With under a year left until Brexit, the signatories of this letter from leading schools organisations are calling on the UK’s Brexit negotiating teams not to underestimate the potential impact of leaving the European Union on schools and pupils.
Similar to the effects on the health service, we are seriously concerned that Brexit will exacerbate the already challenging teacher shortages in the UK. Therefore, the post-Brexit visa regime must ensure that those already living and working here have their rights protected and feel secure; it must be straightforward for schools to recruit teachers from European countries.
It is also important that the prospects and opportunities for school pupils in the UK are not reduced by the UK leaving the European Union. The benefits of exchange programmes and foreign trips for pupils are widely accepted, and so visa arrangements must enable straightforward international visits and exchanges, rather than school children visiting Boulogne for the day having to apply for visas.
Britain’s future prosperity and place in the world depends on a new generation of outward looking, multilingual, globally minded young people who are prepared to live, work and thrive in the global economy.
Names of organisations and individuals who have signed this letter:-
Mark Herbert, Head of Schools Programmes, British Council
Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders
Paul Whiteman, General Secretary of National Association of Head Teachers
Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union
Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union