The deputy leader of the Northumberland Labour Group is calling for the government to put teachers and support staff on a level playing field with NHS staff.

Scott Dickinson, who is also Northumberland County Council’s shadow cabinet member for children’s services, said school staff need to be included in the government’s mass testing strategy.

He said: “It’s vitally important, to protect our teachers, school support and children that school staff are tested regularly to identify asymptomatic spreaders of Covid. In my mind this is a logical thing to do if we are to keep schools open.”

The deputy leader is also calling for:

• a greater range and choice of questions for A-Level and GCSE exams, to ensure pupils are assessed on what they have been taught
• practice papers to be made available in all subjects, so self-isolating pupils do not lose out unfairly
• the government to put place a credible Plan B so pupils can get their grades if significant disruption means exams do not go-ahead

Scott added: “The government must ensure there is a level playing field for every region of the country.

“Covid is uncovering the glaring inequalities in our country and making them even more stark.

“The government has a duty of care to children to ensure they are not adversely affected or disadvantage by a situation which is non of their making.”