis are welcome.”

Jane Peckham, NASUWT National Official Scotland, said:

“Many of the affected pupils are in the middle of important eschooxams and have faced disruption and uncertainty at what is already a very stressful time.

“Teachers and the wider school workforce have pulled out all the stops to minimise the upheaval for pupils, but their goodwill must not be exploited and robust contingency arrangements must be put in place which allow staff to focus on teaching and learning.”