SCOTLAND’S largest teaching union has called on the government for a renewed commitment to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for pupils and teachers in schools. 

The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) said that teachers and staff remain concerned about a risk of potential spikes in Covid-19 infection after pupils’ return to schools. 

Despite falling case numbers and the roll-out of the vaccination programme, a number of schools have experienced clusters of infection among pupils and staff, the union said.

It also said that workload had soared to ever more excessive levels during the pandemic, warning of the detrimental effects on teachers’ physical and mental health.

EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan said: “Teachers have been working flat-out throughout the Covid pandemic in an extremely stressful and ever-evolving set of circumstances. 

“Local and national government must heed their duty of care and take all possible action to lighten the burden and to protect the health and wellbeing of teaching staff.”