Nearly two-thirds (64 per cent) of black and/or minority ethnic (BAME) teachers think their school is not doing enough to address the increased risks they face from Covid-19, a union survey suggests.

The poll, by the NASUWT teaching union, took place at the union’s Black Teachers Consultation Conference held this weekend, which was attended by more than 500 BAME teachers from across the UK.

Half (51 per cent) of those polled said they are very worried about their safety on the full reopening of their school or college. A further 16 per cent said they do not feel at all safe.

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And 59 per cent said they have not had an individual or school-wide Covid risk assessment that takes ethnicity into account as a risk factor.

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More than a quarter (28 per cent) said they feel racism has got worse in their workplace since the Covid pandemic started.

Patrick Roach, general secretary of the NASUWT, said: “Without clear, coherent and concrete actions by government to address the racialised impact of this pandemic, the cycle of discrimination and racial injustice will continue.

“The government must publish the race equality impact assessments it has undertaken and provide clear guidance to employers on the steps they can take to make workplaces safer places for black workers.”