TEACHING unions raised major concerns today about the potential impact of Covid-19 on Scotland’s schools as opposition leaders at Holyrood warned that the country was ill prepared for the current spike in case numbers. 

The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) warned that continued caution is needed to prevent the virus spreading further after the country recorded 6,835 new cases, the second daily record in a week.

EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan called for effective mitigation measures to protect staff and families, with positive tests among two to 17-year-olds currently running at 19.9 per cent. 

He backed calls from the Scottish government for all secondary pupils to be offered vaccinations to minimise disruption to education. 

Mr Flanagan said the figures underline the need to be on guard to ensure that schools remain Covid conscious and that mitigations are maintained.

The calls coincide with warnings that teacher shortages could lead to pupils being sent home if Covid cases continue to rise. 

Scottish Secondary Teachers Association general secretary Seamus Searson said that protection measures such as requiring some staff and pupils to wear face coverings should continue.

Ministers have said that the rule in secondary schools will be in place for “at least six weeks” of the term, but Mr Searson suggested that mitigations may have to be retained “for a good deal longer.”

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar called on the government to boost its vaccination efforts, including with door-to-door visits, to avoid the need for further restrictions.

He said that lockdowns should not be a fall-back option for government incompetence, adding: “The Scottish government needs to get a grip of these issues before even contemplating more restrictions.”